4 PLAYERS WHO HELPED THEIR NBA DRAFT STOCK IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

Shabazz Napier          PG – 6’0 – 170 – 22 years old – U-Conn

Nobody helped his stock more than Napier. All the senior guard did in the six tournament games on the way to leading the Huskies to a National Championship was average 21.7pts – 5.5reb – 4.5ast – 2.5st while shooting 46% from the field, 46.5% from 3-point country and went 31-33 from the free throw line for 94%. Oh yeah he also scored 22pts in the title clinching game against a bunch of future NBA players from Kentucky.

James Young              SF –  6’7 – 200 – 18 years old – Kentucky

While Julius Randle got most of the pub all season long and Aaron Harrison hit some big shots for the Wildcats late in games, Young also rose to the occasion in the tourney, saving his best for the last two games when he scored 17 points against Wisconsin in the Final Four and 20 points in the title game loss to U-Conn. He is now on everybody’s radar after those performances and the fact that he averaged 14ppg for his freshman year with the Cats.

Cleanthony Early       SF –  6’8 – 215 – 22 years old – Wichita St.

While Wichita St. came up short in their ultimate goal, it wasn’t due to the lack of effort from Early. The senior finished his college career scoring 31 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in the Shockers only loss of the season to Kentucky. In the other tournament game he scored 23 points and pulled down 7 boards. In those two games he made 21 of 32 shots from the field for 66% while also draining 7 of 14 three’s. For the season the small forward averaged 16pts and 6reb.

Kyle Anderson            PF – 6’9 –  235 – 20 years old – UCLA

His tournament numbers won’t overwhelm you (11.3pts-7.6reb-5.3ast), but his versatility at his size should. You can call him a point forward if you like after averaging (14.6pts – 8.8reb – 6.5ast) for the year. He registered one triple/double during his sophomore season and 16 double/doubles and missed out on two more triple/doubles by one assist and two rebounds.

*Napier and Early are seniors so they will be in the draft. Young and Anderson are underclassmen and as of April 8, 2014 they had not made their decision as to whether they will stay in school, or leave early for the NBA Draft.