The first weekend of March Madness was as exciting as ever with usual number of crazy upsets, big individual performances and Cindarella stories. And we had a handful of prospects help their draft stock with impressive play to start off the tournament. Here are 8 prospects who gave their draft stock a boast over the first two rounds of the tournament:
Coen Carr – SF – Michigan State – The high-flying junior wing has made steady progress throughout his Spartan career and is really starting to round out his game and impact all aspects. He’s always been a sensational leaper and open court player. Now he’s hitting some three’s, moving well off the ball and having a big impact on the glass, on both ends. After scoring 17 in a first round win against North Dakota State Carr had a monster 21 point, 10 rebound game against a strong Louisville team, including some major highlight reel plays (see video below). I really hope he returns for his senior season to continue to expand and refine his game. If he does he’s got a clear path to being a first rounder next year.
Tarris Reed Jr. – PF/C – UConn – Reed had a monster opening game against Furman with 31 points and an absolutely stupid 27 rebound, including 11 on the offensive end. The burly 6-10 senior looks the part of a rotation big at the next level. He’s not the most advanced offensive player but he knows his role on the court and is a major contributor on defense, scoring in the paint and of course on the boards. In his second round game against UCLA Reed was a bit more pedestrian but still finished with a double double with 10 points, 13 boards and 3 blocks. His draft stock has been floating around the mid/late second round level but his arrow is pointing up after a strong start to the tournament.
Speaking of Furman, freshman guard Alex Wilkins had a nice showing vs. UConn and an even nicer freshman season. He could be a candidate to transfer up and could get some draft buzz in a year or two. Keep an eye on him.
Cayden Boozer – PG – Duke – I had Cayden at no.32 on my first big board of the season and up to no.30 on my second big board but then he fell off hard. He struggled to shoot efficiently and just wasn’t very effective in many games early in the season. But ever since the Caleb Foster injury Cayden has stepped up his game in a big way and has regained some momentum as a potential 2026 draft pick. I still think he’d be better served returning to Duke for at least another season but there’s a decent case for him entering the draft this year and starting his NBA career early. I think he can be a second rounder this year but has a real shot at going first round next year.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie – PG – Tennessee – I’ve been a bit lower on Gillespie this season and I still don’t see him as a guy who will get drafted in June but he’s been really impressive in recent games and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a cup of coffee or two in the NBA. He’s a high usage player who thrives with the ball in his hands and could potentially be an interesting guard off the bench at the next level. He scored 29 with 9 assists to open the tournament against Miami, Ohio, and 21 points, 6 assists in game two against Virginia, while shooting well in both games. He’s a guy to watch in the Sweet 16 to see if he can continue his draft momentum.
Fletcher Loyer – SG – Purdue – Loyer has always been a great 3pt shooter but during the conference tournament and the first to rounds of March Madness he’s been on a heater. He has as crystal clear NBA skill with his 3pt shooting and ability to have gravity off the ball. He’s not the most flashy or high upside prospect but for a team drafting in the mid/late second round he could be an attractive option as a low cost NBA-ready addition to the roster. He’ll be moving up in my next mock draft update.
Paul Mbiya – C – Kansas (Congo) – The freshman big man had some impressive moments in both games this past weekend and his arrow is definitely pointing up. He carries himself really well for a player his size and you can tell he’s just starting to figure out how to use his size to dominate in the paint. He’s not a this-year guy but is one to watch for next year. Don’t be surprised if he’s one of the major breakout sophomores next season.
Zuby Ejiofor – PF – St. John’s – Zuby has been great all season, especially down the stretch, but his awesome defense against Darryn Peterson and his impressive versatility on the offensive end helped his draft stock on the big stage. He’s still a second rounder in my book but I think he helped solidify his draft stock (with a chance to improve it even more in the Sweet 16).
And one other note: Congratulations to Braden Smith for setting the all time college assist record in Purdue’s first round win vs. Queen’s. While his NBA prospects remain a bit murky he’s had one of the most outstanding careers of any small guard in recent memory. What a huge accomplishment for the young man. Congrats!
Keep an eye out for an update coming soon to my 2026 Mock Draft.
Thanks for reading!