Beyond the Big Names: NCAA Tournament Edition
Under the Radar Prospects With a Chance to Break Out on College Basketball’s Biggest Stage
It’s finally here. March Madness, the annual spring event that gives basketball fans wall-to-wall games, creates office pools, and generates endless memes thanks to its unpredictability. On any given night, David can take down Goliath, and young players can become legends.
We’ve already had our first set of First Four games, with Howard taking down Maryland-Baltimore County and Texas outlasting North Carolina State. The Longhorns survived a late barrage of threes behind two highly contested midrange jumpers from veteran guard Tramon Mark.
Plenty of players will earn local legend status with their performances over the next few weeks, but a select few will have the opportunity to put themselves firmly on NBA radars for the 2026 or 2027 NBA Draft.
Allen Graves
6’9” 225 lbs | Forward | Santa Clara
11.6 PPG | 6.5 REB | 1.8 AST
Graves has become something of an analytics darling and is generating real buzz as a potential prospect in this year’s draft. I’ve written about Graves before, but he now has a major opportunity to prove himself against the 7-seed Kentucky Wildcats.
This game will draw plenty of attention from both NBA scouts and college programs monitoring the transfer portal. Graves would immediately become one of the hottest names if he chose to enter.
He’s essentially the store-brand version of Cameron Boozer, a power forward who can score in the post while also facilitating for others. Like Boozer, he stretches the floor and is shooting 42 percent from three. Unlike Boozer, Graves provides strong defensive impact, averaging 2.9 stocks per game.
The biggest question is his athleticism. That will be tested against a high-level SEC opponent.
Bruce Thornton
6’2” 215 lbs | Point Guard | Ohio State
20.2 PPG | 5.1 REB | 3.9 AST
Ohio State enters the tournament as an 8-seed and will face TCU in the always tricky 8-9 matchup. This marks the program’s first tournament appearance since the 2021-2022 season and gives second-year head coach Jake Diebler a chance at his first NCAA Tournament win.
Thornton has the statistical profile of a late first-round pick in most draft classes, but a loaded point guard crop has overshadowed his production. He’s a methodical guard with a playing style similar to Jalen Brunson. He’s not the most explosive athlete, but he consistently gets the job done.
Thornton thrives in pick-and-roll situations and has a strong midrange game, using his physicality to control defenders. A deep tournament run could bring him the attention he deserves.
Amare Bynum
6’8” 220 lbs | Forward | Ohio State
9.7 PPG | 4.8 REB | 1.1 AST
Bynum, on the other hand, is more of a long-term play and likely a 2027 prospect. He already has the frame and athleticism of a pro but needs more experience. He closed the season strong, averaging 12.4 points and 6 rebounds over Ohio State’s final five games while the team went 4-1.
A strong tournament showing could accelerate his trajectory toward first-round consideration.
Zuby Ejiofor
6’9” 245 lbs | Center | St. John’s
16.3 PPG | 7.1 REB | 3.5 AST
I have to show love to a local product. I remember watching Zuby lead Garland High School on a deep playoff run before falling to Duncanville, a team that featured future NBA players Anthony Black and Ron Holland.
That experience shaped his game. Zuby learned how to read loaded defenses and protect the rim without fouling, skills that still show up today.
Now, he’s firmly in the conversation as a potential second-round pick. While slightly undersized for a traditional NBA center, he brings many qualities teams value in a rotation big.
If there’s one area holding him back, it’s rebounding. Additionally, we may not have seen his full potential as a vertical lob threat due to St. John’s inconsistent point guard play and limited usage as a roll man.
Donovan Dent
6’2” 185 lbs | Point Guard | UCLA
13.5 PPG | 2.9 REB | 7.6 AST
After three strong seasons at New Mexico, Dent transferred closer to home to UCLA, looking to elevate his NBA stock against Big Ten competition.
His season has been up and down, but his playmaking gives UCLA real upset potential. Dent reminds me of Jamaal Tinsley, a below-the-rim guard with an elite handle and exceptional vision.
He’s at his best orchestrating pick-and-roll and balancing scoring with facilitation. UCLA is 10-2 when he scores more than 15 points, a clear indicator of his impact.
The concern is shooting. Like Tinsley, Dent is not a consistent perimeter threat, which could limit his NBA outlook. If he reaches the league, it will likely be in a reserve role similar to Jordan McLaughlin, but he will need to prove he can keep defenses honest.
Cayden Boozer
6’4” 205 lbs | Point Guard | Duke
7.1 PPG | 2.1 REB | 2.8 AST
We know one of the Boozer twins will be in the NBA soon, but Cayden’s path is less certain.
With starting point guard Caleb Foster sidelined due to injury, Boozer has stepped into a larger role. He made three consecutive starts during Duke’s ACC Tournament run, helping lead the team to a title.
Primarily known as a playmaker, Boozer averaged 13.7 points during that stretch while showing flashes of confidence and control.
Foster’s status remains uncertain, which gives Boozer another opportunity to build momentum. His biggest area for growth is shooting, as he has struggled from three all season.
Still, his size and feel suggest he could develop into a Cory Joseph-type guard at the next level. With another five-star point guard arriving next season, his long-term situation at Duke is worth monitoring.
Cruz Davis
6’3” 170 lbs | Point Guard | Hofstra
20.2 PPG | 3.7 REB | 4.6 AST
If you follow me, you already know how I feel about Cruz Davis.
The lefty guard is legit and has a chance to shine as Hofstra takes on Alabama following its CAA Tournament run. Under head coach Speedy Claxton, Davis has developed into one of the best shooters in the country.
He’s dangerous both off the catch and off the dribble, capable of punishing switches and dissecting traps with high-level passing using either hand.
If there was ever a stage to make a name, this is it. Alabama leads the nation in scoring and will be without starting guard Aden Holloway, increasing the upset potential.
Davis will likely go head-to-head with projected first-round pick Labaron Philon. If he rises to the moment, this could be a defining performance.
Ugonna Onyenso
7’0” 245 lbs | Center | Virginia
6.7 PPG | 5.0 REB | 3.0 BLK
Onyenso looked like Bill Russell during the ACC Tournament. That might not even be an exaggeration.
He recorded 21 blocks in three games. Not twelve. Twenty-one.
After stops at Kentucky and Kansas State, the 6’11” center has firmly entered NBA conversations. He fits the mold of a rim-running, shot-blocking big and averages three blocks in just 18.5 minutes per game.
His 17.7 percent block rate ranks among elite company, alongside names like Walker Kessler, Hassan Whiteside, and Larry Sanders.
His defensive performance against projected top-three pick Cameron Boozer may have solidified his status as a second-round prospect.
If Virginia advances past Wright State, Onyenso will have more opportunities to build on his momentum in a region loaded with NBA talent.
After highlighting these prospects throughout Parts I through III, the NCAA Tournament now becomes the ultimate test to see who can translate potential into production on the biggest stage.
Watching the top players perform in the NCAA tournament always is fun. But just as much, I enjoy watching these under the radar types elevate their profile from suspect to legit prospect. This is a nice list of candidates to do that this year.