The Daily Gamecock

Column: ​NCAA Tournament shakes up draft board

Duke guard Luke Kennard (5) and guard Brandon Ingram (14) leave the floor after losing in overtime to Notre Dame 84-79 at the ACC Tournament at the Verizon Center on March 10, 2016 in Washington, D.C. (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/TNS)
Duke guard Luke Kennard (5) and guard Brandon Ingram (14) leave the floor after losing in overtime to Notre Dame 84-79 at the ACC Tournament at the Verizon Center on March 10, 2016 in Washington, D.C. (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/TNS)

These four players' NBA Draft stocks were affected most by this year's NCAA Tournament.

Brandon Ingram: stock up

Ingram filled the void left by Jahlil Okafor nicely this season, averaging 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. With so many exiting players after last season, the Duke Blue Devils weren’t expected to have much postseason success this year. Led by Ingram, however, Duke earned a No. 4 seed and lost in the Sweet 16 to the No. 1 seed Oregon Ducks.

A Sweet 16 appearance is not a success by any stretch of the imagination, especially for Duke’s standards, but Ingram’s individual play might have bumped him into serious consideration as the top pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Ingram showed a leadership ability and tremendous will to win, unmatched by his peers. At 6-foot-9, 190 pounds, Ingram’s wispy frame could be a potential setback, but it’s also similar to that of Kevin Durant’s when he was in college.

Ben Simmons: stock down

As Ingram’s stock rises, Simmons’ stock will fall. The freshman out of Louisiana State was by far the best player in college basketball this season, based on statistics. He averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, while also shooting 56 percent from the field. So, how could his stock have fallen? 

It will all depend on how scouts put statistics and winning into perspective. If they favor statistics, Simmons is the undeniable candidate as the top pick. If they favor winning, however, Simmons should fall. The main problem with the point-forward’s statistics is that they were mostly empty. LSU did not participate in the postseason nor did it accept an invitation to the NIT. Simmons was often times lax in his approach to the games, perhaps knowing he was already a shoe in as the first overall draft pick.

At 6-foot-10, 225 pounds, Simmons clearly has the size advantage over Ingram, but if he is not truly invested in tapping into his sky-high potential, it’s all a waste. 

Buddy Hield: stock up

In the age of one-and-done college basketball players, upperclassmen face an unfavorable stigma that could drastically affect their draft stock. Senior guard Buddy Hield is the latest victim of this trend, but might have turned his fortunes around with his string of performances in the NCAA Tournament.

Hield is averaging 29.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in four tournament games and, like Ingram, has showcased his crazy motivation and drive. He singlehandedly willed the Sooners to victories against VCU and the No. 1 seed Oregon en route to their first Final Four appearance since 2002. 

Jaylen Brown: stock down

On paper, freshman forward Jaylen Brown’s transition into the NBA should be a seamless one. However, his individual performance and California’s overall performance left scouts with more questions than answers surrounding Brown.

California was upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by the No. 13 seed Hawaii, with a wildly unimpressive performance from the projected Top 10 pick. Brown managed just four points and two rebounds on 1-6 shooting, in addition to committing seven turnovers in the game. 

Ideally, Brown would stay in college for his sophomore season, but as an almost guaranteed lottery pick, this is highly unlikely. 

Brown is certainly not ready for the NBA and will need at least one year to develop into the stretch four he is perceived to be. 


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