NBA draft stock watch: Ja Morant rising, top-100 movement

Multiple players in our top 100 NBA draft rankings played their final games of the season over the weekend in the NCAA tournament.

Which prospects are rising and falling?

Here's the latest draft intel on Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Nassir Little, Brandon Clarke, Mfiondu Kabengele and other potential first-rounders -- including what's next for both the eliminated players and those who have advanced to the Sweet 16.

Ja Morant | PG | Murray State

Top 100 ranking: No. 2

Morant's storybook season came to an end at the hands of a long, versatile Florida State team that did an outstanding job of forcing him to do his damage as a scorer (28 points), limiting him to 8-of-21 shooting and only four assists. After Morant effortlessly picked apart Marquette with 16 dimes in 39 minutes using a flurry of jaw-dropping, NBA-caliber passes, the Seminoles stayed home on Murray State's shooters, funneling Morant to a bevy of rim protectors, resulting in his 3-for-15 performance inside the arc. Having to generate all of Murray State's offense, Morant had occasional struggles with the length and physicality of FSU. He wasn't able to capitalize in midrange spots when the Seminoles started to go over ball screens.

While Florida State's game plan was well-executed, Morant still had some spectacular moments. He came out of the gates scorching, burying four triples in the first nine minutes, with FSU going under screens. Morant showed tremendous range and touch on off-the-dribble 3s, finishing the season shooting 36.8 percent from deep (152 attempts) and 81.5 percent from the free throw line.

Morant also looked dynamic going to the rim when given space, shifting gears to set up scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates, who simply weren't able to cash in against FSU. His ability to get into the teeth of the defense without a ball screen is second to none in this class, and his finishing potential was on full display. He showed a fearlessness attacking FSU's big men, and he figures to look even more slippery on a spaced NBA floor.

On the flip side, Morant remains a bit turnover prone, playing with the ball on the perimeter too often and opting for flash over substance as a passer, while also standing around a bit too much when off the ball. Defensively, Morant had his ups and downs, showing his tendency to relax in his stance. It's important to keep in mind that Morant was clearly gassed; over the course of Murray State's last four games, he sat a total of 1 minute and 28 seconds.

Each NBA team values the tournament differently, with some jettisoning to Europe to avoid recency bias and others traveling to sites to continue live scouting. For a mid-major prospect like Morant, a clash against an ACC power certainly holds value. He more than held his own, not backing down from the challenge and proving he has some toughness in the process. Morant showed NBA scouts that he may have some struggles scoring efficiently in the half court early in his career, but he has clear star potential as a De'Aaron Fox/Trae Young hybrid PG.

While it was just one game, watching RJ Barrett get lit up by UCF's Aubrey Dawkins and have issues creating high-percentage offense certainly strengthens Morant's case as the second-best prospect in the draft. Once he goes through the pre-draft process, it's easy to envision Morant going No. 2 overall, where I'd rank him at this stage. Barrett still has opportunities to prove himself in the rest of the tournament -- and how the lottery shakes out will be a factor -- but there's simply too much to like about Morant's upside to pass on him once Zion is off the board. -- Schmitz

Zion Williamson | F | Duke

Top 100 ranking: No. 1

Playing on the biggest stage of his career, Williamson once again showed a willingness to carry his team by posting 32 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists to get past UCF. Zion tied his career high for made 3s in a game (three), bringing his season total to 21. He also made some spectacular passes. He was impossible to contain all over the court when given even the slightest amount of daylight. Most important, he embraced the moment when Duke's offense needed him most. -- Givony

Brandon Clarke | PF | Gonzaga

Top 100 ranking: No. 14

Benefiting from the impeccable spacing of the Gonzaga offense -- as well as an undersized and overmatched Baylor frontcourt -- Clarke had one of the signature performances of the tournament, scoring 36 points on just 18 field goal attempts. Clarke showed tremendous body control and touch creating his own shot and operating inside the arc. His defensive instincts were also on full display, as he repeatedly shut down Baylor's guards on switches with his remarkable combination of agility, fluidity and instincts. He jumped the passing lanes repeatedly and controlled the paint with terrific anticipation skills.

He'll have a much more difficult matchup on Thursday in the Sweet 16 against FSU. Christ Koumadje and Mfiondu Kabengele possess the size, strength and length advantage that we haven't seen Clarke get a chance to face much this season -- exactly what NBA teams want to help project his ability at the next level. This will be a perfect chance to show that the concerns about his average size are overblown thanks to his feel and unique athleticism. -- Givony

Nassir Little | F | UNC

Top 100 ranking: No. 16

Little had an extremely productive weekend, putting up 39 points on 22 shots with 11 rebounds in just 38 minutes, which is encouraging considering the stakes. While it's good to see Little produce like a top-five recruit, he did most of his damage in the open floor, on the offensive glass or feasting on zone defenses. NBA scouts would still want to see more ballhandling, playmaking and perimeter shooting to feel completely comfortable using a lottery pick on him, though they will probably have to wait for private workouts for that. -- Givony

Talen Horton-Tucker | F | Iowa State

Top 100 ranking: No. 19

Horton-Tucker's youth and inexperience showed in a loss to Ohio State, as he notched just two points while spending the majority of the second half glued to the bench. Steve Prohm simply couldn't trust Horton-Tucker's shot selection in a do-or-die game, as he was yanked for good shortly after air-balling a step-back 3 early in the shot clock. Horton-Tucker limped through the season's finish line while averaging 5.3 points over the Cyclones' final three games, ending the year shooting 30.8 percent from 3. He's a polarizing prospect. Some scouts see him as more of an early second-round pick, while others are enamored of his upside and unconventional combination of strength, length and shot creation potential.

Analytics models clearly value Horton-Tucker's combination of age (18.3) and tools, as he ranks No. 9 on Kevin Pelton's projections by stats and scouting. Should Horton-Tucker shed some of his extra weight, shoot the ball in workouts and interview well, a team willing to wait on his development could easily snag him in the top 20. -- Schmitz

Luguentz Dort | SG | ASU

Top 100 ranking: No. 26

Dort's season, and possibly his college career, came to a close with a blowout loss to Buffalo. A streaky shooter (31 percent from 3), Dort had a cold night from the perimeter but still found ways to impact the game with his impressive athleticism, physical style of play and willingness to move the ball. His strengths were a lot more pronounced in ASU's First Four victory over St. John's, where he was able to operate more in the open floor and had some impressive finishes around the rim.

An NBA team that believes in its development system will likely be attracted to his terrific physical profile and toughness defensively. Despite his awkward shooting mechanics, Dort found ways to make 3s and free throws all season. While he may have to overhaul his release to realize his full potential, Dort has plenty of characteristics you look for in a role player and will have a good chance to go in the first round with a strong pre-draft process. -- Givony

Mfiondu Kabengele | C | FSU

Top 100 ranking: No. 30

Few players have improved their stock this March as much as the FSU redshirt sophomore, who is emerging as a potential 2019 first-round pick. In two NCAA tournament games, the 21-year-old center has a combined 43 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots in just 52 minutes. Kabengele bothered Ja Morant at the rim while also switching onto the dynamic guard regularly, showing his defensive versatility on top of his inside-outside scoring attack. While he still has issues with foul trouble and doesn't have great passing feel (he hasn't recorded an assist in seven games), his combination of rim protection, switch potential, shooting touch, strength, mobility and length (7-4 wingspan) make him an interesting fit in today's NBA. While more assertive and far less gifted as a passer, Kabengele isn't that dissimilar to Wendell Carter Jr. in the ways he can impact the game.

Scouts will learn a lot more about Kabengele when the Seminoles take on Gonzaga in Anaheim, a bout that should yield a head-to-head matchup with potential lottery pick Brandon Clarke. Continued stellar play could cement Kabengele in the first round, should he opt to enter the draft. -- Schmitz

Eric Paschall | F | Villanova

Top 100 ranking: No. 31

Paschall's 19 points on 18 shots wasn't enough to deter a 28-point drubbing against Purdue in his final college game. It will be interesting to see how scouts grade the 22-year-old Paschall in the pre-draft process, as his shortcomings were far more accentuated this season with little help around him. Will teams view Paschall as a role-playing, small-ball big or a streaky prospect who looked uncomfortable trying to create efficient offense as Villanova's go-to scorer?

Paschall's defensive versatility, strength, two-foot bounce and shooting potential are enough to warrant looks in the late 20s or early 30s. Scouts should get another opportunity to see Paschall in a different environment at the combine, where they'll have a close eye on how his jump shot translates to the deeper line. -- Schmitz

Dylan Windler | SF | Belmont

Top 100 ranking: No. 34

Belmont came up just short in a narrow first-round loss, but not for a lack of production on Windler's part, with the senior dropping 35 points and 11 rebounds. Windler's combination of size, length, IQ, competitiveness and shooting ability was once again on full display -- this time against a high-major opponent, the likes of which he had struggled with at times in the past. It was important that he not only shot the ball at a high rate from the perimeter (7-of-14 from 3 on a number of difficult attempts) but also made plays attacking the rim in a straight line or finding teammates on the move. He held his own defensively as well.

We thought Windler was already a strong candidate to be a first-round pick, and this performance did nothing to discourage that notion. -- Givony

Bruno Fernando | C | Maryland

Top 100 ranking: No. 35

While Fernando's numbers were fairly solid -- 24 points on 18 shots, 28 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 steals and 2 blocks in 74 minutes -- there were quite a few moments in both of his games that showed just how much of a work in progress he is on both ends of the floor. Fernando's feel and timing leave a lot to be desired, as he relies heavily on dominating opponents with brute force, something that simply doesn't work in games against similarly sized opponents (like LSU). On the other hand, Belmont put him in open spaces defensively and took advantage of his struggles there.

Fernando had a terrific sophomore season and certainly has a role in the NBA with his freakish physical tools and excellent motor on the glass, but he may have lost some ground to other center prospects jockeying for position in the first round. -- Givony

Dedric Lawson | PF | Kansas

Top 100 ranking: No. 45

Lawson became the first player to post consecutive 25-point, 10-rebound games in the NCAA tournament since Blake Griffin in 2009 but likely ended his college career in a blowout loss. He hit a pair of 3s, showed impressive vision as a passer and found ways to impact the game on the offensive glass. But his shortcomings as a defender were never more clear, as Auburn put him in open spaces repeatedly and made him look slow and heavy trying to cover ground in the pick-and-roll.

Lawson's best position is likely as a small-ball center, but his struggles protecting the rim due to his lack of explosiveness and inability to switch make that challenging. Kansas found ways to make that work this season by running its entire offense through him and taking advantage of his terrific feel and scoring versatility; his next coach might not be as willing. Lawson will have to up his intensity level on defense and work on maximizing his quickness to translate his impressive production. Long term, he has the talent to do it. -- Givony

Carsen Edwards | G | Purdue

Top 100 ranking: No. 49

Edwards picked a great time to put forth his best game of the season, exploding for 42 points on just 21 shots in a blowout win over Villanova. He showcased incredible range, a quick release and the ability to hop into pull-ups that are perfect for today's NBA.

The 21-year-old has had an inefficient season overall, with a 53.9 true shooting percentage and more turnovers than assists. He has been a mixed bag defensively, with the strength and length to handle guards yet inconsistent effort at times. But with the success of players such as Landry Shamet, there's clearly a role for Edwards in the NBA. After entering the season as a potential late first-round pick, Edwards reminded scouts just how dangerous he is from the perimeter when he gets going. He will be tested more than ever during Purdue's Sweet 16 matchup with Tennessee and its strong defenders. -- Schmitz

Miye Oni | SF | Yale

Top 100 ranking: No. 53

Oni had one of the worst games of his college career in his lone NCAA tournament performance -- shooting 2-of-16 from the field in a narrow first-round loss to LSU -- but he still found ways to make a positive impact. Oni showed his upside as a multi-positional defender who can cover ground seamlessly and make plays with his big wingspan, registering two blocks and two steals while sliding from guarding point guards up to power forwards. He also did a nice job of moving the ball and displaying his athleticism.

While the results weren't there, it was good to see Oni embrace the moment and take good looks, even if he was uncharacteristically cold (39 percent from 3 this season). Turning 22 this summer, Oni has a tough decision ahead of him and will likely end up testing the NBA draft waters to see where he stacks up in this class. -- Givony

Tremont Waters | PG | LSU

Top 100 ranking: No. 59

Scoring 27 points on 27 shots this weekend with 12 assists and 5 turnovers, Waters was up and down at times, but he still showed his overall talent in leading LSU to the Sweet 16 -- particularly in hitting the game-winning basket to take down Maryland.

Waters' NBA prospects will always be inhibited somewhat by his sub-6-foot height, length and 166-pound frame. Still, his quickness, tight handle, shot-making prowess and impressive creativity as a passer certainly give him a great case as a D.J. Augustin-style backup. Waters picked apart Maryland's pick-and-roll defense, forcing the Terps to go to a zone to try to slow him down. His streakiness as a shooter is the main thing he'll need to iron out to carve out a long career at the NBA level, and LSU will certainly need him to make shots to advance. -- Givony

Ethan Happ | F/C | Wisconsin

Top 100 ranking: No. 88

Happ's ultra-productive collegiate career came to a screeching halt, as Oregon did a tremendous job limiting the 22-year-old senior to just 12 points, no assists and five turnovers. The Ducks took advantage of Happ defensively, leaving scouts with more questions than answers as to how his game translates to the NBA.

It's hard to take too much from Happ's offensive performance, as Oregon consistently threw double-teams his way and his teammates gave him little help. But Happ's struggles defensively created cause for concern, as Payton Pritchard torched him in pick-and-roll, and the Wisconsin big man struggled to recover to vertical spacers. He got beat to defensive rebounds at times and offered little rim protection, making him a tough fit at the 5 even if he does have solid defensive instincts. Offensively, Happ's footwork and feel are strong, yet his lack of shooting remains a concern. He looked far more like an undrafted two-way candidate than a sure draft pick. -- Schmitz

Tacko Fall | C | UCF

Top 100 ranking: NR

The 23-year-old finished his career at UCF on a strong note, posting 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks in 25 minutes against Duke. Fall's frame and conditioning have improved considerably since his freshman season, and he did a good job of making his presence felt. He had some great moments on deep post-entry passes, lobs in transition and slipped ball screens. UCF's strategy of having him guard Tre Jones -- while barely leaving the paint -- was creative and certainly changed the complexion of the game. Fall's incredible reach makes him very difficult to shoot over, as Zion Williamson found out on a number of occasions. He has been one of the best shot-blockers in the country during his career.

The NBA's defensive three-second rule plus the much faster pace would theoretically make things a lot harder on Fall. Just parking in the paint isn't allowed the way it is in college, and going under every ball screen isn't usually a winning proposition in the pros. While it would be surprising if Fall ended up being drafted, it's not out of the question that a team is intrigued enough to offer a two-way or Exhibit 10 contract to see how he progresses in the G League. -- Givony

Aubrey Dawkins | G | UCF

Top 100 ranking: NR

Dawkins had one of the best single-game performances of the tournament, scoring 32 points on just 18 field goal attempts with 4 assists and 3 steals -- just missing a tip-in that would have upset Duke. Dawkins proved his mettle as a high-level shot-maker by coming off screens from NBA range all game while also making tough pull-up jumpers. He attacked the paint in transition, caught alley-oop lobs and hit midrangers with defenders draped all over him. All of Duke's perimeter players got a turn at trying to slow him down, and no one found any real success.

Converting 41 percent of his 3s, Dawkins is clearly a reliable shooter, even if his career has been marred by injuries and inconsistency. Turning 24 in six weeks, he's considered a bit one-dimensional outside of his shooting stroke. Still, he possesses coveted traits for today's NBA. If he can find a way to get a little tougher and improve his feel, it's not out of the question that he finds his way onto a team. Only seven players age 24 or older have been drafted since 1996, so he'll need to have a big pre-draft process to hear his name called in June. -- Givony

Tyrese Haliburton | G | Iowa State

Top 100 ranking: NR

The freshman saw 38 minutes of action in the Cyclones' loss to Ohio State thanks to his defensive value and steady play, even though he failed to move the needle offensively. Haliburton is a highly controversial prospect among NBA scouts, as he entered the collegiate ranks off the radar and hasn't shown much in terms of scoring punch or aggressiveness. But he grades out incredibly well using analytics, ranking No. 6 in Pelton's stats and scouting model.

A lean 6-foot-5 guard with impressive length and quickness, Haliburton possesses quick feet and an excellent feel for the game. He makes good decisions on the court and has proved he can knock down occasional spot-up 3s with time and space. But Haliburton uses just 5.4 possessions per game. He's strictly a ball-mover and defender at this stage, and he still has to prove himself from 3 given his unorthodox stroke. Haliburton looks much more like a long-term name for teams to track than an immediate impact 2019 pick. -- Schmitz

Jalen Smith | F/C | Maryland

Top 100 ranking: NR

After an up-and-down freshman season, the former McDonald's All American reminded NBA scouts of his long-term intrigue with two spirited showings. Smith impressed with his rim running, effort on the offensive glass, shot-blocking instincts and floor-spacing potential. While he has a unique set of ingredients, Smith also showed that he could still use more time at the collegiate level. Although agile in a straight line, he struggles to step out and defend the perimeter, in part due to his narrow base, which we saw as Tremont Waters glided past him out of a pick-and-roll to score the game-winning bucket. It would be wise of Smith to spend the summer working on his lateral agility and strength, improving his ability to play in traffic and slide up to center -- his most advantageous position long term.

With Fernando gone to the NBA and Smith potentially spending some time at the 5 next season, he could easily emerge as a potential first-round prospect in 2020. -- Schmitz

Jared Harper | G | Auburn

Top 100 ranking: NR

Although not considered a major NBA prospect going into the tournament -- mostly due to his lack of size -- Harper showed that he has a strong case to be mentioned among the best point guards in college basketball in a beatdown of Kansas. Harper's athleticism, deep shooting range, ability to make quick reads out of pick-and-roll and competitiveness defensively all stood out in an exhilarating first half in which Auburn led by 25 points.

Unlike most college PGs, Harper doesn't need to learn how to play at an NBA tempo with modern spacing principles. He already does that at Auburn, which would make him attractive to teams in a backup role. -- Givony