With spots set for this year's NCAA Tournament, there will be no shortage of future NBA talent. NBA scouts and executives will be traveling around the country for the next three weeks to see how each prospect performs on such a big stage. The University of Kentucky, UW, and Baylor University have multiple players who could be lottery picks this year and will look to postseason play to solidify their status as one of the best college players in this draft class. Will need to step up.
Kentucky is led by star freshmen Rob Dillingham and Reid Shepherd, who have been phenomenal off the bench this year. University, which earned the No. 1 overall seed, has a healthy running back Donovan Clingan and big guard Stephon Castle is playing well. Baylor needs two standout freshmen in Jacoby Walter and Eve Missi to really hit the ground running in the West Division. Meanwhile, Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. is playing his best basketball of the season, leading Illinois to the Big Ten Tournament title on Sunday.
Yahoo Sports presents the top 10 NBA prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament.
Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Draft range: 3-8
Kentucky has a favorable draw as the No. 3 seed in the South Region, and Dillingham could truly shine on the big stage and solidify a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. He has the competitive edge that NBA scouts look for in a guard and doesn't shy away from big moments in a game. Despite Kentucky's early exit from the SEC Tournament, Dillingham had one of his best games of the season against Texas A&M, scoring 27 points (5-of-10 from three) and 7 points in 29 minutes. Recorded an assist.
Reid Shepherd, Kentucky
Draft range: 3-8
Along with Dillingham, Shepherd has been instrumental in Kentucky's success this season and has been one of the biggest surprises for scouts. He plays like a four-year veteran rather than a rookie, and consistently makes the right plays in critical situations. He earned minutes with strong defense early on, averaging 2.5 steals per game, but his passing and 3-point shooting were most noticeable late in the season. Shepard is averaging 29 minutes off the bench while shooting 52.5 percent from 3-point range on four attempts per game. If Dillingham is option 1 when the shot clock is running low, Shepard is now option 1A given his consistent performance in big games this season.
Draft range: 10-20
Filipowski has been a big part of the Blue Devils' offense this season, and he will need to do well in the tournament if this Duke team is to make any big strides. Opinions vary on the sophomore center as an NBA prospect. Some scouts like his size and 7-foot shooting ability, while others question his athleticism and whether he can be as effective off the ball in the NBA. If he performs well in the NCAA Tournament, he will establish himself as a draft prospect and a lottery pick. Duke doesn't get the best draw as the No. 4 seed in the South and may have to go through Marquette, Kentucky and Houston to reach the Final Four.
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Draft range: 12-25
Knecht performed well throughout the season, earning him the SEC's Most Valuable Player this year and earning him the conference's highest individual award. He can score at all three of his levels and has greatly improved defensively, which was targeted over the past two years at Northern Colorado. His lateral footwork has improved, keeping players in front on the perimeter, and he's gotten stronger, allowing him to fight inside the post in mismatch situations. Knecht, a mid-to-late first-round pick, is Tennessee's No. 1 option offensively, scoring 30 or more points six times this season.
Cody Williams, Colorado
Draft range: 3-10
Williams is the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylen Williams, and scouts like the younger Williams' defensive prowess. He's not a stat-packing player, but he has shown glimpses of offensive potential all season with the Buffs. Williams, a 6-8 wing, can guard positions 1-4 and has the length and athleticism to really confuse players in half-court sets. He suffered a facial fracture in late January and things haven't changed since then, but he could very well be a lottery pick. His NBA comparison is Jaden McDaniels, who creates more shots.
Ja'Kobe Walter, Baylor
Draft range: 5-15
If Baylor is to have any success in the tournament, it will need big plays from Walter. The 6-5 shooting guard was perhaps the best 3-point shooter in this freshman class, but he slumped in the second half of the season, shooting just 34 percent from deep this year. He has good shooting mechanics and is effective in both catch-and-shoot situations and off-the-dribble situations, averaging 14.2 points per game this season.
Eve Missi, Baylor
Draft range: 10-25
Another star freshman at Baylor University, Missi is one of the best rim runners in college basketball. He has a lot of untapped potential and continued to make further contributions to the game throughout his first year. Baylor hasn't used him in pick-and-pop situations this season as they have a lot of perimeter shooters, but he has shown confidence by hitting 3-pointers during practice and pregame warmups. Missi has great footwork around the rim and can catch the ball in traffic and finish on both sides of the basket.
Stephon Castle, U.S.C.
Draft range: 7-15
Castle was named the Big East Newcomer of the Year and was a great addition to Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer in the backcourt this season. He is comfortable sliding into any position along the perimeter and uses his size (6-6, 215 pounds) to his advantage in mismatch situations and finishing through contact in the paint. With so many offensive threats in college, Castle wasn't a reliable player, but he moved well off the ball, cutting and getting into position, and was a solid defender all season.
Donovan Clingan, U.S.C.
Draft range: 10-20
Clingan was plagued by injuries early in the season, but is finally back to health. He looked like a completely different player in the second half of the season and is moving very well in his 7-2 frame. When his teammates went cold from 3-point range in the first half of the Big East Championship (0-for-7 to begin the game), Clingan took over, shutting down blocks and getting to work in the paint. He had a double-double at halftime, contributing to the victory with 22 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 assists.
Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois
Draft range: 15-30
Shannon has the ability to lead the game offensively and can beat opponents in a variety of ways, including pulling up for long 3s in transition and getting to the rim through traffic. The 6-6 senior guard is left-handed and prefers the left side, but has worked hard this season to improve his finishing on the right side. He is averaging 37 points, shooting 52 percent from the field and 53 percent from 3-point range over the past two games. Projected to be a first-round pick, Shannon could move up draft boards if he continues to perform at a high level on college basketball's biggest stage.
