March Madness: Top 10 frontcourt players in 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Alex Weber | Mar 19, 2019

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs handles the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

4 of 5

ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 22: PJ Washington #25 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts after a play in the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

4. P.J. Washington – Kentucky

Paul Jamaine Wasnington Jr has been a brute savage since mid-January. This Kentucky team lacked an identity through the beginning of conference play but has rounded into a monster rebounding team who fortifies the paint with a go-to crunch-time scorer in Washington on the offensive end.

Per-game averages don’t nearly tell the full tale of the tape with P.J. His leadership, ability to score jump-hooks over anybody, his determined rebounding, and his underrated elite defense makes him not just one of the best players in the tournament, but also one of the most important.

3. Grant Williams – Tennessee

I so badly want to put P.J. ahead of Williams because 1.) He’s my guy, and 2.) I genuinely prefer Washington over Williams, but I just can’t put P.J. ahead after the last few weeks. In the two games in the last month that Kentucky and Tennessee have played, Williams out-played Washington in both, and led the Vols to victory twice. That counts. As far as his game is concerned, Williams is a stout 6’5 power forward and may be the smartest player in college basketball.

His ability to generate easy layups at his height and draw fouls is second-to-none. For opposing players, Williams is a pest and utter annoyance. Williams’ combination of toughness, rebounding, mid-range touch, post finesse, and foul-drawing ability make him a bizarre but remarkably productive forward ready to make his mark in the NCAA Tournament.

Home/March Madness