Compared to the last NCAA tournament’s crop of NBA draft prospects, a particularly down year, this year’s pool of next-level talent participating in March Madness is overflowing. No matter what your favorite NBA team is in the market for —a franchise-transforming star, that perfect three-and-D wing to complement a talented roster, or a rim-protecting center to make up for defensive ineffectiveness — the 2018 NCAA tournament has got it. Here are the 21 players in March Madness who we think will get selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, should they choose to exit the college ranks, from lowest to highest draft stock.
Jalen Brunson, Villanova
The classic overachieving point guard who’ll stick in the NBA for over a decade because of his headiness, his scoring instincts, his ability to orchestrate an offense, and his knack for pestering opposing points on defense. He may not grow into a star, but he’ll be a guy any coach would be happy to have on their roster.