When the month of March arrives, hoops season is in full swing. Some teams begin their push towards the NBA playoffs, while others gear up for the NBA Draft. The best place for prospects to showcase their games is on the biggest stage in college basketball: March Madness.
This year’s edition of the Big Dance is littered with NBA talent. However, who stands out as the best of the best? Here are the top four prospects in this year’s NCAA tournament.
4) Kon Knueppel-Duke
Knueppel may be a freshman, but if you watch him play, it looks like he’s been in college forever. The IQ and poise he plays with stands out on tape.
The Wisconsin native has been the steady hand of the Blue Devils this season, averaging 14 points per game, four rebounds, and three assists on 49 percent shooting and 39 percent from three-point range. He has showcased a quick release on his jump shot and overall great offensive pace. He has been great at attacking closeouts off the bounce as well and has great touch around the rim.
His shotmaking overall is sound, as he is never thrown off balance. He is always going to get to his spot and get the shot he wants. Defensively, he is a great team defender and is always in the right spot, but his calling card is offense. Knueppel will likely go in the lottery but can also fit on a win-now team with his versatile skill set.
3) V.J. Edgecombe-Baylor
Watching Edgecombe play, you wonder if he is bouncing off of a trampoline. His athleticism is by far the best in the class and the level of explosion, strength, and speed he possesses makes him a dangerous guard.
Edgecombe has improved throughout the season, especially his ball handling and shot creation. He is shooting 46 percent on floaters and is putting constant pressure on the rim. Edgecombe also has 32 dunks in 31 games (not including Baylor’s first round game) and a 20 percent assist percentage. As the season has gone on, he has seen the floor much better.
Defensively, Edgecombe does a great job of playing passing lanes and using his length to cause havoc. He has averages two steals per game and has a four percent steal percentage on the season. Whoever gets Edgecombe is getting a highly talented and athletic wing, who is only scratching the surface of how good he can be.
2) Derik Queen-Maryland
Versatile seven footers seems to be becoming the new norm in the NBA and Derik Queen will be the next one up. The freshman center has been dominant for the Terps this season, winning Big Ten freshman of the year averaging 16 PPG and nine rebounds on 53 percent shooting.
Queen has a smoothness to his offensive game that is rare for someone his size. He has great touch on his mid range jumper and his back to the basket game gives him an old school flair to his game. He is also great off the dribble, often creating separation to get his shot off over defenders. His three-point shot needs work, but that will come with time.
Defensively, Queen averaged a steal and a block per game, but his footspeed isn’t the greatest, which is expected. Nonetheless, his offensive game is near polished, so it may not even matter.
1) Cooper Flagg-Duke
This is an easy pick at one. Flagg came into the year as the number one prospect and he will end the year as the number one prospect. The Maine Event has had one of the best freshman seasons we have seen in college basketball history.
The ACC Player of the Year averaged 19 PPG, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block per game. He just does everything on the court well. His self creation has improved throughout the season, shooting 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range. His IQ, athleticism, and instincts are off the charts, flipping games because of his elite intangibles. He is the glue of this Duke team.
The most impressive part about Flagg is his poise. He is always even keeled and if one part of his game isn’t working, he will find a way to impact the game in a dominant way. There are not enough superlatives for the prize of the 2025 NBA Draft.