March Madness is upon us and there are a number of reasons to watch the NCAA Tournament, even if you're not a big college basketball fan.
For one, the brackets. Even Tina in accounting has filled out a sheet and it will probably beat out several "experts" who watch every second of every game, beginning with November's "Battle For Atlantis."
Another reason to watch: the future NBA stars of tomorrow. NBA fans who have watched their team tank the 2018-19 season away should be locked in to the NCAA Tournament, even if your chances of landing Zion Williamson are slim to none.
Although this year's draft class isn't as strong as previous years, there are still plenty of electric college players who are sure to light it up as the NCAA Tournament rolls through March and into the Final Four in April.
Scroll down for 10 of the top players to keep an eye on in the big dance.
RJ Barrett
Team: Duke Blue Devils
Region: East
Despite all of the (well deserved) hype surrounding his teammate, Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett was named the National Player of the Year by USA Today. He is projected to be one of the top-3 selections in June's NBA Draft and, needless to say, is one of the must-watch players in the NCAA Tournament.
The 6'7 freshman guard didn't miss a game this season, as he led the Blue Devils in scoring with 22.9 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
Brandon Clarke
Team: Gonzaga Bulldogs
Region: West
One of the best two-way players in this year's NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga's 6'8 forward Brandon Clarke averaged 16.5 points and 8.4 rebounds to go along with 3.1 blocks per game.
His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor will be on full display if the Bulldogs find their way to the Final Four in Minnesota.
Cassius Winston
Team: Michigan State Spartans
Region: East
Spartans guards and March Madness go together like peanut butter & jelly, even if Tom Izzo's squads have had their share of early exits in recent years.
The latest in a long line of Michigan State playmakers is Cassius Winston, aka the 2019 AP Big Ten Player of the Year. Winston led Michigan State to a Big Ten title, and a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, while posting 18.9 points per game to go along with 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
De'Andre Hunter
Team: Virginia Cavaliers
Region: South
Virginia's De'Andre Hunter, the ACC Defensive player of the year, enters the NCAA Tournament averaging career highs in points (15.1) and rebounds (5.0), and he finished the year ranked third in the ACC in field goal percentage (53%).
The 6'7 forward earned AP All-America third team honors and he'll be looking to show out in the tournament. If you recall, Hunter broke his wrist before last year's tournament started, and he watched from the sidelines as his teammates fell to 16-seed UMBC.
Projected as a Top-10, or even Top-5, pick in the NBA Draft, Hunter has plenty of motivation to shine on the big stage.
Ja Morant
Team: Murray State Racers
Region: West
Murray State, winners of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, entered the NCAA Tournament as a #12 seed. Ja Morant wasted no time proving why the Racers were criminally underrated, and why he is projected to be a surefire Top-3 pick in the NBDA Draft.
Morant, one of the four finalists for the Naismith Trophy, posted a triple-double (17 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds) in a blowout victory against #5 Marquette on Thursday night. He is only the eighth player to record a triple-double in the NCAA tournament and the first since Draymond Green did it twice with Michigan State, in 2011 and 2012, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Check out his highlights from last night in the video embedded below.
Jarrett Culver
Team: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Region: West
Jarrett Culver does a little bit of everything for the #3 seed Red Raiders, and he should cement himself as a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the time March Madness has come and gone.
The Big 12 Player of the Year and Wooden Award finalist averaged 18.5 points per game and 6.3 rebounds this season while acting as Texas Tech's primary ball handler and distributor. Though's he's listed as a shooting guard, Culver plays more like a point forward which will present matchup issues for even the toughest defenses in the tournament.
Grant Williams
Team: Tennessee Volunteers
Region: South
Tennessee's Grant Williams is one of the four finalists for the Naismith Trophy, an award which recognizes the most outstanding men’s college basketball player.
The 6'7 Junior averaged 19 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Volunteers this season, while shooting 56% from the field. He was named SEC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, in addition to earning unanimous first-team all-SEC honors for the second straight season.
So yeah, he's a guy you want to watch.
Tremont Waters
Team: LSU Tigers
Region: East
LSU's sophomore point guard Tremont Waters, who stands all of 5'11, is one of the most fun players to watch in college basketball.
In the Tigers' opening round game against Yale, Waters showcased every bit of his game, including his ability to break a defender's ankles and throw a perfectly timed lob to LSU big man Naz Reid. In addition to his offensive prowess, Waters is just one steal away from breaking LSU's single season steals record.
He is an absolute pest and a true pain in the ass for opposing guards on both sides of the ball.
Tremont Waters is NOT nice! pic.twitter.com/11yecKkVB1
Coby White
Team: UNC Tar Heels
Region: Midwest
UNC point guard Coby White, a finalist for the Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award, averaged 16.4 points per game this year, while leading the #1 ranked Tar Heels in assists.
The 6'5 guard set a UNC freshman-record with 76 three-pointers this season, shooting 43% from the field and 36.2% from behind the arc. UNC has a number of talented players on their roster, as always, but White, a projected lottery pick, is the guy to watch.
Zion Williamson
Team: Duke Blue Devils
Region: East
This man needs no introduction.
