New York Knicks: 2018 NBA Draft prospects to watch in Final Four

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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 25: Jalen Brunson #1 of the Villanova Wildcats cuts down the net after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 71-59 in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Projection: Early Second Round
Age: 21 (8/31/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’2″, 190 pounds, 6’3″
Slash Line: .527/.414/.811
Season Averages: 31.8 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 2.2 3PM

The Villanova Wildcats have four of the 10 prospects on this list of players to watch in the Final Four. The leader of the squad is First Team All-American Jalen Brunson, who has emerged as arguably the best point guard at the collegiate level.

With a Round 2 grade and the potential to develop into a quality starter in the NBA, Brunson is a player whom the New York Knicks should watch closely.

Brunson is the modern point guard in a nutshell. He’s a capable distributor who has no trouble deferring to his teammates, but his first instinct is to either attack the basket or pull up for a jump shot when the defense gives him even a sliver of space.

Brunson certainly has the skill level to justify such a decision, as he’s developed into one of the most explosive and efficient shooters in the country.

For the Knicks, Brunson represents an opportunity to bring an elevated skill level to the point guard position. The current crop of players generally get by on size—sans Trey Burke—whereas Brunson can play and excel both on and off the ball.

Brunson is a solid team defender, and if he improves his individual effort on that end of the floor, he could lead the second unit for years to come.

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