The NBA trade deadline has come and gone and now, while we await to see how the rest of the season plays out, it is time to start thinking about the 2021 NBA Draft and how this draft class could be the best draft class since the 2016 NBA Draft that gave us Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray, Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, Pascal Siakam, Buddy Hield and many more high-level talents. 

While this season has definitely been different due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, college basketball has been just as exciting as any other year in large part because of all the talent across the country. The “one-and-done’s” still exist and there are some good ones, but there are also plenty of high-level, older talents that will be hearing their name called during the first-round of the 2021 NBA Draft. 

The NCAA Tournament has been in full swing for over a week now and while things are different this year, NBA prospects are still making a name for themselves and somebody will be cutting down the nets as national champions very soon!

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Cade Cunningham has been the top name in college basketball this year as the 6’8” freshman led the Oklahoma State Cowboys to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017 and was one of the top players in the country all season long. His length and physique is what has made him such a coveted prospect and one of the main reasons why he is presumed to be this year’s top prospect and possible #1 overall pick. 

Cunningham was fantastic this season and will definitely be a young talent that many have their eyes on in the NBA very soon, but 8 teams still have their national championship hopes alive and there is plenty of NBA talent on all of these teams. 

The Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament begins today and with that said, let’s take a look at four of the top NBA Draft prospects to watch from now until the end of the tournament.