2016 NBA Draft: Who Shined on Day 3 of NCAA Tournament?

Tyler Ulis, Kentucky Wildcats

Opponent: Indiana Hoosiers (5)

Result: 73-67, L

Stat Line: 39 minutes, 27 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, 10/20 FG, 3/6 3PT, 4/5 FT

Position: Point Guard

Age: 20 (1/5/1996)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 5’9″, 160 pounds, 6’1.25″

Analysis

The Kentucky Wildcats have made an uncharacteristically early exit from the NCAA Tournament. If fingers are to be pointed—and they will be—the one man who should be excluded from the blame game is standout point guard Tyler Ulis.

Ulis did everything in his power to both send Kentucky to the Sweet 16 and legitimize his status as one of the top prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Ulis, the 2016 SEC Player of the Year, went off for 27 points against Yogi Ferrell and the Indiana Hoosiers. Kentucky ultimately lost, but Ulis made quite the statement by going 10-of-20 from the field, 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 4-of-5 at the free throw line.

How exactly can you deny the NBA potential of a point guard who’s doing things like this?

And this:

And, of course, this:

As the fact he did it twice proves, that wasn’t a lucky shot or an entirely ill-advised attempt. They weren’t high-percentage looks, but Ulis possesses incredible range on his jump shot, and an unteachable fearlessness that is present in the best of NBA players.

More hoops habit: Is Tyler Ulis one of the Top 30 prospects in the country?

Isaiah Thomas‘ All-Star Game appearance has opened the door for Ulis to be selected in the first round, and this game certainly helped his case.