8 best NBA prospects to watch in Orlando for March Madness
As the home of the Orlando Magic, Amway Center is accustomed to hosting games featuring NBA players.
But with the NCAA men’s basketball tournament returning to Orlando, there could be multiple players who’ll play their last college basketball games in Central Florida before making their way to the league.
Amway Center is one of eight host sites for the tournament’s first- and second-round games.
In the East Regional, No. 5 seed Duke (26-8) will match up against No. 12 seed Oral Roberts (30-4) at 7:10 p.m. Thursday (CBS). The victor will face the winner of No. 4 seed Tennessee (23-10) and No. 13 Louisiana (26-7), which is scheduled for a 9:40 p.m. tipoff Thursday (CBS).
In the South Regional, No. 4 seed Virginia (25-7) will play No. 13 Furman (27-7) at 12:40 p.m. on Thursday (truTV). Whoever wins that game will face the winner of No. 5 seed San Diego State (27-6) and No. 12 Charleston (31-3), which tips at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday (truTV).
The second-round games will be played Saturday, with the winners of those games advancing to the Sweet 16 on March 23-24.
Here are the top eight potential NBA prospects to keep an eye on at Amway Center:
1. Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
Height: 7 foot | Weight: 230 | Age: 19
2022-23 averages: 15.4 points (44.6% shooting — 50.7% on 2s, 29.7% on 3s), 9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals.
NBA skill/role: Offensively versatile big
The buzz: Filipowski’s skillset will be a great fit in the NBA. He has the ballhandling and playmaking skills of a player significantly smaller. He can operate as the ballhandler and roller/pop in a pick-and-roll, post up smaller players on switches, drive to the basket and spot up beyond the arc. Improved 3-point shooting will open up more playmaking.
2. Dariq Whitehead (Duke)
Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 220 | Age: 18
2022-23 averages: 8.1 points (40.8% shooting — 40.4% on 2s, 41.1% on 3s), 2.4 rebounds and 1 assist.
NBA skill/role: Scoring/shooting off the dribble
The buzz: Whitehead’s injury-plagued freshman season has made it difficult to get a read on his development. He was known for his tough shotmaking in high school, which along with his 3-point shooting started to translate to college midseason. A strong run in the tournament could boost his draft stock.
3. Julian Phillips (Tennessee)
Height: 6-foot-8 | Weight: 198 | Age: 19
2022-23 averages: 9 points (41.8% shooting — 46.8% on 2s, 25.5% on 3s), 5 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
NBA skill/role: Versatile defensive-focused wing
The buzz: Phillips’ size, length and athleticism help him guard multiple positions at a high level. He does a lot of the “little things” well, such as crashing the boards, cutting and creating plays for others. His struggles as an outside shooter is the main hole in his game.
4. Dereck Lively II (Duke)
Height: 7-foot-1 | Weight: 230 | Age: 19
2022-23 averages: 5.4 points (65.8% shooting — 72.3% on 2s), 5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.1 assists.
NBA skill/role: Rim protection
The buzz: A 5-star, Lively has used his size and athleticism to become an elite defender for the Blue Devils. He’s versatile, having the ability to deter shots at the rim and play in various defensive schemes. He’ll likely primarily be a lob threat as a pro, but he’s a capable passer and has good touch around the rim.
5. Reece Beekman (Virginia)
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 174 | Age: 21
2022-23 averages: 9.4 points (40.3% shooting — 42.4% on 2s, 35.5% on 3s), 5.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals.
NBA skill/role: Steady ball-handling guard
The buzz: Being named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year speaks for itself — Beekman is an elite perimeter defender with minimal weaknesses on that end. Add that to his playmaking/passing vision and taking care of the ball, and you get a reliable two-way player. His impact on the game goes beyond the box score.
6. Tyrese Proctor (Duke)
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 175 | Age: 18
2022-23 averages: 9.3 points (38.1% shooting — 43.9% on 2s, 32.4% on 3s), 3.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds.
NBA skill/role: Passing
The buzz: Proctor’s distribution, especially as the ballhandler in the pick-and-roll, is his standout skill. He takes care of the ball and is a better 3-point shooter than he’s shown during his freshman season with the Blue Devils. He isn’t a definite draft pick, if he declares for it this year, so a strong showing in the tournament could significantly raise his stock.
7. Jalen Slawson (Furman)
Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 210 | Age: 23
2022-23 averages: 15.7 points (55.6% shooting — 62.4% on 2s, 39.4% on 3s), 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks.
NBA skill/role: Two-way versatile wing
The buzz: Slawson, the Southern Conference Player of the Year, has a well-rounded game. There wasn’t an area he didn’t excel at during his fifth year with the Paladins and he’s gotten better as a shooter each year. His draft stock will likely take a hit because he played against a lower level of competition throughout his college career — making his time in the tournament crucial.
8. Max Abmas (Oral Roberts)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 165 pounds | Age: 21
2022-23 averages: 22.2 points (44.1% shooting — 53.6% on 2s, 37.7% on 3s), 4.4 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.1 steals.
NBA skill/role: 3-point shooting off the dribble
The buzz: Abmas is an elite shooter, including on pull-ups, whose range extends well beyond the college 3-point line. His threat as a shooter opens up scoring opportunities inside the arc. He won’t be as ball dominant at the next level and will need to improve as a defender, especially since he’s a smaller guard.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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