2013 Sweet 16 Picks and Predictions: Top NBA Prospects in the Sweet 16 – NCAA Tournament Betting: While every college basketball fan loves it when their school signs a five-star recruit, this year’s NCAA Tournament is a perfect example of how it takes a great team and not just a great player to win a championship. After all, the names top of the draft boards of most NBA teams include the likes of Nerlens Noel, Marcus Smart, Anthony Bennett, Alex Len, Otto Porter Jr. and Shabazz Muhammad, but none of those players are still around in this year’s Big Dance while some missed out on March Madness all together. Despite some one of the bigger stars sitting at home while other teams prepare for the Sweet 16, it doesn’t mean there aren’t some excellent players still pursuing a national title. With that in mind, here is a closer look of the best NBA prospects that will be on the court when the NCAA Tournament resumes.
1. Ben McLemore, Shooting Guard, Kansas Jayhawks
He has been inconsistent at times for sure, but the freshman has the body and the game that has NBA scouts drooling, and McLemore is the top shooting guard prospect by a wide margin. The 6’5” guard is averaging 15.8 points on the year, and he has shown both his versatility and efficiency. McLemore is shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 41.6 percent from beyond the arc and 87.0 percent from the foul line, and those numbers are even more impressive considering he has been forced to carry a large portion of the scoring load for the Jayhawks this year. The upside is obvious.
2. Cody Zeller, Center, Indiana Hoosiers
Zeller has the chance to be the total package at the center position. The seven-footer has a decently thick body and an improving post game, but he also has a lot of polish and athleticism. He is great at running the floor for his size, and he shoots better than 75 percent from the foul line. Zeller does get pushed away from the basket at times and could stand to adopt a little nastier attitude in general, but you can’t teach size, let alone the all-around game he has for his size.
3. Trey Burke, Point Guard, Michigan Wolverines
Burke has made the Michigan hoops program relevant again, and he has showcased the ability to take over a game both as a passer and a scorer. He has also shown that he is dedicated to getting better as evidenced by his much-improved perimeter game this season. Given his skill set and willingness to take important shots in big situations, he has a chance to be a total package at the point guard spot in the mold of Chris Paul. The one knock on Burke is that he is a little undersized to defend some of the bigger point guards in the NBA, but the good definitely outweighs the bad with Burke. He will be off the board early whenever he jumps to the next level.
4. Victor Oladipo, Shooting Guard, Indiana Hoosiers
His athleticism is off the charts, and he is an absolute nightmare to handle in transition. Oladipo is also a superb perimeter defender, and given his 6’5” frame, he can shut down just about any backcourt player he matches up against. The one knock is that his offensive game is more about attacking the rim and hitting 3-pointers in the open court than a traditional shooting guard skill set. Oladipo is a finisher and not a really great at creating offense with the ball in his hands. As a result, he is probably best suited to be an elite role player rather than a go-to scorer, but he has tremendous value as a defender and would be an ideal piece in an up-tempo offense.
5. Michael Carter-Williams, Point Guard, Syracuse Orange
It is all about potential with Carter-Williams. With his 6’6” frame and ridiculous athleticism, he is an absolute nightmare at the point guard spot, and the fact that he was third in the country in assists and fourth in steals shows his diverse skill set. On the flip side, his offensive game is raw, and his shot needs a lot of work if he is going to take his game to the next level. Still, guards with his vision, passing ability, ball handling and athleticism are rare. An NBA team will take a chance on him early in the draft whenever he decides to go pro.
6. Rasheed Sulaimon, Shooting Guard, Duke Blue Devils
The freshman’s production is limited by his current role for a Duke squad loaded with senior starters, but every so often, his potential shines through. His 21-point effort in the Round of 32 against Creighton was a perfect example of his well-rounded game. Sulaimon has the ability to take opponents of the dribble and get to the rim, and he also has plenty of range on his jump shot. Sulaimon definitely needs to put on some muscle to thrive at the next level, but he has all the tools to become a quality NBA shooting guard.
7. Mason Plumlee, Center, Duke Blue Devils
For his 6’10” frame, Plumlee is pretty darn athletic. He can get up and down the court and finish around the rim, and he plays with plenty of energy. He also takes care of business on the boards. Granted, he isn’t a great foul shooter and has a limited back-to-the-basket game, but there are plenty of teams looking for a big guy that can pull down rebounds and finish down in the post.
8. Jeff Withey, Center, Kansas Jayhawks
His upside is debatable, and while I don’t really see him possessing enough athleticism to log heavy minutes at the NBA level, there is no doubt that Withey can make a serious impact on the defensive end in spurts. He is a true seven-footer, and he has averaged nearly four blocks per game in each of the last two years. Sure, he won’t overwhelm anyone with his offensive game, but Withey can protect the rim and help on the glass. He also has some value as big man that can play late in games because he is a career 73 percent foul shooter.
9. Deshaun Thomas, Small Forward, Ohio State Buckeyes
Thomas’ lack of explosiveness at a position occupied by players with elite athleticism hurts his draft stock, but he is going to be a steal for some NBA team. He has always possessed a deadly mid-range game, and while he can fall in love with the 3-point shot sometimes, he is improving as a perimeter shooter when he takes quality looks. Thomas has also shown a bulldog mentality in the block, adding an arsenal of post moves to his game. Plain and simple, the lefty knows how to score, and he is going to carve himself out a nice role as a pro for a long time.
10. Adreian Payne, Center, Michigan State
Michigan State is known for churning out quality pros, and Payne could be the next in line. The big man is 6’10’ with an even longer wingspan and above average athleticism, and he has developed a unique skill set. Payne can play with his back to the basket or facing the hoop, and he is shooting 55.6 percent from the field. He has also extended his range beyond the arc and is shooting 40.5 percent. Throw in the fact that he is shooting 83.7 percent from the foul line, and he does a lot of little things very well. I’m not sure what exactly his role will be in the NBA, but he has too many tools not to be a useful addition to a team.
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