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2017 NBA Draft: 10 Prospects To Watch On The First Day Of The NCAA Tournament

By Jack Pontin

Mar 10, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) looks to pass during a Pac-12 Conference Tournament game against the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) looks to pass during a Pac-12 Conference Tournament game against the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) attempts a free throw against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Cougars upset the Bulldogs by a final 79-71. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) attempts a free throw against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Cougars upset the Bulldogs by a final 79-71. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

Zach Collins, Forward, Gonzaga (25th ranked NBA prospect)

Zach Collins, a freshman, has played a large role in a historic season for the Zags. He has averaged 10.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in his first college season, but he only plays 17.1 minutes per contest.

As the role of the “stretch four” grows in today’s NBA, 7-foot tall, athletic big men with a solid mid-range jump shot, like Collins, become more and more valuable to front offices looking to draft a player that could assist a team on the road to a championship.

He is averaging 23.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per 40 minutes, and will need to be strong on the glass as head coach Mark Few attempts to take his best ever Gonzaga team to the school’s first Final Four appearance. The Zags play 16th-seeded South Dakota State on Thursday, and no 1-seed has ever lost in the first round of the tournament.