OKC Thunder: Weekly College Basketball preview, what to watch for
By Rylan Stiles
OKC Thunder will keep a close eye on Paolo Banchero
This year, the Jayhawks face-off with the Spartans, while Duke clashes with Kentucky. Both games will be shown on ESPN, with the Kansas tilt tipping off at 6 p.m., and the Duke contest following its conclusion.
The first game of the MSG Double Header does not feature a ton of can’t miss prospects but is loaded with potential late first or second-rounders. Ochai Agbaji is an interesting prospect despite his age, after this season at Kansas, he should come into the NBA as a polished scorer.
Remy Martin, a transfer from Arizona State, would enter the NBA with an elite trait, his three-point shooting alone will be worth a flyer in the second round if Martin keeps his name in the draft. As a one-dimensional player, his hardest task will be staying on the floor for the Jayhawks and keeping bench boss Bill Self happy. His scoring outbursts will be welcomed for KU. The Jayhawks’ top prospect, Jalen Wilson, is suspended for this contest.
While Michigan State lacks players that will catch NBA scout’s eyes right away, Duke’s matchup with Kentucky has no shortage of star power.
That star power starts with the potential first overall pick in the draft, Paolo Banchero. He will have to battle Gonzaga’s forward Chet Holgrem for that title. Along with Banchero, top prospect TyTy Washington is as close to a guaranteed Lottery pick as you can get for the Wildcats.
Each team is loaded with talent, as you would expect in a top ten heavy-weight fight. Oscar Tshiebwe, like Agbaji, will be viewed as more of a late first at best projection but he will enter the league as a polished defender as long as he can build on his college career which started at West Virginia. The big fella can protect the rim and NBA scouts hope to see a more mobile game.
Adrian Griffin Jr could throw his hat in the ring for the top spot in the draft with a perfect season, even without a flawless campaign, it is hard to envision a scenario that he falls outside of the top ten, some would even say top five. The Duke Blue Devils will be must-watch TV all year long.