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

Brandon Ingram, Duke Blue Devils

Opponent: Yale Bulldogs (12)

Result: 71-64, W

Stat Line: 40 minutes, 25 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 7/19 FG, 3/7 3PT, 8/10 FT

Position: Small Forward

Age: 18 (9/2/1997)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9.5″, 196 pounds, 7’3″

Analysis

With Ben Simmons and the LSU Tigers failing to even reach the 2016 NCAA Tournament, Brandon Ingram has an opportunity to become go No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. Many continue to favor Simmons, but Ingram is leaving minimal doubt that he’s the best scorer in 2016.

It wasn’t his most efficient performance, but after dropping 20 points in the Round of 64, Ingram went off for 25 in the Round of 32.

Ingram converted three of his seven attempts from beyond the arc, which brings further credence to the Kevin Durant comparisons. He also went 8-of-10 from the free throw line, which was a critical number to accumulate after he shot just 5-of-10 at the charity stripe in the Round of 64.

To round out his productive performance, Ingram played all 40 minutes for Duke, which follows his 39-minute appearance during the Round of 64—a sign of his endurance.

Ingram is a two-way player whose potential on both ends can be classified as elite. He desperately needs to pack on muscle, but he can score both inside and out, can defend multiple positions, and has the size and length to be a matchup nightmare at the next level.

It’s entirely understandable for someone to prefer Simmons over Ingram, but performances like this are making the conversations all the more interesting.

Next: Another Big Game