New York Knicks: 2019 NBA Draft targets who stepped up on March 23

2. Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga

Slash Line: 15-for-18/0-for-0/6-for-8
Stat Line: 36 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block

Not the Gonzaga household name basketball fans know, Brandon Clarke unleashed this tournament’s highest scoring total, at the time. His 36 points carried the Bulldogs to a double-digit win over Baylor and as the first No. 1 seed to advance to the Sweet 16.

There were no three-pointers from the transfer forward, unlike most big performances from modern-day basketball players. Instead, he did his work inside, with an efficient 15-for-18 line from the field and multiple trips to the free throw line. The Bears had no answer.

Clarke’s performance came as Rui Hachimura was silent due to foul trouble, and proved there are pieces beyond this likely top-10 pick to lead head coach Mark Few’s team.

At 6-foot-8 and a wingspan that nears seven foot, Clarke has the defensive potential to intrigue as a late first-round pick. If not that, an early second-rounder, just as the New York Knicks struck gold in, in 2018.

A night like this helps put Clarke on the map, especially if he’s capable of even 20-point games at the next level. The lack of shooting may hurt, since he attempted just 14 shots from behind the arc, but averaging 3.0 blocks per game and 1.1 steals makes up for it. Someone will gamble on his potential to become more than a defensive stopper, and that makes him as interesting as any late first-round selection.