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New York Knicks: 2017 NBA Draft Prospects To Watch In The Sweet 16

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) smiles during the first half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament against the Northern Kentucky Norse at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) smiles during the first half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament against the Northern Kentucky Norse at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) shoots the basketball against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Kyle Washington (24, left) during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) shoots the basketball against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Kyle Washington (24, left) during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Lonzo Ball, UCLA Bruins

Position: Point Guard
Age: 19 (10/27/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6″, 190 pounds, 6’7″
2016-17 Slash Line: .556/.420/.677
2016-17 Season Averages: 35.0 MPG, 14.7 PPG, 7.6 APG, 6.1 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 2.3 3PM

The UCLA Bruins have a legitimate chance to win the 2017 national championship. Appearing in their third Sweet 16 in four seasons, the Bruins have a college superstar in Lonzo Ball, as well as a deep and talented team around him.

If UCLA is going to overcome the daunting task that is defeating the Kentucky Wildcats, however, Ball must validate his ascension to superstar status.

Ball began the 2017 NCAA Tournament with a subtle and efficient performance in the Round of 64. He tallied 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field in a convincing 97-80 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes.

Ball followed by flirting with a triple-double, recording 18 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and two steals on 7-of-10 shooting in a 79-67 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Against Kentucky, Ball will be tasked with proving himself against three of the best guards in the country. Isaiah Briscoe, De’Aaron Fox, and Malik Monk all have NBA potential, with the latter two projected as Top 10 draft picks in 2017.

If Ball can show out against a team with as much NBA-caliber talent as Kentucky, then he’d make an even more powerful case than he already has to be the No. 1 overall draft pick.

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