March Madness is the place legends are made but it can also be where prospects gain draft hype. While many players have a chance to shine these five can increase their draft stock the most with a deep run.
If you are interested in seeing who these players would have to surpass as they climb the draft ranks, you can find the MIP 99 Ranking here!
The Prospects
5. Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall) – Projected Draft Position Undrafted (MIP Rank #58)
Richmond is most likely not showing up in a two round mock draft with his current stock. The Syracuse transfer took his talents from “The Orange” to South Orange this season joining Seton Hall. A secondary ball handler for most of the season, he has been thrown into the primary position with the injury of Bryce Aiken. With playing time and exposure in both the Big East and NCAA tournaments, he could drastically improve his draft stock in the upcoming weeks. A sophomore season that could look better on paper doesn’t tell the story when it comes to Richmond. Only averaging 8.8/3.8/4.3 his NBA future is more than his current surface numbers show. Richmond has become a 6’6″ combo guard with the length and athletic ability to develop into a two way player going forward. At his best he could become a player who guards one through three, handling pick and rolls with ease and commanding a second unit offense. While he can continue to improve on his basketball IQ, gaining exposure through the tournament will only increase his stock going forward. An improved shooting stroke over the next few weeks coupled with his athletic ability and defensive potential could put him in the conversation as a second round pick this season. If he does decide to come back to school, his draft stock for 2023 could rise into late first round territory.
4. EJ Liddell (Ohio State) – Projected Draft Position #28
Liddell is going to leave Ohio State for the NBA. After returning to school and betting on himself last season, the Buckeyes forward has proven to be a first round pick in the upcoming draft. Currently ranked as our 28th best prospect and a late first round pick, Liddell could find himself in the early twenties – late teens conversation with a successful March campaign. Their tournament run last season was a disaster, losing in the first round and ending the season on an extremely low note. Duane Washington Jr. departed for the draft and the state of the Buckeyes seemed to land on the shoulders of Liddell, who did not disappoint. Finishing the regular season 19-10 with a 12-8 conference record, Liddell has led his team back to the tournament with a community effort from his teammates. Any improvement from last year will be perceived as Liddell putting the team on his shoulders. If he can get his team into the second weekend the national exposure he will receive could lead to a rise in draft stock and larger role coming into the NBA.
3. Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee) – Projected Draft Position #26
The Tennessee Volunteers have started to gain momentum as a final four team. Balanced across the board and driven by their guards, the Orange and White could help increase the draft stock of their stars by making it through the first weekend. The greatest benefactor of their success would be dynamic freshman guard Kennedy Chandler. Labeled one of the premier freshman guards in the country, Chandler is a first round talent that has seen his stock slip during the regular season. Even though Tennessee has been a top SEC program, it feels like Chandler’s name isn’t discussed with some of the bigger prospects in the upcoming draft. Surpassed in the mock drafts by players like TyTy Washington, Johnny Davis and Ochai Agbaji, Chandler has a chance to shake up the lottery with a solid performance in March. Currently averaging 14/3/5 on shooting splits of 46/36/61 it is clear an efficient tournament could see him crack the top 20. Keep an eye on Chandler moving forward.
2. Max Christie (Michigan State) – Projected Draft Position #34
Coming in at #2 is Michigan State guard Max Christie. Christie has shown flashes over the year but his draft stock has taken a significant fall with each passing game. Once considered a lottery pick he is now slotted, in our ranking, to be selected sometime in the early second round and could fall even further if he doesn’t play well going forward. After averaging less than ten points per game this season, Christie is going to have to work hard in the tournament to recapture the first round interest of scouts and show what he can do as a prospect to climb back into the first round. Christie has had a freshman year similar to Brandon Boston Jr., who came into Kentucky with extremely high expectations and fell short. Boston was eventually taken in the second round with the fifty first pick. The Clippers essentially bet on the potential that Boston possessed before his college career and this could be a similar situation to Christie. However, if he is able to become a signficiant contributor in March, carve out a signature game, and elevate the Spartans to keep them alive he may hear his name called earlier than expected. With a tough matchup against Davidson to start the tournament, it will be do or die for both Michigan State and Max Christie.
1. Caleb Houstan (Michigan) – Projected Draft Position #32
Caleb Houstan is a first round talent however, he has struggled to prove it this season. Our #1 player that can benefit from this tournament is Houstan because of everything he stands to gain from a deep Wolverines run. Michigan comes in as the lower seed against Colorado State and while they are favored, getting out of the first weekend would do wonders for Houstan’s draft stock. Struggling from the floor this year, consistency will be key going forward. Built like a NBA level guard if he can show marketable improvement in his efficiency there is no reason he won’t be a first round pick. Currently averaging shooting splits of 38/36/78 the indication, based on the free throw percentage, is that he has a solid form which can translate to the flow of the game. If he can find that balance between real time and the free throw stripe to get both open and efficient looks from the field, it would be hard to ignore a 6-8 guard who shot, for example, 45/40/80 in the tournament. Add into the mix that many analysts don’t believe that Michigan deserves to be in the field Houstan could become a major media talking point. More media hype usually means more eyes on your game which can translate to a bump in draft stock. With all the tools needed to play at the next level, Houstan just needs one good run to solidify himself as a first round pick.
Honorable Mention: Allen Flanigan – Projected Draft Position Undrafted (MIP Rank #78)
Flanigan is an MIP Scouting favorite. With no real chance to get drafted this season, Flanigan suffered from an extended amount of missed time after deciding to return to Auburn last year. Many boards had projected him as a second round pick in the previous draft but he has lost his “shine” to evaluators since his injury. In an ideal world, Flanigan will take opportunity he has in the tournament to remind people why many saw him as an NBA level player. Increasing his averages, getting comfortable within flow of the game and helping extend the Tigers season will all be extremely important to inching closer to drafted rather than undrafted. It is more than likely Flanigan will take a fourth year at Auburn. In recent years many players that come back for their senior year have been drafted after a successful season, hopefully he can continue to work on his game and return to sophomore form next year.