Players to watch in the 2019 NCAA Tournament:

Centers

Point Guards

Power & Stretch Forwards

Shooting Guards

The average size of a NBA starting small forward on a Playoffs caliber team is 6'7.5", 220 lbs.

A good small forward can be difficult to come by. In our opinion, the landscape of the THREE spot in the NBA is easily and consistently the least populated with capable contributors. The top 19 NBA small forwards are great-to-good players but beyond that there are positions ready for the taking. Consider the SF's ranked 20th through 30th in efficiency per-minute: Jae Crowder, Juan Hernangomez, Evan Turner, Joe Ingles, DeMarre Carroll, Jake Layman, Vince Carter, Nicolas Batum, Miles Bridges, Troy Brown Jr., and Mike Scott. There are some solid guys there but none that move the needle on the current superstar scale. Of course, Vince Carter was once a superstar but 2019 Vince is more super-solid than superstar.

The crop of small forwards in the NCAA Tournament that we will be watching most closely...

Brandon Clarke - Gonzaga. 6'8", 210 lbs junior. ...Clarke is an explosive, above the rim, athlete! After Zion Williamson, Clarke rates as the second most efficient player in our 2019 NBA Draft database. Clarke averages 16.5 points (63% FG), 8.4 rebounds, and 3.0 blocked shots per game. He has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio but he is inconsistent with perimeter shooting (28.6 % 3-pt. fg). Defensively, Clarke is fantastic. He can guard positions 1-4, and some small- ball fives as well. Gonzaga is 5.9 points per 100 possessions better on defense with Clarke on the floor. Clarke is a 69% FT shooter. ...Clarke started his college career at San Jose State. He played there two seasons before a transfer to Gonzaga. He sat out 2017-18.  

 

Dylan Windler - Belmont. 6'7", 195 lbs. Senior. ... Windler is a lefty wing with a quick release on his jump shot. A former golfer, Windler was late to the AAU basketball scene and thus went mostly un recruited by the major schools. At Belmont he is the go-to guy. He averages 20.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He has a nice shooting stroke. He is shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc in his Senior season while connecting on 84% of his free throw attempts. Windler led the Ohio Valley Conference in True Shooting Percentage (68.2%). He is a plus defender, with a DEFRTG that is 4.2 points better than the Belmont team DEFRTG. Despite weighing less than 200 lbs., Windler will stick his nose into a scrum for a defensive rebound. ...Windler will need to gain muscle to compete in the NBA. He may wind up as more of a TWO than a THREE.

PJ Washington - Kentucky. 6'8" 240 lbs. sophomore. ...  Perhaps the most improved college player in 2018-19 is PJ Washington. Washington raised his scoring average from 10.8 (freshman) to 14.8 (sophomore) points per game. As a freshman, Washington played much more like a BIG than a wing. He made just five, three-point shots in 2017-18. This season, Washington has exhibited improved skill as a perimeter shooter, and as a ball-handler/play-maker. He has connected on 31 three-pointers (41% 3-pt. FG), and he now has more assists than turnovers. ...Washington's DEFRTG is better than the Kentucky team DEFRTG. ...We think Washington is the kind of player you can WIN with. He has a knack for scoring timely baskets. He is willing to share. He gives an honest effort on defense, and he keeps improving.

 

Chuma Okeke - Auburn. 6'8" 230 lbs. sophomore.

Luke Maye - North Carolina. 6'7" 227 Senior.

 

Cameron Johnson - North Carolina. 6'8" 210 lbs. Senior.

Kenny Goins - Michigan St. 6'7" 230 lbs. Senior.

Nicolas Baer - Iowa. 6'7" 218 lbs. Senior.

Killian Tillie - Gonzaga. 6'10", 200 lbs. junior.  

R.J. Barrett - Duke. 6'7" 208 lbs. freshman.

 

Zylan Cheatham - Arizona St. 6'7" 205 lbs. Senior.

 

DeAndre Hunter - Virginia. 6'7" 212 lbs. sophomore.

Sam Hauser - Marquette. 6'7" 225 lbs. junior.

Dean Wade - Kansas St. 6'8" 225 lbs. Senior. (LISTED AS DOUBTFUL FOR TOURNAMENT)

Tre'Shawn Thurman - Nevada. 6'7" 230 lbs. Senior.

 

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