Best Players in NCAA March Madness 2016

It’s high time to polish your college basketball knowledge, as the 2016 March Madness is about to rule a month of our lives again. Consider this list of top players to watch in the upcoming National Tournament as part of your education.

More college basketball? Check out our previews of the following conference championships: MAAC | Atlantic Sun | Big South | America East

March Madness News & Predictions

Point Guards

Kris Dunn (Providence)

Dunn has the size, the length, and most importantly the skills to become one of the best players in the tournament. And based on what he’s done so far this season, it wouldn’t come as a surprise for anyone who follows college basketball if the 6-4 guard record impressive numbers in the Big Dance. The co-winner of last season’s Big East Player of the Year honors is averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.9 steals on the season.

Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame)

With the departure of Jerian Grant for the NBA, the ball-handling duties for the Fighting Irish have definitely landed squarely on Jackson’s shoulders. Jackson has seen his numbers rise this season to 16.3 points and 4.9 assists, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field. Aside from his excellent feel for the game, Jackson could also resort to his athleticism to create scoring opportunities for the team.

Shooting Guards

Buddy Hield (Oklahoma)

Hield’s decision to stay in Norman for another year instead of turning pro last year is paying off big time as far as inflating his NBA draft stock is concerned. NBA-ready or not, Hield has made a name for himself in college ball as one of the most dangerous scoring threats out there. On the season, Hield is putting up 25.4 points per game with an impressive 49.6 field goal shooting percentage. Hield is also a dead shot from deep, as he’s making 4.1 threes per game on an efficient and almost unfair 48.1% shooting as of this writing.

Denzel Valentine (Michigan State)

Like Hield, Valentine can score with the best of them. But Michigan State’s need for an added ball handler has forced Valentine to moonlight often as a point guard for the Spartans. No problem. Valentine has proven that he’s not just a one-trick pony, capable of only putting up baskets, as he’s leading the Spartans in points (19.6 PPG) and assists (7.2 APG), while running second in rebounds (7.6 RPG). This kid will do anything for his team to win and that’s enough reason to go watch him in March Madness.

Small Forwards

Brandon Ingram (Duke)

Ingram is the one guy on Duke’s roster who can do it all on offense. Standing 6-9 and with a 7-3 wingspan, Ingram blends his unique frame that makes NBA scouts salivate with decent handles and solid stroke from the perimeter. He is knocking down 41.4% of his two-point jumpers and 40.6% from beyond the arc. He also doesn’t shy away when up against elite teams, which tells you something about his value when the National Tournament rolls around. He scored 25 and 20 points in back-to-back games against Virginia and North Carolina.

Jaylen Brown (California)

California is going streaking in Pac-12 play. As of this writing, the Bears are riding a seven-game win streak that has undeniably turned the heads of many bracketologists. And that success has a lot to do with freshman Jaylen Brown. Brown is averaging 15.8 points and 5.7 rebounds this season and looks poised to do further damage in the National Tournament. Brown is an explosive and athletic scorer, who often collects points from driving to the basket. His jumper leaves much to be desired, as he’s shooting just 31.6% off two-point jump shots, but his ability to power his way to the basket and score is very much evidenced by his 66.2% shooting at the rim.

Power Forwards

Ben Simmons (LSU)

You know the guy. With the way people are talking about Simmons, you’d think that he’s the second coming of LeBron James once he inevitably gets picked by the Lakers/Sixers in the next NBA draft. Do-it-all players are always fun to watch in the NCAA Tournament and Simmons is exactly that. He paces LSU in points (19.6 PPG) and rebounds (11.8 RPG). What makes him even more special and qualified to be compared with King James, is his passing skill that is uncommon for a guy his size. Simmons is dishing out 5.0 dimes per game this season, which is fourth best in the SEC. Think about that.

Ivan Rabb (California)

We mentioned Jaylen Brown as a driving force behind California’s recent surge, but Ivan Rabb is also another big reason why the Golden Bears are winning. The frosh forward isn’t the stretch-four that will dazzle you with a feathery jumper nor will surprise you with some big man ball handling, but Rabb will definitely capture people’s attention with his tenacity and nose for the ball down low. Rabb is averaging 12.2 points and 8.3 rebounds. A bunch of his points comes from putbacks, as he has 34 stickbacks, which is 27.3% of his made shots at the rim. He spells trouble for opponents on defense, too, as Rabb is swatting away 1.2 shots per contest.

Centers

Jakob Poeltl (Utah)

Poeltl is very ripe for the NBA, and this coming March Madness figures to be the Austrian big man’s last auditioning phase before declaring to turn pro. The sophomore center is Utah’s big player and arguably the most polished center in all of college basketball. He sports a solid post game and reacts well in pick-and-roll plays, which offsets his apparent lack of perimeter touch. Thus far this season, the seven-footer is averaging 17.6 points and nine rebounds over 29.6 minutes per game.

Diamond Stone (Maryland)

Everyone was so high on the expected improvement of Melo Trimble prior to this season that Stone was somehow overlooked early on. Stone, however, has rapidly turned into a gem and is now a cornerstone of Maryland basketball. Stone is an old-school bruiser, who wills his way inside by using his 6-11, 255-pound frame. He mostly generates buckets by loitering around the basket, scoring off feeds and offensive rebounds. His coming-out party was a 39-point, 12-rebound explosion in a 70-64 win over Penn State back in December.