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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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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 /

Lauri Markkanen, Forward, Arizona (7th ranked NBA prospect)/Kobi Simmons, Guard, Arizona (66th ranked NBA prospect)/Allonzo Trier, Guard, Arizona (72nd ranked NBA prospect)

Whether or not head coach Sean Miller will be appearing in his first Final Four is dependent upon how his three-headed monster performs on college basketball’s biggest stage. Markannen, a freshman from Finland, is averaging 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and he is shooting 43 percent from deep.

Simmons, another freshman, has struggled much more in his first season in Tucson. He is only averaging 9.2 points and 2.1 assists per game this season, and his shooting percentages are much lower than his counterparts. If he can catch some fire on Thursday, he could become a dangerous matchup for Arizona’s opponents.

Allonzo Trier has only played 15 games this season. However, Arizona is 13-2 in games that he has played, and he led them to a Pac-12 tournament win last week. Through those 15 games, Trier is averaging 17.3 points and 5 rebounds per game. The sophomore is shooting 41 percent from deep, and is Arizona’s most valuable player.

The Wildcats will face-off against North Dakota on Thursday, and will look to avoid the fate of 2016 Michigan State, which fell to 15-seeded Middle Tennessee in the first round.