March Madness Day 4 recap: Potential lottery picks for Sixers shine

[ASFN Admin]

The Round of 32 of the men's NCAA Tournament wrapped up on Sunday with a full slate of games as March Madness began. The tournament is a time for young players to show what they can do and improve their draft stock for when the time comes in June.

The Philadelphia 76ers won't know if they will have a first-round pick until the lottery drawing on May 12 as their pick is only top 6 protected. As they sit in their current situation, the Sixers are working on trying to be in the best position possible in order to keep that pick.

With that being said, day 4 of the NCAA Tournament featured some excellent options for Philadelphia should it keep its pick in the lottery:

Cooper Flagg, Duke​

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Stats in win over (9) Baylor: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block

Flagg is going to be the No. 1 pick in June so the only way the Sixers grab him is with some extreme lottery luck, but if they can, they'd be getting an elite prospect. Flagg can score in a variety of ways and he can contribute in so many different areas whether it's on the glass or with his passing. He's going to be a star in this league.

Khaman Maluach, Duke​

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Stats in win over (9) Baylor: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks

Maluach will be an option around the 5 or 6 range for the Sixers should they keep their pick and look into adding some size. Outside of Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond, Philadelphia is a smaller bunch. Standing at 7-foot-2, Maluach brings size and he has soft hands which makes him a lob threat in the pick-and-roll.

Kon Knueppel, Duke​

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Stats in win over (9) Baylor: 12 points, 3 assists, 2-for-3 from deep

Knueppel is going to be in the mix for a top 5 pick due to his high basketball IQ and being able to move without the basketball. He shoots the ball at a high percentage from deep and is able to find open spots within the defense to fire up open 3s.

VJ Edgecombe, Baylor​

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Stats in loss to (1) Duke: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Edgecombe's athleticism is off the charts. While there will be work to do in terms of his 3-point shot, he can do so many positive things on the basketball court such as attacking and finishing at the rim while also being a menace on the defensive end and on the glass. The shot will come. He just needs time to develop it.

Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois​

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Stats in loss to (3) Kentucky: 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 turnovers

It was a tough effort for Jakucionis in a Round of 32 loss to Kentucky, but he still figures to be a top pick in the draft. He can handle the ball, has a lot of size, and can be a difference-maker from the perimeter. The Sixers will be focused on adding size whether it's from the wing spot or at the bigs so everybody will be on the table in June.

Labaron Philon, Alabama - Round 2 option​

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Stats in win over (7) Saint Mary's: 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks

Philon had a tough time shooting the ball in the win over the Gaels, but he stuffed the stat sheet. He is going to be more than solid player in this league and should be somebody who will draw attention in Round 2 of the draft. The Sixers will have a pick in the early 30s in Round 2 so Philon may be worth a flier.


This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: March Madness Day 4 recap: Potential lottery picks for Sixers shine

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