6 NBA Draft lottery prospects to play in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16

Though Cade Cunningham is no longer playing, there are still plenty of NBA Draft prospects to watch during this weekend’s NCAA Tournament games.

March Madness is in full swing, and the NCAA tournament is down to its Sweet 16. As teams push towards their goal of a National Championship, a group of highly touted prospects will look to make one last boost to their NBA Draft stock. The biggest name has already been eliminated, but there is still an abundance of talent to keep an eye on this weekend.

Here are six potential 2021 NBA Draft lottery selections that will be playing on Saturday and Sunday:

NBA draft prospect No. 1: Evan Mobley

Now that Oklahoma State and Cade Cunningham have been eliminated, Evan Mobley is likely the most sought-after prospect remaining in the field. Mobley has been impressive all year, averaging just under 17 points while grabbing 8.7 rebounds and blocking 3 shots per game. He has been considered a top-3 pick by most outlets for some time now, but his play and his team’s performance in the big dance have some contemplating his argument for the top overall spot.

USC will take on Oregon in the Sweet 16, with whom they have some familiarity. The first game between the inter-conference foes was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, but the second meeting was played and won handily by Mobley and company. Oregon won their first-round game by default and then upset second-seeded Iowa last Monday.

NBA draft prospect No. 2: Jalen Suggs

The most talented player on the top team in the nation is Jalen Suggs. The freshman point guard and floor general has been in the top-5 of most mock drafts throughout the season, but his tournament performance has been average at best thus far.

In Gonzaga’s first game, Suggs only managed to score six points but was limited to just 18 minutes of playing time in what ended up being a lopsided victory for the Bulldogs. He got a full boat of minutes against Oklahoma in the second game but scored just 16 points in 35 minutes of play on 1 for 6 shooting from beyond the arc. Luckily for Suggs, he has already solidified himself as a top pick based on his regular season performance, but a boost to the draft stock is always beneficial in March and early April.

Given the fact that Gonzaga will likely be playing a few more games in the tournament, Suggs still has a chance for one last boost to his draft stock should he elevate his play and lead his team to a national championship.