Prospects to keep an eye on during March Madness
By Ryan Doyle
Jaren Jackson Jr. & Miles Bridges, Michigan State
vs. Bucknell, March 16/7:10 p.m. (CBS)
Another duo to make the list, the Michigan State Spartans features the pairing of forwards Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. Both are likely lottery picks and have led the Spartans to a 3-seed in the tournament.
Bridges leads the team in scoring at 16.9 points per contest and is the second-leading rebounder at 6.9 per game. He had a rough freshman season and decided to give it another go in college to improve his stock.
It may have helped his case as NBA executives will know what he can bring to the table. The athletic wing saw a drop in his 3-point percentage in 2018, but he should provide offense in his rookie year.
As the roster sits now, adding Jackson to the mix may seem like an odd fit. The 6-foot-11 forward has similarities to Orlando’s 2017 first-round selection Jonathan Isaac. Jackson’s length allows him to contests shots at the rim for an impressive 3.2 blocks per game.
Jackson has a better 3-point shot though. He is hitting at a 39.6 percent clip and will provide Orlando with an instant threat from three.
Mikal Bridges, Villanova
vs. LIU-Brooklyn/Radford, March 15/6:50 p.m. (TNT)
Arguably the best player from the Villanova Wildcats, Mikal Bridges has shot up Draft boards and may be one of the most NBA-ready players in the class. The junior swingman has been compared to superstar Kawhi Leonard and with good reason.
Bridges has fantastic length and his defensive prowess should carry over to the NBA. Offensively, he has showcased an ability to score inside and out. The junior has averaged 18.0 points per game and has become a threat from three, hitting 43 percent on long balls.
The trio of Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Mikal Bridges could cause havoc for opposing offenses. The ability to switch and defend on the perimeter would force teams inside and take away the popular three-point shot.