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NCAA Tournament 2016: NBA Draft Prospects To Watch For In The Bracket

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The No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft, Ben Simmons, won’t be participating in the NCAA Tournament, and that’s a big disappointment. However, there are plenty of other prospects to keep your eye on.

15. Brice Johnson (PF, Senior, North Carolina)

Brice Johnson (PF, Senior, North Carolina) Getty Images
Johnson will be a featured part of North Carolina's offense as they chase after a championship. He led the ACC in field goal percentage (61.4 percent), but the senior needs to put on weight before being able to guard NBA big men.

Johnson will be a featured part of North Carolina's offense as they chase after a championship. He led the ACC in field goal percentage (61.4 percent), but the senior needs to put on weight before being able to guard NBA big men.

14. Denzel Valentine (SG/SF, Senior, Michigan State)

Denzel Valentine (SG/SF, Senior, Michigan State) Getty Images
Valentine shoots 40 percent for his career from downtown, with his numbers getting better season to season, including an absurd 44.7 percent mark in 2015-16. At his height (6-foot-6), with his shooting and playmaking ability he is a great prospect.

Valentine shoots 40 percent for his career from downtown, with his numbers getting better season to season, including an absurd 44.7 percent mark in 2015-16. At his height (6-foot-6), with his shooting and playmaking ability he is a great prospect.

13. Diamond Stone (C, Freshman, Maryland)

Diamond Stone (C, Freshman, Maryland) Getty Images
Diamond Stone clearly has maturity issues, but his potential is immense. Stone was a legitimate threat in the post and his jump shot will help him in the NBA game. Maryland underperformed this season, and has a tougher road to title than they'd hoped. They'll need a huge run from Stone to to make that happen.

Diamond Stone clearly has maturity issues, but his potential is immense. Stone was a legitimate threat in the post and his jump shot will help him in the NBA game. Maryland underperformed this season, and has a tougher road to title than they'd hoped. They'll need a huge run from Stone to to make that happen.

12. Wade Baldwin (PG, Sophomore, Vanderbilt)

Wade Baldwin (PG, Sophomore, Vanderbilt) Getty Images
Baldwin is a rising prospect, his improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons being incredible. His scoring, FGAs, assists, and ORtg have all increased. The biggest question mark about Baldwin is that he may not be a true point, averaging nearly 3 TOs, he's most valuable as a 3-point shooter.

Baldwin is a rising prospect, his improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons being incredible. His scoring, FGAs, assists, and ORtg have all increased. The biggest question mark about Baldwin is that he may not be a true point, averaging nearly 3 TOs, he's most valuable as a 3-point shooter.

11. Damian Jones (C, Junior, Vanderbilt)

Damian Jones (C, Junior, Vanderbilt) Getty Images
Damian Jones' fouling has been an issues (5.5 per 40 minutes) but when he's on the court, he shows the potential to be a dominant defensive player. It's amazing that Vanderbilt lost 13 games.

Damian Jones' fouling has been an issues (5.5 per 40 minutes) but when he's on the court, he shows the potential to be a dominant defensive player. It's amazing that Vanderbilt lost 13 games.

10. Ivan Rabb (PF, Freshman, Cal)

Ivan Rabb (PF, Freshman, Cal) Getty Images
Cal had tremendous expectations this season due to the additions of Ivan Rabb and Jaylen Brown. Rabb has taken a backseat to Brown, but that doesn't mean he won't be a good pro either. Rabb's post game and rebounding are enough reason to watch him in the tournament.

Cal had tremendous expectations this season due to the additions of Ivan Rabb and Jaylen Brown. Rabb has taken a backseat to Brown, but that doesn't mean he won't be a good pro either. Rabb's post game and rebounding are enough reason to watch him in the tournament.

9. Deyonta Davis (PF, Freshman, Michigan State)

Deyonta Davis (PF, Freshman, Michigan State) Getty Images
Davis has been one of the best shot blockers in the country this season, and he will look to continue that play into the tournament.

Davis has been one of the best shot blockers in the country this season, and he will look to continue that play into the tournament.

8. Skal Labissiere (PF/C, Freshman, Kentucky)

Skal Labissiere (PF/C, Freshman, Kentucky) Getty Images
Labissiere has been one of the most unpredictable prospects in the country. His production offensively has been almost non-existent causing him to significantly slip in the mind of most scouts. Coming in as the nation's No. 1 high school recruit, Skal had a lot to live up to and perhaps one more year of college would be best.

Labissiere has been one of the most unpredictable prospects in the country. His production offensively has been almost non-existent causing him to significantly slip in the mind of most scouts. Coming in as the nation's No. 1 high school recruit, Skal had a lot to live up to and perhaps one more year of college would be best.

7. Demetrius Jackson (PG, Junior, Notre Dame)

Demetrius Jackson (PG, Junior, Notre Dame) Getty Images
Notre Dame was 13th in the country in ORtg, led by their top scorer and do it all point guard, Demetrius Jackson. He leads the Fighting Irish in scoring, assists, and steals, while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line. Jackson is an elite athlete with a deadly first step, which makes him one of the best defensive guards in the draft.

Notre Dame was 13th in the country in ORtg, led by their top scorer and do it all point guard, Demetrius Jackson. He leads the Fighting Irish in scoring, assists, and steals, while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line. Jackson is an elite athlete with a deadly first step, which makes him one of the best defensive guards in the draft.

6. Jamal Murray (PG/SG, Freshman, Kentucky)

Jamal Murray (PG/SG, Freshman, Kentucky) Getty Images
It's unusual for John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats to be boasting a guard as their freshman star, but this year that's the case. Murray has an excellent handle, can finish in the paint and shoot the three. He was an excellent rebounding guard this season (grabbing 5.5 per game).

It's unusual for John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats to be boasting a guard as their freshman star, but this year that's the case. Murray has an excellent handle, can finish in the paint and shoot the three. He was an excellent rebounding guard this season (grabbing 5.5 per game).

5. Buddy Hield (SG, Senior, Oklahoma)

Buddy Hield (SG, Senior, Oklahoma) Getty Images
Hield is the favorite for National Player of the Year and could be a top-5 pick in the draft, a rare honor for seniors anymore. Buddy's absurd offensive numbers speak for themselves, and he might be the most watchable playable in the tournament.

Hield is the favorite for National Player of the Year and could be a top-5 pick in the draft, a rare honor for seniors anymore. Buddy's absurd offensive numbers speak for themselves, and he might be the most watchable playable in the tournament.

4. Jakob Poeltl (C, Sophomore, Utah)

Jakob Poeltl (C, Sophomore, Utah) Getty Images
Poeltl's offensive improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons has been dramatic. He was already a promising prospect on defense, but now he's a lock to be a top-five pick.

Poeltl's offensive improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons has been dramatic. He was already a promising prospect on defense, but now he's a lock to be a top-five pick.

3. Kris Dunn (PG, Junior, Providence)

Kris Dunn (PG, Junior, Providence) Getty Images
Dunn was one of the best passers in the country for the last two seasons and is excellent at reading the passing lanes (3.1 steals per 40 minutes). His elite athleticism makes him a great isolation player who will put on a show in the tournament.

Dunn was one of the best passers in the country for the last two seasons and is excellent at reading the passing lanes (3.1 steals per 40 minutes). His elite athleticism makes him a great isolation player who will put on a show in the tournament.

2. Jaylen Brown (SG/SF, Freshman, Cal)

Jaylen Brown (SG/SF, Freshman, Cal) Getty Images
Brown is the other half of the fabulous Cal freshman, and the more impressive. He's likely a lock for the third pick and has an incredible skillset for a player of his size. Brown can lead the fast break and attack the rim in the half court.

Brown is the other half of the fabulous Cal freshman, and the more impressive. He's likely a lock for the third pick and has an incredible skillset for a player of his size. Brown can lead the fast break and attack the rim in the half court.

1. Brandon Ingram (SF, Freshman, Duke)

Brandon Ingram (SF, Freshman, Duke) Getty Images
Ingram will be the second pick behind Ben Simmons, and he deserves it. Ingram has been incredible for Duke this season, showing off his great jump shot and a ridiculous 7-foot-3 wingspan.

Ingram will be the second pick behind Ben Simmons, and he deserves it. Ingram has been incredible for Duke this season, showing off his great jump shot and a ridiculous 7-foot-3 wingspan.

Chipper Murphy is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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