NCAA Tournament 2023: 4 breakout star candidates to watch

Watching players break out on the biggest stage in the sport is one of my favorite parts about March Madness. Turning in a special performance in front of an NCAA Tournament national audience is a really cool thing to see happen.

Breakouts come in all shapes and sizes. In some cases, a little-known mid-major player carries his team to glory. In others, a role player or lesser-known piece of a Final Four team plays at a super high level and starts to turn heads. These types of players can play themselves up NBA Draft boards by showing how they can contribute to winning when the stakes are high.

We’ve seen plenty of small conference players make names for themselves in recent NCAA Tournament. From New Mexico State’s Teddy Allen last season, Oral Roberts’ Max Abmas two years ago (he’s back for more in 2023!), to Stephen F Austin’s Thomas Walkup a few years back, it’s special to see a guy put together a masterful performance and lead his team toward defeating a giant.

Villanova’s Donte DiVincenzo, Baylor’s Davion Mitchell, and Oregon’s Jordan Bell come to mind as guys whose NBA attention rose after impressive play in March. It’s not always just about scoring either – those three guys specifically turned heads with their ability to defend as well.

I’ve picked out four guys that I think have the potential to break out in a similar fashion for this year’s NCAA Tournament. Keep reading to find out who.