NBA Draft: Prospects with most to gain in 2019 NCAA Tournament

With the NCAA Tournament field announced and the teams selected, collegiate players young and old(er) will have a grand stage to show the world what they’re made of. What NBA Draft prospects have the most to gain from this year’s tournament?

March Madness and the ensuing NCAA Tournament offer more than just a shot at collegiate glory via “Cinderella” runs, Final Four berths or national championships.

The Tournament fields some of the best teams in the nation, and thus fosters some of most talented amateur athletes that North America has to offer. Sixty-eight teams are fighting for a chance at cutting down nets at the end of April. For prospects, hundreds are clamoring to hear their names included in the 60 that are announced on June 20, 2019.

The NCAA Tournament offers many of these prospects a grand stage to show what they’re capable of, proving their worth — or disproving it — in front of millions and millions of onlookers. Among these massive audiences will be scouts, coaches and team executives, who are all spending valuable time trying to pinpoint their favored prospects as the Draft inches closer.

For many scouts, this multi-week even acts as the culmination of months and even years of prior scouting, with the Tournament being the last chance for players to actively participate in meaningful competition between March/April and the June pre-draft process, which features an altered setting that sometimes takes place behind closed doors.

Some college players are going to be exposed in the coming weeks and their stock will fall as a result. For others, though, the Tournament gives them the opportunity they need to jump up draft boards everywhere, gaining important momentum entering the college and NBA offseason.

So, who are five prospects who have the most to gain?

(All stats and possession data are from sports-reference.com and/or Synergy Sports unless otherwise noted.)