Miami, 6th seed
Of all the sixth seeds in this year’s tournament, Miami might be the most likely first round exit. Loyola-Chicago is a veteran team and one of the best mid-majors in the country, while the ‘Canes are shorthanded and notably inconsistent.
Still, even with Bruce Brown sidelined due to injury, Miami has a prospect that could end up on the Sixers’ draft board in June: Lonnie Walker IV.
Walker struggled to find his role early in the season, but has come on strong as of late. He fits the 3-and-D archetype teams crave nowadays, shooting 36.1 percent from deep in conference play while flashing significant upside on the defensive end.
At 6-5 with a 7-1 wingspan, Walker’s length is obviously intriguing. He’s also a plus athlete, playing above the rim in transition and boasting plenty of upside if he’s able to fine-tune his offensive game. He’s only 19, so there’s plenty of time for that development to take place.