March Madness sees Michigan State player move up

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NBA draft prospects to watch in the March Madness tournament

USAT’s Mackenzie Salmon gives you four players to keep your eye on in March Madness that will most likely be heading to the NBA next year.

Sports Pulse

Michigan State’s Jase Richardson started the men’s college basketball season as an important reserve freshman on a promising team.

He ended the regular season and Big Ten conference tournament as a starter and perhaps the most important player for the Spartans, who are a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

And Richardson has vaulted higher and higher in NBA mock drafts, going from a potential first-round pick to potential lottery pick if he decides to leave Michigan State after one season.The son of former Michigan State star and NBA player Jason Richardson, a two-time dunk contest champion and 14-year veteran, Jase has impressed scouts with his shotmaking and poise.

Michigan State went 8-1, including multiple victories over ranked opponents at home and on the road, before the NCAA Tournament began, and in those nine games, Richardson averaged 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and shot 48.5% from the field and 45% on 3-pointers.

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Few players who could be drafted in 2025 have improved their draft stock like Richardson has.

Here is USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft as the NCAA Tournament begins. (Stats through games of March 16; age listed is age at time of June 25-26 draft):

2025 NBA mock draft

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke

Freshman, guard-forward, 6-9, 205, 18 years old2024-25 stats: 18.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 bpg, 48.8% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 83% FT

The do-it-all young star leads the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. Flagg has outstanding footwork, especially in the low post. He can use either hand on shots in the paint, knows how to run plays, can hit catch-and-shoot 3s and is an…

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Source link : https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/03/19/nba-mock-draft-march-madness-ncaa-tournament/82490424007/

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Publish date : 2025-03-19 13:17:00

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