The madness continues! A look at more under the radar prospects and players who might make sense for the Detroit Pistons who are still alive in the NCAA Tournament.
Scottie Barnes, PF/PG/C, Florida State (vs. UNC-Greensboro, 12:45)
Total Weaver Guy: long arms, strong, tries really hard, great talker on defense, shooting very much a work in progress. Potentially a part of the potentially-terrifying storyline if the pick falls in the 7-8-9 range.
Raiquan Gray, PF/C, Florida State (vs. UNC-Greensboro, 12:45)
Possible Fat Upside Guy. Does some good things, has some pointforwardiness vibes, just looks like he’s not really in shape. Boris Diaw?
Christian Braun, SF, Kansas (vs. Eastern Washington, 1:15)
Friend of the program enbiejowiec is a fan. Ochai Agbaji is virtually indistinguishable from Quentin Grimes of Houston, and as such is also probably a second-round shooting guard.
Trendon Watford, PF, LSU (vs. St. Bonaventure, 1:45)
Prava wrote about him recently, and I think he would be a steal in the 40s. This team also features Cam Thomas, a pure bench bucket getter who will probably get picked in between the Pistons’ current picks. (Watford might too, of course.)
German Paul George, SF, Michigan (vs. Texas Southern, 3:00)
Legal name: Franz Wagner.
James Bouknight, SG, UConn (vs. Maryland, 7:10)
Possibly a taller and better version of the bucket getter archetype typified by Cam Thomas. Late lottery projections as of now. Stats say he’s something of a black hole, but maybe his team is just bad. Shrug emoji, probably not a Pistons target unless Weaver is able to add a pick (or picks) in the 15-20 range (again).
Trey Murphy III, SF/PF, Virginia (vs. Ohio University, 7:15)
Very tall shooter, might merely be something like James Jones, but that will certainly get you paid these days. Former Pistons blogger Jason Preston will also feature prominently in this game.
Gonzaga Wrecking Crew (vs. Norfolk State, 9:20)
I don’t watch a lot of Gonzaga…but I have them winning it all in my bracket. Suggs is already famous, Kispert is the Next Joe Harris, Ayayi is probably a second round pick, Nembhard is tall enough to possibly stick as a third point guard, Timme is probably a star in Europe…it’s gross. I’ll check in on them next weekend.
Kai Jones, PF/C, Texas (vs. Abilene Christian, 9:50)
Kai Jones is a freakishly athletic giant who will probably get drafted a lot higher than he is currently being mocked once NBA teams get to see him during #EmptyGymSZN. Greg Brown, future dunk contest champ and total non-passer, is also on this team. Jericho Sims is also enormous, and they have a stable of veteran guards. They’re really good.
My Favorite Game of the Day (VCU vs. Oregon, 9:57)
Chris Duarte is so old that Wesley Johnson thinks it’s weird that he’s still in college. He’s also an amazing shooter and competent defender at 6-6, and will likely be joining the rotation of a playoff team in the near future.
Meanwhile, Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland is, as I’ve written before, the Isaiah Joe of Jordan Clarksons, by which I mean he chucks like 10-12 long treys every game while also getting to the foul line with high level contortion around the rim despite being impossibly skinny. He’s listed at 6-3 and 165, and looks skinnier than that. Like a righty Salim Stoudemire, but taller and skinnier and better. Arguably the funnest player in college basketball, and probably yet another successful bench gunner at the NBA. Lots of those on this list, which is cool.
My Final Four
Gonzaga over Texas
Oklahoma State over Baylor
Gonzaga over Oklahoma State
#Fade4Cade
Yesterday was awesome, I hope we get three more overtime games today. Keep having fun, everybody!