March Madness: 10 NBA Draft prospects to watch in 2021 NCAA Tournament

Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State

2020-21 stats: 20.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks, .454/412/854

It's easier to talk about what Cunningham didn't do in his freshman season with the Cowboys than what he did accomplish. The No. 1 prospect of the 2020 recruiting class lived up to all the hype, taking home the Big 12 Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors as well as leading Oklahoma State to conference tournament upsets over West Virginia and, most impressively, top-seeded Baylor.

Even in a loss to Texas in the conference championship, Cunningham shined with 29 points.

He's got the physical assets (6-foot-8, 220 pounds) and the shooting, ball-handling role to be a modern-day NBA star, and that's largely the expectation.

No. 4 Oklahoma State faces off against No. 13 Liberty — by no means an easy draw — to start their 2021 March Madness journey. They'll then face the winner of No. 5 Tennessee, a team with another player on this list, and No. 12 Oregon State in the Round of 32.

Evan Mobley, USC

2020-21 stats: 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 3.0 blocks, .584/.314/.695

A true seven-footer with a versatile skill set, Mobley can seal defenders near the basket, blow by them from the outside and soar above them to connect on alley-oop opportunities. He's just as willing to pull the trigger in a catch-and-shoot scenario as he is willing to work his opposition into the paint... and we can't stress the seven-foot frame enough. His vision when he posts up is also impressive, making Jokic-esque passes to cutting teammates.

Defensively, as Schmitz mentions in the above snippet, he can guard both inside and out, using his long frame to contest shots on smaller, more mobile players who look to create room. As Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer showed, you'd be hard-pressed to find too many players with the ability to wreak havoc and create turnovers when looking at combined steals and blocks. Mobley has a higher combo (3.9 per game) than names like Joel Embiid (3.5), James Wiseman (3.3) and other college standouts.

USC is the No. 6 seed in the West division, facing off against the winner of Wichita State and Drake. Should they win, they'll likely go on to play against No. 3 Kansas, whose 6-foot-10 David McCormack may be a tad slow as he returns from COVID-19 protocols.

Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga

2020-21 stats: 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.3 blocks

You're going to find a lot of brackets with Gonzaga standing alone at the end. After all, they haven't lost a game this season, and the bulk of their wins haven't even been close. Jalen Suggs is a big part of that successful equation, seeing as there may not be a more well-rounded guard in the game than Suggs. It's not that he doesn't excel in any particular areas — you could say that his athleticism and court vision/awareness are higher than the large majority of other guards — but he really doesn't have many shortcomings.

While Gonzaga would be a great team without him, he provides them with so much, even as a first-year player on a team rich with veteran talent — more on that below. You want versatility on defense? Go with Suggs. You want hard-nosed drives and determined finishes? Go to Suggs. You want cold-blooded mentality in crunch time?

Keon Johnson, Tennessee

2020-21 stats: 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, .455/.261/.707

These stats aren't going to jump off the screen. Just leave the jumping to Keon Johnson himself.

As the year went on and when it mattered most, Johnson upped his game. He averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists to go along with 2.0 combined steals and blocks. Obviously, you can see the potential in numbers like these, and the reason he's so high on different scouts' draft boards is because they feel that potentially is still untapped — otherwise, with season stats like these, he might not be getting as much of a look.

Mike Schmitz of ESPN labeled him as "one of the best all-around athletes in the draft" with competitive defense and an offensive skill set that has not yet been brought out. We'll see if any glimpses of the true player he can be reveal themselves in the tournament.

No. 5 Tennessee kicks off March Madness against No. 12 Oregon State and, as we referenced earlier, a matchup with Cade Cunningham and No. 4 Oklahoma State awaits him should the favorites win in the opening round.

Scottie Barnes, Florida State

2020-21 stats: 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, .500/.297/.609

Scottie Barnes is a player that every NBA team should want to have on their roster. I've seen Draymond Green floated around as a comparison quite a bit, and I think it's an adequate way — if not underselling his athleticism — to demonstrate how versatile, determined and gifted a player he is.

He's not a great shooter, which is probably his biggest deficiency, but he'll chip in in several other ways, including with high energy and a you-can't-stop-me mentality that you love to see, especially from a first-year player who burst on to the scene. At 6-foot-9, 227 pounds, he can play the hybrid guard-big combo like Green, and that's the role for which he'll likely be scouted in his NBA future.

No. 4 Florida State plays against No. 13 UNC Greensboro in the first round of action, and the winner of No. 5 Colorado and No. 12 Georgetown awaits them in the Round of 32.

Moses Moody, Arkansas

2020-21 stats: 17.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 stls, 0.6 blks, .442/.379/.817

The 6-foot-6 freshman has established himself as a lottery pick by helping Arkansas secure a No. 3 seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament.

A 3-and-D wing, Moody is a dangerous shooter who can knock it down from anywhere on the floor and plays well under the glass as well. He is one of three NCAA freshmen to average 16 points and five rebounds per game this season and also one of only three players in the SEC to shoot at least 42 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

He was recently named as an honorable mention on the AP All-American team.

James Bouknight, UConn

2020-21 stats: 19 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, .453/.304/.813

If you are looking for someone who has the potential to put his team on his back and take over a single game, look no further than James Bouknight of UConn.

The Huskies were a different team when the sophomore guard was on the court. After missing eight games with an elbow injury, UConn went 4-4 without their star shooting guard but rallied to go 6-2 upon his return and were 11-3 overall when he's healthy.

He posted an impressive 40-point performance in an overtime loss to Creighton earlier this season and registered double-doubles against fellow tournament teams Villanova and Georgetown.

Bouknight was recently given an AP All-American honorable mention.

Corey Kispert, Gonzaga

2020-21 stats: 19.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.9 steals per game, 0.4 blocks, .544/.444/.898

There is a reason Gonzaga is the No. 1 overall team in the country. In addition to Jalen Suggs, Corey Kispert is also one of the best players in the nation and arguably the best shooter in the tournament.

The 6-foot-7 senior wing is shooting an impressive 54.4% from the floor, including a 3-point percentage of 44.4, which is fifth-best in the country. In games in which Kispert attempts six or more attempts from beyond the arc he is shooting 48%.

His impressive senior season earned him First-Team All-America honors and a likely lottery pick in the NBA Draft.

Kai Jones, Texas

2020-21 stats:8 .8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.8 blks, 0.9 stls, .572/.333/.594

Those numbers may not necessarily pop off the stat sheet, but when you watch Kai Jones play you understand he has the tools to succeed in the NBA.

The lanky, 6-foot-11 big has plenty of athleticism and can run the floor and shoot the 3, making him the prototypical center in today's NBA. His defense still needs some work and he's not yet a finished product but it's easy to see why he's projected to be a mid-to-high first-round pick.

Franz Wagner, Michigan

2020-21 stats: 12.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.2 stls, 1.2 blks, .507/.449/.875

The younger brother of Wizards big and former Michigan star Mo Wagner, Franz has emerged as a reliable 3-point shooting wing for the Wolverines.

The 19-year-old sophomore has seen his game improve in all facets – shooting, passing and defense – which has led to his rising draft stock as a potential lottery pick.

While Wagner's shooting and ability to create space have been his strengths, his defense has really improved and made him a more complete player. Wagner shows good off-ball instincts and his 6.4 defensive box plus/minus ranks second in the country. Many believed he was snubbed when not named to the Big Ten All-Defense team.