Memphis Grizzlies fan prospect guide to 2024 NCAA March Madness
March Madness is here. Memphis Grizzlies fans have plenty of reason to be tuned in. Who should we be watching for?
March Madness is here! “First 4” games kick off tonight to set the field of 64 teams. The games will set the sports world ablaze for a few weeks. Brackets will be busted, tournament darlings will emerge, and players can breakout and win themselves millions of dollars in draft stock.
So that’s what I’m here to gauge. Every year, I run a piece where I identify interesting prospects — it’s somewhere in the GBB archives deep in the internet. If you want a more extensive look into the draft prospects in the tournament, Maxwell Baumbach of No Ceilings has a great deep dive.
This tournament should have more Memphis eyes for 2 reasons: 1) the 1st and 2nd round in the South and West region will be hosted in Memphis, and 2) the Grizzlies’ injury-riddled season has shifted more focus into the draft.
So, let’s get into it.
East Region
UConn: Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Tristan Newton, Alex Karaban, Cam Spencer
Auburn: Johnni Broome
Iowa State: Milan Momcilovic
Connecticut has the most complete team in the country, boasting a starting 5 that consists of 5 legit top-60 prospects in this year’s class. Donovan Clingan may be the best big man to target in the draft, if the Grizzlies opt that direction with their hole at the center position — an absolute speciman with improved feel and impeccable rim protection. Stephon Castle is a confident, consistent jumper away from potentially being the best long-term collegiate prospect in this class. Alex Karaban, Tristan Newton, and Cam Spencer are two-way connectors that amplify their system.
Johnni Broome is the rock for Auburn, a high-feel big man that led the charge towards the Tigers’ SEC championship run.
Milan Momcilovic is a young versatile forward with scoring potential to be untapped, and he may not be someone to watch for in 2024, but could be a big riser in 2025.
West Region
Clemson: PJ Hall
New Mexico: Jaelen House, JT Toppin, Donovan Dent
Baylor: Yves Missi and Ja’Kobe Walter
Dayton: DaRon Holmes, Koby Brea
Arizona: Pelle Larsson, Keshad Johnson, KJ Lewis
Clemson, New Mexico, Baylor are in Memphis this weekend.
PJ Hall is a technically sound tweener big that could be a 2nd round target.
New Mexico could be the ultimate chaos creator. Jaelen House is an absolute dawg defensively. Donovan Dent is electric. For draft risers, watch for 6’10” forward JT Toppin — a ball of energy forward that’s shown some shooting potential.
Yves Missi is a center to really monitor. Though he’s raw, he booms with electric flashes and eye-popping athleticism. Ja’Kobe Walter has the framework of a 3-and-D wing but has some ways to realize his potential. A strong tournament could bolster his case as a lottery talent.
DaRon Holmes is such a fundamentally sound big man on both sides of the ball, anchoring both sides of the ball. Probably more of an Exhibit 10 guy, Koby Brea might be the best shooter in the country — 49.2% from 3 on 6 attempts per game.
Arizona’s team is really deep, but these 3 prospects stand out more to me: Pelle Larsson (spot-up, connective slasher), Keshad Johnson (versatile forward), KJ Lewis (energy wing off the bench).
South Region
Duke: Kyle Filipowski, Jared McCain, Tyrese Proctor
Kentucky: Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard, Justin Edwards, Zvinimir Ivisic
Marquette: Oso Ighodaro, Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones
Houston: Jamal Snead
Colorado: Cody Williams, Tristan Da Silva, KJ Simpson
Houston, Texas A&M, and Nebraska (Shoutout Keisei Tominaga, who could steal the show this weekend) will be in Memphis this weekend.
Kyle Filipowski is a skilled 7-footer that’s grown as a perimeter creator and defensive anchor. Jared McCain could be the biggest rising freshman with a long tournament run, as he’s a superb shot-maker with solid defensive chops. Tyrese Proctor could rebuild his draft stock as a connective combo guard.
Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard are the most electric duo in the country, and perhaps the biggest draft risers in college basketball. Justin Edwards has quietly put things together in a more simplified role, and has the chance to earn some money back as a lottery prospect. Kentucky has interesting big men, but none of them really solidified good draft stock. If any of them could though, watch for the 7’2” Zvonimir Ivisic.
Marquette is a fun team. I really hope Tyler Kolek is healthy, as he’s the type of competitor that can charge them to a deep run. Oso Ighodaro isn’t a shooter, but his floor game as a 6’11” big man is so intriguing. Shoutout to Kam Jones of ECS, a silk shot-making combo guard.
Jamal Snead is cut from the same cloth as guys like Jose Alvardo and Jevon Carter, a floor general that’s an absolute ballhawk defender.
Colorado is one of the “First 4” teams, so who knows how far they go. However, they have a trio of interesting prospects. Cody Williams — brother of budding OKC star Jalen Williams — is a prototypical 6’8” wing, who is a couple of big outings from emerging as a bonafide top-3 pick. Tristan Da Silva is a “jack of all trades” 6’9” forward. KJ Simpson might be more of a stereotypical small guard that fares better in college, but his two-way skillset could be handy as a NBA backup point guard.
Midwest Region
Purdue: Zach Edey
Kansas: Kevin McCullar, Johnny Furphy
South Carolina: Collin Murray-Boyles
Creighton: Baylor Scheierman
UT: Dalton Knecht, Josiah Jordan-James
You cannot miss Zach Edey, literally.
Kansas cooled off, but Kevin McCullar and Johnny Furphy are draft prospects to watch as 2 fascinating 2-way players. McCullar is one of the best defenders in the draft, and every team is looking for 6’9” wing that shoots 3’s and fits into any offense.
Collin Murray-Boyles has been the recent freshman riser in the Draft Twitter (X) sphere, as the only hole in his game is his shooting — a 6’7” forward that’s an efficiency monster on both ends of the floor.
Baylor Scheierman can be an interesting guy for a 2-way next year with his combination of size, shooting, and skill.
Dalton Knecht is the best scorer in the country, a superb movement shooter. Josiah Jordan-James is a combo guard energy guy to watch, at least friend of the program (and massive VFL) Shawn Coleman keeps recommending him.
My top-5 list of players I’m looking forward to watching:
Grizzlies perspective: Donovan Clingan, Cody Williams, Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle
Draft riser perspective: Yves Missi, Justin Edwards, Johnny Furphy, DaRon Holmes, Collin Murray-Boyles
Deeper (2nd-round) targets: Tristan Da Silva, Oso Ighodaro, Jaelen House, Kam Jones, Tristan Newton
March Madness always brings out beautiful chaos, and this one for Memphis fans should be the most intriguing we’ve seen in quite some time.
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