It’s mid-March, and that certainly means it’s time for the NBA to take a backseat to the NCAA Tournament, because, well, there’s just nothing like it.
In the first day and a half we’ve seen four overtime games, two buzzer beaters and several other games come down to the last few seconds. Oh, and Duke lost Mercer.
Mercer.
That marks the second time in three years that the Blue Devils have lost to a No. 14-seed or lower. That’s not good for business. And it’s also not good for us. Duke’s early departure means we’ve likely seen the last of freshman phenom Jarbari Parker. While he has given a glimpse of hope to the Duke faithful that he may return for a second season, in reality, it would be foolish to expect him not to enter the 2014 NBA Draft.
Or is it…
Jabari Parker tells @ESPNAndyKatz that his career is incomplete, and that could affect decision on whether to return for sophomore season.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 21, 2014
As a lock to be selected in the top three, why wouldn’t he declare? Parker averaged a shade under 20 points and nine rebounds as a freshman playing in arguably the nation’s toughest conference. He’s also got a decent shot to go No. 1, although his media-hyped counterpart, Andrew Wiggins, has picked up steam with his impressive play over the last month of the season.
I’ve been saying JParker top pick all year, but gotta admit I’m really starting to like AWiggins’ upside. And def haven’t forgotten Embiid
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) March 21, 2014
Speaking of Wiggins, he was the centerpiece of a back-and-forth between ESPN’s Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton, two of the more recognized NBA draft analysts. 
Ford and Pelton break down Wiggins’ freshman season and potential as a pro, giving some terrific insight to his game and who he most resembles in the NBA today. From Ford:
Wiggins has all of the tools NBA scouts look for in an elite prospect. He possesses extraordinary athletic abilities. Wiggins will come into the league and be a top 5 percent athlete. He’s an explosive leaper, has an amazingly quick second jump, has speed and superb lateral quickness. The NBA is loaded with great athletes and few could hold up to Wiggins. He also has terrific size for his position. He’s a 6-foot-8 small forward with a 7-foot wingspan. Very few wings possess his size, and it gives him a distinct advantage on both ends of the floor. Wiggins also is an incredibly fluid player. The game is effortless to him. Whether he’s playing offense or defense, he can make unique plays without breaking a sweat. As a defender, Wiggins is already one of the best in college basketball. He uses his length and quickness to lock down opposing players. It’s rare to see a college freshman get the nod from his coach to guard the other team’s most potent offensive threat. Time and time again Wiggins has completely shut them down.
As an NBA scout or GM it’s got to be hard not to salivate at the description Ford gave of Wiggins above. If you haven’t gotten a healthy dose of Wiggins this season, take a look of what he’s capable of here:
What more could you ask for?
Wiggins had a game-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting in a 80-69 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Friday. And as impressive as he looked, it felt like he was only scratching the surface of what he is capable of.
And what should not be lost in all of the hype is how much of a standout Wiggins is on defense. As Ford notes, he’s consistently been asked to be the number one stopper for the Jayhawks on defense.
And that’s with Joel Embiid on his team.
Pelton provides some additional insight as to just how good a defender Wiggins is already:
Yeah, I think defense is the biggest area Wiggins’ statistics sell him short. Though he’s not a huge steals/blocks guy — his rates in both categories are about average for a wing — he has demonstrated the potential to be a stopper if that’s what he wants to be at the NBA level. And that does apparently show up at the team level. According to Group Stats, the Jayhawks allow nine fewer points per 100 possessions with Wiggins on the floor. As noisy as plus-minus can be at the college level, that is better than teammate Joel Embiid (five points better per 100 possessions).
While both Ford and Pelton offer high praise for the strong defensive habbits and otherworldly athleticism Wiggins possesses, they are hesitant to crown him as the next LeBron James for example.
Why?
He’s not quite there offensively yet, and his jumper leaves a little too much to be desired (for now).
In the end, both Ford and Pelton believe he will turn out to be an All-Star and compare him to two of the best wing players in the league today. From Ford:
I think Wiggins has the most upside of any player in the draft. His physical gifts are unteachable. His defensive potential is off the charts and while his offense still needs polish, all of the weaknesses in his game are fixable.
I’ve been using the comp of a young Paul George all season.
Onto more from around the NBA