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2016 NBA Draft: Who Stood Out on Day 1 of NCAA Tournament?

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 17, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) celebrates in front of Florida Gulf Coast Eagles forward Demetris Morant (21) during the second half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) celebrates in front of Florida Gulf Coast Eagles forward Demetris Morant (21) during the second half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 17, 2016; Denver , CO, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Domantas Sabonis (11) and Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Kyle Dranginis (3) cheer their team late in the second half of Seton Hall vs Gonzaga in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Denver , CO, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Domantas Sabonis (11) and Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Kyle Dranginis (3) cheer their team late in the second half of Seton Hall vs Gonzaga in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga Bulldogs

Opponent: Seton Hall Pirates (6)

Result: 68-52, W

Stat Line: 35 minutes, 21 points, 16 rebounds, 2 offensive rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 9/20 FG, 0/1 3PT, 3/4 FT

Position: Forward/Center

Age: 20 (3/5/1996)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10”, 238 pounds, 6’10.5″

Analysis

Domantas Sabonis has evolved from a player with a name worth considering into a two-way athlete who could potentially thrive at the next level. A relatively short wingspan will hurt him if he plays the 5, but his performance during the Round of 64 temporarily silenced the critics.

Sabonis dominated the Seton Hall Pirates on both ends of the floor, thus leading the Gonzaga Bulldogs to a Round of 32 battle with the Utah Utes.

Sabonis ripped off 21 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal against a favored opponent. He did so while battling Seton Hall big man Angel Delgado, who has averaged at least 9.3 rebounds per game in each of the past two seasons.

Against Sabonis, Delgado fouled out and recorded just six rebounds in 31 minutes.

The Round of 32 will pit Sabonis against one of the Top 10 prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft: Jakob Poeltl. Both project to play the 5 at the next level, and Sabonis excelling against Poeltl’s size and length could be the evidence general managers need to believe in the Gonzaga star as a potential lottery pick.

Sabonis has an opportunity to rise up draft boards if he shines in the NCAA Tournament.

More hoops habit: Which prospects have the most to gain in the 2016 NBA Draft?

On Day 1, there weren’t many better than he.

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