With only four teams left to play for the NCAA's men's basketball title, the vast majority have been eliminated from contention, freeing up their players to declare for the NBA Draft.
First, the players who have already declared:
R.J. Hunter, shooting guard, Georgia State: Hunter told ESPN Monday he plans to declare for the NBA Draft. He is a terrific shooter and smart player with good height and all the intangibles a team could want out of a guard. He is also not a slacker on defense, though ESPN evaluators believe he needs to add to his slim frame to maximize his value.
His worst-case scenario could well be utilization as a sharpshooter off the bench, a highly valuable asset that fits on any NBA roster.
Montrezl Harrell, forward, junior, and Terry Rozier, guard, sophomore, both at Louisville: Their coach, Rick Pitino, confirmed both would declare for the NBA Draft at a press conference Monday, ESPN reported.
Neither were the one-and-done type of talents just waiting to go pro, but instead flourished in Pitino's system. Bleacher Report described Harrell as a "double-double machine," comparing him with UCLA's Kevon Looney, a freshman forward who had not announced his decision. Players that can consistently post double-doubles, or something close, will always have a job in the NBA.
Rozier is a bit more of a mystery, as he has shown an ability to get to the basket, but does not always finish. He is a terrific athlete and a good defender, but does not posses desirable traits as a ball handler.
Seniors likely to declare:
Frank Kaminsky, forward, Wisconsin: the latter half of Kaminsky's four years at Wisconsin has turned him into a Wooden Award favorite and an All-American. As a seven-foot forward who can shoot, he is also a highly impressive NBA prospect. It would be a mistake to hope for him to be the next Dirk Nowitzki, but there are few seven-footers in the NBA who can shoot.
Jerian Grant, guard, Notre Dame: like Kaminsky, Grant is an All-American, though he has averaged double-digit point totals in each of his four years at Notre Dame. At six-foot-five and 200 pounds, Grant could also provide versatility for an NBA team with his strong ball handling and shooting skills.
Just waiting for the tourney to end:
Jahlil Okafor, center, Duke: now a freshman All-American, Okafor was seen as a one-and-done lock before he stepped on the court for Duke. Now, after the season he had, he may well be the top pick in the NBA Draft no matter who wins the lottery. He may not have Kaminsky's jump shot, but Okafor is lethal in the low post and strong as a rebounder. Coach Mike Krzyzewski has also praised Okafor's ability to pass and his improving defense.
Willie Cauley-Stein, center, Kentucky: Cauley-Stein represents a number of Kentucky players who stayed an extra year to prove what they can do. Like his teammates, he is big and athletic and plays with intense physicality. Multiple Wildcats' numbers will be skewed because of the unselfish offense coach John Calipari runs, but the team will be not be short of lottery picks this year.