In case you missed it, it’s March. Which means madness is around the corner.
In fact, there’s only a week and a half left until the 2024 NCAA Tournament kicks off, which means big things for Utah in general. Not only does the state host the first two rounds, but local teams BYU and Utah State are looking to make a lot of noise, while Utah and Weber State are hoping to land a seed.
And not to mention, March Madness signals the impending end of the NBA regular season and the start of draft preparation for most fans of underperforming teams (but not for SLC Dunk readers; you’re still in getting ready).
Utah is currently positioned to retain its own pick at No. 9 (passing to OKC if it is No. 11 or lower) and receive No. 29 via the Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 32 via the Wizards of Washington. Ainge’s coffers are full to handle this offseason.
In the spirit of “March Madness”, let’s look at six (6) players for the upcoming draft that are worth watching throughout the tournament and examine their fit with Utah:
Ryan Dunn | Virginia | Wing
21 years old | 6’8″ tall | 208 pounds | 7’1″ wingspan
Ryan Dunn has been one of the most intimidating and influential defenders in the draft in quite some time. A good rebounder with an overall share of 15%, with a steal rate of 3% and a block rate of 11%.
However, you won’t find him shooting from the perimeter. Only 48 attempts over his two seasons and only made a quarter of them.
Dunn comes in at No. 21 for ESPN, No. 19 for Global Scouting, No. 20 for Hoop Intellect and No. 20 for The Athletic. Although likely within reach with the Jazz’s first pick, Dunn isn’t too far away from his other 1st round selection.
Virginia comes in at 51st place for BBall NET. Even if such a ranking indicates that they have underperformed against top talent, their place in the ACC and their overall record should put them in a good seed with the chance to go far.
Cody Williams | Colorado | Wing
19 years old | 6’8″ tall | 190 pounds | 7’2″ wingspan
The younger brother of sophomore Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cody’s frame and style are uniquely his own. He is an excellent shooter, despite low volume. His propensity to reach the line is impressive: nearly 42% free throw attempt rate.
He’s been injured for a few weeks now, but they say they expect him to return before or midway through the tournament.
Cody comes in at #5 on ESPN, #7 on Global Scouting, #4 on Hoop Intellect and #4 on The Athletic. Williams is out of Utah’s reach at the moment, but the constant theme of this draft will be his fluidity. Keep an eye out.
Colorado is currently ranked 28th in the nation by BBall NET. Much of their success lies in their ability to overcome lesser competition. They should face evenly matched teams in the tournament, a great opportunity for Cody.
Dalton Knecht | Tennessee | Guard
23 years old | 6’6″ tall | 197 pounds | ? wingspan
Two years at junior college and expanded eligibility means Dalton is a pretty seasoned player at this point. What you see is probably what you get. However, what you get seems pretty solid! A very good shooter at 38% in his college career from 3 and 76% from the line. But he continually reduced his turnovers and increased his assists.
When it comes to the breakdown of draft rankings, ESPN has Knecht at No. 18, Global Scouting has him at No. 15, Hoop Intellect has him at No. 14 and The Athletic has him at No. 10.
Tennessee ranks No. 5 according to BBall NET, making it among the favorites for a deep run. Dalton will be relied upon heavily and appears to be able to play a key role. This should be a fun watch!
Stephon Castle | UConn | Guard
19 years old | 6’6″ tall | 215 pounds | 6’9″ wingspan
Due to some injuries and inconsistencies, Stephon got off to a bit of a slow start. In fact, he’s still a little out of sync. However, Castle has some downhill, attacking rim ability with his frame that gets everyone excited for what he could bring to the guard line, making 52% of his 2P shots.
Looking at where Castle is ranked in the big charts, ESPN has him at 15th, Global Scout at 9th, Hoop Intellect at 9th, and The Athletic at 5th.
The defending champion Huskies are ranked No. 3 according to BBall NET and will likely go very far in the tournament. He will be curious to see if Castle can find his luck throughout the tournament and what that will do for the team and its stock.
Ja’Kobe Walter | Baylor | Guard
19 years old | 6’5″ tall | 195 pounds | 6’10” wingspan
Ja’Kobe is one of the best examples of a player with a seemingly impressive process and approach without the results one might want. Ultimately, you’re betting on this moment of perspective. His usage rate of almost 24% comes from the extremely high 3PA rate (56%) and FTA rate (46%).
Looking at the rankings, ESPN has Walter at No. 7 currently, while coming in at No. 11 for Global Scouting, No. 11 for Hoop Intellect, and No. 8 for The Athletic.
Baylor comes in at No. 14 by BBall NET, which puts them in real competitive territory for the Elite Eight race. Ja’Kobe’s approach to the game could make him a serious tournament star if things go his way.
