Grant Hill Picks His No. 1 Seeds For 2015 NCAA Tournament

By Trevor Lowry @TheTrevorLowry on February 12, 2015

When it comes to college basketball, and really basketball in general, Grant Hill is a mastermind. After all, the former Duke Blue Devils star did win two national titles. Oh, and he’s a seven-time NBA All-Star too, so there’s that.

With Selection Sunday drawing closer for the 2014-15 college hoops season, Hill broke down his four No. 1 seeds and a couple of favorites for the title if the season ended today. His first pick? Well, let’s just say it should surprise nobody.

“First of all, I have to go with my Duke Blue Devils. I always have them in my top [four]. I think this year [there's] a justified reason for putting them there. They are a very good team, very talented. Probably have the best player in college basketball, or at least the first pick.”

Bias aside, Hill couldn’t be more right. Duke is currently ranked as high as No. 4, and it also has a record of 21-3 — not bad. As for the best player in college basketball, Jahlil Okafor was the No. 1 recruit in his class, he is averaging close to a double-double and, like Hill said, he could end up going No. 1 in the 2015 NBA Draft. Once again — not bad.

As for the other three teams, well …

“I also have to go with everyone’s favorite. You know, the University of Kentucky. They’re playing at an all-time high level. Great defense. Tremendous depth. Just a fantastic team. Wisconsin, a team that was there last year. They got [Frank] Kaminsky, they got Sam Dekker. They just got an experienced team. Then, I have to go with Gonzaga. A small team that not a lot of people get a chance to see.”

Who could argue with those choices? Kentucky — and I say this with a grain of salt, pepper or whatever you have in your counters — could end up being the best team ever. The Badgers, of course, made the Final Four last season, and basically brought back that entire team this season. As for the Bulldogs, they are always a threat in the tourney, and it’s no different this year. That is saying it as lightly as possible ’cause you know, they do hold a 24-1 record and are ranked as high as No. 2.

Hill also talked about the Virginia Cavaliers, Louisville Cardinals, Kansas Jayhawks and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Yes, the same Notre Dame team that Hill’s Blue Devils just got done clobbering not too long ago (90-60). However, there is still plenty of basketball that needs to be played. Heck, conference tournaments haven’t even started yet.

“Inevitably, there will be a team that is on no one’s radar that kind of emerges and puts itself in that position. That’s what’s exciting about March Madness. You really don’t know what’s going to happen. In the NBA, usually in the best-of-seven series, the best team will win. That’s not always the case in the tournament.”

How about the national champion, though? Who does Hill see as the favorite to win it all right now?

“Obviously, my heart is with Duke. If I am trying to be totally objective, I would probably go with Kentucky at this point. I know it’s an easy thing to say, but I just really like their defense. You have the depth, and then you have the fact that these young men have totally bought in to claim fewer minutes and really committing to defense. That means they believe in coach Cal and they believe in one another. You have to have talent, but you need to believe in what your coach is all about and what he is trying to get you to do. You have to play for one another, and those guys are doing that.”

So there you have it, folks. Don’t be surprised when Duke, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Gonzaga are selected as No. 1 seeds, and when Duke or Kentucky takes home the title. I think most people could probably agree with that.

We also got a chance to talk to Hill about the Allstate National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Good Works Team, for which he is part of the voting panel. The NABC Good Works Team, in a nutshell, is made up of student-athletes who give back to their community. According to prnewswire.com, “This prestigious award pays tribute to college basketball players at all levels for their impressive commitment to giving back to their communities and positively impacting the lives of those around them.”

Of course, being part of the NABC Good Works Team is a great honor, and Hill had great things to say about it, including why he enjoys it so much.

“I think my favorite part, believe it or not, is reading through all of the bios on all of the potential finalists and just being overwhelmed, amazed and inspired by these kids. These young men are still making a difference. That to me is one of the neat parts. And having the opportunity to actually meet them at the Final Four.”

Hill also weighed in on the privilege of being part of the voting panel.

“It’s an honor, it’s a huge responsibility. It’s something that’s important to me and something I’ve learned through the years — learned the importance of my platform and reaching out to make a difference. It’s eye-opening to me, and it’s inspiring too.”

Trevor Lowry is a Content Associate at www.RantSports.com. If you’re a tweeter feel free to follow him @TheTrevorLowry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.