Following Florida’s spectacular victory Monday evening, we take a right away have a look at the gamers who improved—and people who might have broken—their draft inventory over Closing 4 weekend, together with standout performances from the nationwide championship stage in San Antonio.
Inventory Up
Cooper Flagg 6-9 220 SF/PF Duke Fr.
The headliner didn’t make it to Monday, however with the way in which NBA fandom has developed—shifting from staff loyalty to player-driven ardour—Cooper Flagg has undoubtedly captivated America. All through the sport in opposition to Houston, Flagg made all the large performs—flattening three-pointers, blocking pictures, and main the Blue Devils with composure and hearth. In the long run, his missed last-second fadeaway was much less a failure and extra a byproduct of a ship sinking round him. On the most important stage, Flagg’s recreation elevated. He delivered a sensational efficiency, ending with 27 factors on 8-of-19 taking pictures, together with 3-of-4 from past the arc and an ideal 8-of-8 from the free throw line. He performed with poise, toughness, and the sort of presence that not often comes from a freshman. Duke might have fallen wanting the title recreation, however Flagg’s star continues to rise. The loss sends him into the NBA with a possible chip on his shoulder—one that would gas his improvement and competitiveness on the subsequent stage. Extensively thought of a generational expertise, Flagg has the instruments, mindset, and highlight to grow to be one of many league’s future faces. In a sport more and more pushed by particular person brilliance, Cooper Flagg is already getting into the highlight—and the world is beginning to take discover.
Walter Clayton 6-3 190 PG/SG Florida Sr.
The Florida Gators captured the nationwide championship, and as soon as once more, Walter Clayton Jr. was clutch within the closing minutes. Along with main the offense, he made the essential defensive play on the finish—closing out onerous and negating Emanuel Sharp’s three-point look within the ultimate seconds to seal the win. Regardless of an off evening statistically—ending with 11 factors on 3-of-10 taking pictures and 1-of-7 from three—Clayton dished out 7 assists and was named the Most Excellent Participant of the NCAA Event. Clayton Jr. continues to show he’s one of the fearless shot-makers in school basketball—at all times able to take, and make, the most important pictures. His affect in key moments has outlined Florida’s title run, delivering late-game poise and management time and time once more. Within the Elite Eight win over Auburn, he erupted for a career-high 34 factors on 11-of-18 taking pictures, together with 5-of-8 from past the arc. That efficiency pushed him previous Joakim Noah for probably the most factors scored by a Gator in a single NCAA Event. Clayton’s elite pace off the dribble and talent to complete by contact make him a troublesome cowl. However what really units him aside is his versatility as a scorer—whether or not it’s pulling up in transition, attacking closeouts, or recognizing up from deep. His composure underneath stress and relentless focus have made him one of many premier closers and most revered leaders in school basketball. Aspect be aware: A former soccer standout, Clayton was recruited as each a large receiver and quarterback, receiving presents from Notre Dame, Florida, and Georgia—presumably the supply of his elite toughness and fearless method.
Will Richard 6-4 206 SG Florida Jr.
Richard saved his greatest for the most important stage, delivering a standout efficiency in Florida’s nationwide championship win over Houston. The versatile junior wing was the Gators’ most impactful participant on Monday evening, ending with 18 factors, 8 rebounds, and an ideal 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. He additionally knocked down 4-of-7 from three, together with a number of pictures within the first half that helped Florida from falling too far behind in opposition to Houston’s elite protection. Richard’s two-way presence was equally necessary. Late within the second half, he made the sport’s most vital defensive play—stripping Houston guard Emanuel Sharp on a possible go-ahead possession, showcasing his consciousness, toughness, and energetic fingers. His capability to protect a number of positions, crash the glass, and hit pictures from deep was important in a grind-it-out title recreation. Richard’s efficiency underscored his worth as a 3-and-D prospect with a profitable mentality. He performed with poise, power, and confidence all through the event and capped it with a efficiency that enhances his draft inventory. Whereas usually overshadowed by Florida’s headline guards, Richard was the regular, dependable presence who delivered when it mattered most. Monday evening, he wasn’t only a function participant—he was Florida’s greatest participant on the ground.
Kon Knueppel 6-6 220 SG/SF Duke Fr.
Kon Knueppel’s draft inventory continues to climb, even after Duke’s earlier-than-expected event exit. Although he had a couple of hiccups in his ultimate recreation—together with an awkward-looking end on a one-on-one quick break that highlighted his lack of top-tier athleticism—Knueppel has constantly proven the talent and savvy to beat these bodily limitations. He’s usually compelled to depend on pump fakes and timing fairly than explosive first steps, however his superior footwork, really feel, and basketball IQ enable him to generate clear seems to be. Knueppel has mastered the nuances of scoring, utilizing power, angles, and a delicate contact to compensate for what he lacks in burst. A high-level shooter with deep vary, he stays one of the environment friendly offensive gamers within the class. He was the emotional and strategic spine of Duke alongside Cooper Flagg, showcasing management and toughness all season. His flooring as a rotation-level shooter is rock strong—his NBA success hinges on how nicely he adjusts to the pace, size, and physicality of the following stage.
LJ Cryer 6-1 190 PG Houston Sr.
LJ Cryer was clutch within the nationwide title recreation, regardless of Houston’s loss, scoring a game-high 19 factors. He hit 4-of-11 from three and 6-of-18 from the ground, holding the Cougars inside placing distance down the stretch along with his assured shot-making. Cryer confirmed his scoring prowess in Houston’s win over Duke as nicely, ending with 23 factors and hitting a number of well timed pictures to maintain the Cougars in management. His fast launch, deep vary, and talent to create area off the bounce have been on full show. Regardless of his 6’1″ body, Cryer performed with grit, absorbing contact within the lane and exhibiting fearlessness in opposition to larger guards. His clutch shot-making, together with a dagger three late within the second half, highlighted his confidence and offensive polish. Nonetheless, questions stay about how his recreation interprets to the following stage. Cryer struggles to constantly create for others, ending with only one help, and his restricted dimension and common athleticism pose considerations on the defensive finish. He could be focused in switches and lacks the instruments to constantly keep in entrance of elite NBA guards. Whereas Cryer’s toughness and scoring capability are simple, his ceiling could also be capped as a microwave scorer off the bench until he expands his playmaking and tightens up defensively. Nonetheless, his aggressive edge and shot-making might earn him a glance within the second spherical.
Emanuel Sharp 6-6 210 SF Houston Sr.
Regardless of struggling within the closing minutes in opposition to Florida within the ultimate, Sharp delivered a clutch, composed efficiency in Houston’s win over Duke, hitting an enormous late three that helped them win. He completed with 16 factors, showcasing his physicality, shot-making, and psychological toughness in key moments. Sharp constantly discovered methods to attain, utilizing power and footwork to create area regardless of missing elite burst or lateral quickness. Whereas his toughness and fearlessness have been essential to Houston’s victory, questions stay about his translatability to the following stage. Sharp’s gradual foot pace was uncovered at instances on protection, struggling to remain in entrance of faster guards. Offensively, he’s extra of a system scorer than a dynamic creator, usually counting on others to get him open seems to be. Nonetheless, his capability to identify up and hit massive pictures underneath stress, alongside along with his bodily fashion and excessive IQ, give him enchantment as a possible floor-spacing function participant. Sharp confirmed he belongs—however his ceiling could also be restricted with out improved mobility.
Inventory Down
Khaman Maluach 7-2 260 C Duke Fr.
Khaman Maluach had his hardest outing of the event within the Closing 4 loss to Houston, struggling to make an affect on both finish. The Cougars neutralized the 7’2” middle with physicality and self-discipline, holding him to zero rebounds—a regarding stat given his elite dimension, size, and athletic instruments. Houston’s recreation plan, executed flawlessly by their lengthy, athletic frontcourt and crafted by Kelvin Sampson, took away Maluach’s ordinary lob and dunk alternatives, forcing him into uncomfortable spots. Whereas Maluach has generated buzz all through March Insanity, this efficiency served as a actuality test. He stays an intriguing long-term challenge, however the rawness in his recreation was uncovered. His lack of foot pace grew to become obvious when compelled to change onto faster guards—most notably when Milos Uzan simply beat him off the dribble late within the recreation. At 7’2”, his mobility defending in area is an actual concern in at present’s NBA, the place bigs are recurrently pulled into ball screens. There’s lots to love—his body, contact, rim safety upside, and flashes of taking pictures—however Maluach presently profiles extra as a developmental massive than a right away contributor. Primarily based on this exhibiting, a late first-round grade could also be extra reasonable than the top-10 hype he’s just lately acquired.
Tyrese Proctor 6-5 190 PG Duke Jr.
Tyrese Proctor’s efficiency in opposition to Houston was a disappointing finish to an in any other case strong junior marketing campaign. Within the closing minutes, Proctor dribbled the ball off his leg on a vital possession—an unfocused error that helped open the door for Houston. Moments later, he missed the entrance finish of a vital one-and-one, a picture that may linger within the minds of Duke followers. Proctor missed all 4 of his three level makes an attempt, and completed with simply seven factors in 37 minutes, he was 2-8 from the ground and had 2 assists. Proctor made strides this season, enhancing his outdoors taking pictures and exhibiting higher command as a secondary ball-handler. Nonetheless, his late-game composure was missing, and his incapability to create separation off the bounce was evident in opposition to Houston’s bodily protection. On the subsequent stage, considerations stay about his burst, deal with underneath stress, and talent to complete by contact. Whereas he has good dimension and taking pictures mechanics, his decision-making and assertiveness in clutch moments are nonetheless inconsistent. Saturday’s collapse sends his draft inventory trending downward.
