Hoops Habit
Fansided

3 NBA Draft prospects to watch in the Sweet 16 of March Madness

By Jack Simone

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Bennedict Mathurin #0 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts after being fouled while shooting during overtime against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Bennedict Mathurin #0 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts after being fouled while shooting during overtime against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
NBA Draft, March Madness
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 08: Andrew Nembhard #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs passes against the Saint Mary’s Gaels during the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs defeated the Gaels 82-69, 3 NBA Draft prospects to watch in the Sweet 16 of March Madness. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Once a year, the NBA plays second fiddle to college basketball as the best teams in the country compete to see who reigns supreme. And with how crazy things have been, this is truly anyone’s tournament to win.

The first two rounds of the tournament are over. What was once a field of 64 teams is now down to just 16, and the Sweet 16 is set to begin on Thursday night.

3 NBA Draft prospects to watch in the Sweet 16 of March Madness

Through the first two sets of games, some big-name teams have persevered. Squads like the Gonzaga Bulldogs, North Carolina Tarheels, and Villanova Wildcats are all still alive.

However, there have been plenty of upsets as well. Teams like the St. Peter’s Peacocks, Iowa St. Cyclones, Miami Hurricanes, and Michigan Wolverines.

But while March is all about the NCAA, NBA fans should be paying attention, too. The basketball itself may not be NBA-level, but the players in the game are the future of NBA basketball.

There are a ton of NBA Draft prospects left in March Madness, and not all of them are as prolific as the Chet Holmgren’s and Paolo Banchero’s of the world.

Those are the names that even the most casual NBA fans know, as they are projected to be top-three picks in the draft. But what about other prospects left in the tournament?

If you’re an NBA fan watching the March Madness tournament, what players (outside of the top few picks) should you be watching during the Sweet 16? What can they bring to the NBA stage?