A Sixers-centric guide to March Madness: Prospects to watch

One of the best times of the year is finally rolling around. As the Sixers are enjoying their All-Star break, college basketball is still in full swing. March Madness, arguably the best tournament in all of sports, is around the corner. With the top 16 teams now selected, it's time to direct our attention to some players to watch.

As a side note, the Sixers traded away their first-round pick in this upcoming draft to the Clippers in the Tobias Harris deal. This pick was then swung to the Nets by the Clippers at the draft but is protected. If the pick ends up as a lottery pick, then it stays with Philly.

First-round prospects can be found on the first page, the second round on page two.

Draft Picks:

We are now reaching the fun drafting years in Philly. Sam Hinkie is gleaming down somewhere, as the Sixers are drowning in second-round draft picks from previous deals.

There is a chance that the Thunders' first-round pick becomes Philadelphia's. Right now, the Thunder sit at pick 20. If they fall outside the top 20 range, then it becomes Philadelphia. And as mentioned above, Philly is most likely going to not have their own first-rounder.

As of now, the Sixers hold three picks in the second round.

Atlanta's 2020 2nd round pick to Philadelphia protected for selections 56-60 or to Boston protected for selections 31-55 (Atlanta's obligation to Philadelphia or Boston will thereafter be extinguished) Philadelphia will receive the more favorable of Brooklyn's 2020 2nd round pick and New York's 2020 2nd round pick and Boston will receive the less favorable of the two (via Philadelphia to Orlando to Charlotte) L.A. Lakers' 2020 2nd round pick to Philadelphia (via Orlando)

Data retrieved from https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

The second round is where Elton Brand will look to do his damage. Last year, Brand made many draft-night trades, and who knows what he can do this year with potentially three second-rounders.

Potential First Rounders:

This section is a big "what-if." If the Sixers do get a first-round pick, it will likely fall right around the low 20's. Oklahoma City will need to move up in the West if the Sixers want their pick.

Jalen Smith, Maryland

Jalen Smith is one of the key contributors to Maryland basketball's success this season. The Sophomore, 6'10, 225-pound power forward is averaging 15.2 points per game, shooting about 54% from the floor.

Smith makes the game look easy, and flies past the eye test. His athleticism and agility are one of a wing player. His size allows him to fight for the offensive glass and feast on many put-back dunks. He falls outside the lottery pick range because of his lack of upper body strength. Smith would be a great piece to immediately stabilize the Sixers' bench.

Jahmi'us Ramsey

The freshman out of Texas Tech would be a steal in the twenties for the Sixers. His natural athleticism is as high as anyone else's in the upcoming draft. His 6'3, 195-pound frame may not scream "defense," but his athleticism makes up for it.

On the season, the freshman is averaging 15.7 points per game and is shooting 45.5% from deep. With a little help in the G-League, Ramsey could become a solid shooter off the bench. Ramsey is an impact player as soon as he steps on the floor. His intense energy and hustle provide a spark for his teammates. He can guard multiple positions and is always looking to attack the rim.

Vernon Carey Jr., Duke

Personally, I would be all for the Sixers taking a scoring big man with a first-round pick in this draft. The film on Carey speaks for itself:

The big man does not fall for pump fakes, has super quick feet, and has great defensive instincts. Carey would fit right in with the Sixers' style of play. On the season, he is having a stellar year with the Duke Blue Devils. The freshman is averaging 17.6 points while tacking on two blocks and a steal per game. His NBA potential is high, but skyrockets when you add in his .429 shooting percentage from three.

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Second round prospects are featured on the second page below.

Second Round

In terms of depth, this draft may be one of the worst drafts in recent years. Go figure, the one year that the Sixers have three late picks, and there isn't much talent. Expect Elton to make a couple of trades on draft night, and hopefully move up to get one of the guys above. However, there are a few options that could blossom quickly via some development with the Blue Coats (another Marial Shayok, perhaps?).

Cassius Stanley, Duke

There's a couple Cassius's that could fall this pick, and Stanley would be the one to watch for the Sixers. Cassius Winston (Michigan State) would not be a bad option either, but his age leaves less room for development.

Cassius Stanley would be a great second-round option for Philly. I know, the Sixers do not need another guy without a jump shot, but he is a consistent three-pointer away from being a legitimate first-round pick. The freshman guard out of Duke showcases a solid 6'6 frame that enhances his natural dunking ability.

Every time he touches the court, he instantly brings a competitive edge to the floor. He can hit all sorts of turnaround and step-back jumpers, using his elite athletic ability to get space, or just rises over an opponent. Stanely was a bit older for his recruiting class but is said to be mature for his age, which would only accelerate his NBA readiness.

Jordan Nwora, Louisville

Jordan Nwora sits atop the ACC in points per game (18.2), which is music to Sixers' fans' ears. He is a bit older, currently playing in his Junior year at Louisville. The 6'7 small forward has done almost everything for the Cardinals this season. He is averaging 2.5 threes per game, shooting 42.1% from beyond the arc.

His biggest weakness is his laziness per Louisville fans. The potential ACC player of the year was recently benched for his one bad performance. Coach Mack is facing backlash for benching his star after a single bad game, which led to Nwora looking out of place and uncomfortable in his most recent game.

Overall, Nwora is a star in the making. He is a multi-dimensional scorer with a sweet 3pt shot. At 6-8 and 225lbs he's a big wing who can stroke the 3 but also play with his back to the basket and score from mid-range. If he can get a little faster, he'll learn to hold his own on defense. With Lousiville expected to be a two-seed in the tournament, Nwora is a must-watch.

Myles Powell, Seton Hall

Here's a really intriguing option for the Sixers as the second round starts to wind down. The New Jersey native plays for his hometown school and helped put them back on the college basketball map.

Seton Hall currently leads the Big East Conference, and Powell has certainly done his part. He averages a conference second-best 21.7 points per game, making a third of his shots from deep (three made/nine attempted). He's scored over 2000 points in his collegiate career and holds the record for three-pointers made at Seton Hall. Powell was also Seton Hall's first-ever AP All American.

“He can score. He guards people. He’ll accept any physical challenge that comes his way.” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas

Powell is a senior, taking a bit off his draft stock. However, he can create space and his own shot. His small size (6'2) is compensated by his quickness and athleticism. It's already been reported that Philadelphia has sent scouts to watch him play, for good reason:

Powell is a score-first combo guard, who can get buckets. He'll need to develop as a lead guard to hit the next level but certainly flashes NBA ready potential.

Markus Howard, Marquette

When you think of college basketball scoring, Markus Howard instantly comes to mind. He leads the Big East in scoring, averaging 27.1 points a night. Howard recently was crowned the all-time leading scorer in Big East history.

Howard is incredibly undersized, only standing at 5'11. He is a streaky shooter, but aren't all shooters? When Howard has things clicking, he is a game-changer. Howard is one of the NCAA's all-time great scoring guards. Over the course of his career, he's put up scoring numbers that rank among some of the all-time collegiate greats. He's got a great touch on his outside shot, is crafty with the dribble, and can get his shot whenever he wants.

Again, his size is what's keeping him from being a top prospect in this draft. However, with the lack of depth in this draft class, why not take a chance? Nonetheless, he is exciting to watch and will make any Marquette tournament game enjoyable.

Other notable names: Tre Jones (Duke), AJ Lawson (USC), Grant Riller (Charleston).

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports