Several prominent NBA Draft prospects competed in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, NC, today. Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe played for Baylor against Mississippi State in the opening game, followed by Duke players Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, and Kon Knueppel against Mount St. Mary’s.
Edgecombe, a 6’4 freshman guard, started slow but finished strong in a 75-72 win. He ended the game with 14 points (3-8 from the field, 2-6 from three), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. He was 6-6 from the free throw line and iced two free throws late to help seal the win.
Edgecombe is an elite athlete, even by NBA standards, and already plays defense at a high level. He uses those athletic gifts to help contribute offensively but that’s the side of the court where he would most benefit from added polish. He’s currently shooting 43.5% from the field and 34.5% from three. Those aren’t necessarily bad percentages, but an improved handle would help him take advantage of his athleticism more and get a few easier looks.
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For the Duke prospects, none of them had to push themselves too hard in a 93-49 win over Mount St. Mary’s. Flagg was returning after missing several games due to an ankle injury but looked back to form in 22 minutes of action. He turned in a well-rounded outing with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
In 21 minutes, Maluach added 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. He didn’t tally any blocks in this game but the 7’2 center’s length was a real deterrent. Mount St. Mary’s forward Dola Adebayo did attempt to dunk on Maluach but wasn’t able to convert, otherwise very few players attempted to attack the rim with Maluach in the game.
Knueppel, a 6’6 wing, has averaged 19.4 points over his last 5 games but took more of a backseat in today’s game. He recorded 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. He appeared to tweak something today, but head coach Jon Scheyer assured media after the game that taking him out was precautionary and he’d be good for their next round game against Edgecombe and Baylor.
Flagg is the consensus first pick and the Wizards would almost assuredly take him if they win the lottery. If they drop a few spots, Edgecombe, Maluach, and Knueppel could all be intriguing options for varying reasons.
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Duke’s other guards, Tyrese Proctor, Isaiah Evans, and Sion James, could also find themselves on NBA rosters next year and are worth an extended look from the Wizards scouting report. These two teams will face off against each other on Sunday (time TBD) and it would be wise for the Wizards to have someone in the building to see them in action.