The first two rounds have seen many potential Knicks draft targets eliminated. Here’s how they did and where they stand after playing their final NCAA games (all are expected to declare for the draft):
TRAE YOUNG, PG, OKLAHOMA
When Oklahoma was beaten by Rhode Island on Thursday, we saw all the good and bad of Young. He finished with 28 points and seven assists with six turnovers. Young showed his great jumper and ability to set up his teammates for easy baskets, but showed some questionable shot selection and ball-protection problems.
Here are the key questions NBA decision makers will have to answer with Young. Is his quickness good enough to make up for his lack of explosiveness as an athlete? Can he overcome his lack of size (6 feet 2 inches)? Will he ever be better than a terrible defensive player? His elite shooting, passing and pick-and-roll play will carry to the next level, and with better players around him, he should be more efficient. The other stuff, however, will be in the eye of the beholder. Is he closer to Steph Curry or Jimmer Fredette?
DEANDRE AYTON, C, ARIZONA
The first big upset of the tournament Thursday night -- 13th-seeded Buffalo over fourth-seeded Arizona -- knocked out who many people believe was the best player in college basketball this season. Ayton's numbers were strong enough, scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds on 6-of-13 shooting in 38 minutes, but he never took over the game. Despite that, Ayton is going to be an offensive monster in the pros with a smooth post-up game and shooting range that extends out to the 3-point line.
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If there are questions about Ayton’s game, it’s his defense. At his size (7-foot-1 with a 7-5 wingspan), he should be a dominant defensive player, but that hasn’t shown up in games. He often looks passive as a rim protector and also might lack the lateral quickness to defend the pick-and-roll well. Defense will be what evaluators are going to focus on when they determine when Ayton will go in the draft.
MOHAMED BAMBA, C, TEXAS
In Texas' first-round loss to Nevada on Friday, Bamba showed both sides of what NBA evaluators see of his game. He scored 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting, with 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. An impressive line, but there were too many moments when you didn’t notice he was on the court. He allowed defenders to front him and deny him the ball, even though when he caught it, he was very hard to stop. Will those immense physical tools, including a 7-9 wingspan, translate to consistent NBA production? It’s something NBA front offices will come to their own conclusion about.
MICHAEL PORTER JR., SF, MISSOURI
Porter played three games this season, and his lone tournament game performance did very little to clarify anything. He often looked gassed in his 28 minutes of play due to his lack of practice time coming off back surgery in November. His legs weren’t there, so even though he flashed his high-skill level for a 6-10 player, there was no explosion near the rim to finish. He shot 4-of-12, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Porter was considered by many as the top player in this class back in November, and scouts will have to use their imagination if he is the same guy they saw coming out of high school. He will be a very polarizing player in the draft, and along with Young, he is one of the high-risk/high-reward players in the class.
COLLIN SEXTON, PG, ALABAMA
Sexton managed to get his team to the second round of the NCAA tournament and flashed the abilities that talent evaluators drool over. He shot 7-of-14 in each of the Crimson Tide's tournament games, scoring a combined 42 points. He is a smart kid with a high GPA and has the athleticism to get to the rim to score or reach the free-throw line. He plays defense well and has the ability to score in the pick-and-roll.
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Sexon has two issues to keep an eye on: his jump shot and his playmaking. His jumper is inconsistent, with him shooting just under 34 percent from behind the arc this season. And despite being his team’s primary ballhandler, he averaged fewer than four assists per game. He had nine assists and 10 turnovers in two tournament games. At this point, Sexton profiles as more of a 6-3 scoring guard than a true point.
JAREN JACKSON JR., PF, MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State lost to Syracuse in the second round Sunday because no one on the Spartans could make a shot against the zone, and Jackson was one of them. He got shut out from the field, took only four shots and didn’t seem to know how to find his shots against the Syracuse matchup zone after first-half foul trouble. He scored only six points in the first round.
Despite the rough tournament, Jackson will likely still be a top-five pick thanks to his ability to block shots and hit 3-pointers. He showed improvement throughout the season. He is long and has the skill to be a versatile offensive player, something NBA teams crave.
MILES BRIDGES, SF/PF, MICHIGAN STATE
When Michigan State needed a basket in the second half to beat Syracuse, Bridges couldn’t deliver. Neither could any of his teammates. But for a future lottery pick, the expectations are greater. He finished the game just 4-of-18 with 11 points. In the first round against Bucknell, Bridges was dominant with 29 points (on 12-of-22 shooting) with nine rebounds.
Bridges is an interesting prospect. He is built like a power forward, but has the height, explosiveness and spot-up shooting of a small forward. He might not have the quickness to guard small forwards, however, or the ability to consistently create his own shot. How evaluators parse these characteristics will determine his draft positon.