1. Ja Morant, Murray State
Slash Line: 5-for-9/2-for-2/3-for-3
Stat Line: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists
The overbearing star of the NCAA Tournament’s first night, Ja Morant stole the show, as Murray State toppled Marquette in one of the few seeding upsets. However, given the hype around this future top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, this was anything but a surprise for college basketball fans that tracked him in the 2018-19 season.
Per ESPN Stats, Morant’s line of 17 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists was just the eighth time a triple-double transpired in the NCAA Tournament since it became a stat in 1983-84. The majority of the other players to do this had NBA careers or found long-term success.
Ja Morant has become the 8th player to record a triple-double in the tournament since assists became an official stat in 1983-84. He joins:
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 21, 2019
Draymond Green (2x)
Cole Aldrich
Dwyane Wade
Andre Miller
David Cain
Shaquille O'Neal
Gary Grant pic.twitter.com/as8wmS2uE9
Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and Draymond Green are tremendous company, and the expectations will only rise for Morant in the second round and when he inevitably enters the 2019 NBA Draft.
Congrts to Murray State and much respect to @igotgame_12 on joining the triple double family in the tourney!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) March 21, 2019
Morant is one of this class’s most athletic players and leads his position. Along with superior court vision, which was on display Thursday, NBA teams and fans witnessed what kind of distributor he is, and with teams at the bottom of the standings needing point guards — the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls — having the No. 2 overall pick might not be terrible.
Granted, Zion Williamson is the prize of this class, but Morant proved worthy of the hype and showcased what he did at Murray State all season, just in a much smaller setting.