Power Forwards to watch in the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

A good Power Forward can help a team to the winner's circle. Here are the "Fours" in the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament that we like best, from an NBA scouting perspective...

The sky is the limit for Davis.

Deyonta Davis - Michigan State. 6'10" 240, frosh. ...Davis is a traditional BIG that does not shoot the three-ball at all. He keeps his game close to the hoop and as a result he shoots 59% FG. He is strong on the offensive glass. As of today (03/16/16) Davis is the consensus 14th ranked player in the 2016 NBA Draft (using a combo of Draft Express, Chad Ford, and CBS). We like him to be selected much higher than that if he does enter the Draft after just one season at Michigan State. His Defensive Rating is really impressive, especially if you look at how much better his DEFRTG is (89.7) compared to the Michigan State team DEFRTG (94.1). Davis plays an average of just 18 minutes per game but has been able to post per-minute rebounding and scoring numbers that lead us to strongly believe he will really blossom if given more minutes. He averages 7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocked shots per game. He blocked six shots in 22 minutes in a win over Northwestern earlier this season. He shoots 60% from the line. He has slightly more turnovers than assists. Davis was Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan in 2015. He led his team in rebounding in the McDonald's All-American game (2015). 

Domantas Sabonis - Gonzaga. 6'10" 230, soph. ...In our opinion, "Domas" Sabonis is among the most underrated players in the mass media NBA Draft rankings. His consensus range is between the 16th and 26th player that will be selected, should he choose to enter the NBA Draft. He averages 17.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Sabonis is a fiery competitor with skill, size, and solid athleticism. He is shooting a remarkable 63% FG over the course of his two seasons in the NCAA. Sabonis also brings it on the defensive end. He led the West Coast Conference in defensive rating (90.8) as a freshman, and finished second in that category this season. He improved his free throw shooting this season to 76% (he was 66% FT as freshman). He needs to become a better decision maker with the ball. ...Domas is the son of international basketball superstar Arvydas Sabonis. Domas is just 19 years old. He was born in Portland, OR. but has citizenship in both the USA and in Lithuania. 

Brice dunks everything!

Brice Johnson - North Carolina. 6'9" 228, SR. ...Brice Johnson will make life easy for his NBA coach. He is exactly the kind of player that finds a way to be efficient without having any plays run for him. Johnson is simply more active, more energized, and better athletically than whatever forward he guards. Johnson's NBA athleticism shows itself in the form of spectacular offensive rebound dunks, and high-flying transition finishes. He averages 16.6 points, and 10.6 rebounds per game. Johnson improved his scoring and rebounding output each season at North Carolina. His Defensive Rating of 90.4 is significantly better than the North Carolina team DEFRTG of 98.5. ...Among all 2016 NCAA Tournament PF's in our database, Johnson ranks as the best in efficiency per-minute. He is elite in his ability to finish in transition.  ...Johnson has a thin frame that is beginning to fill out. The three-ball is not a part of Johnson's game at all (zero attempts from beyond the arc in four seasons).

The rest of the Power Forwards we are on alert for in the 2016 NCAA Tournament...

Ivan Rabb - Cal. 6'10" 215, frosh. 
Cheick Diallo - Kansas. 6'9" 220, frosh.
Chris Boucher - Oregon. 6'10" 200, jr.
Kennedy Meeks - North Carolina. 6'9" 260, jr. 
Carlton Bragg - Kansas. 6'9" 220, frosh. 
Jameel Warney - Stony Brook. 6'8", 260. SR.
Tyler Davis - Texas A&M. 6'10" 265, frosh. 
Mike Daum - South Dakota St. 6'9" 245, frosh. 
James Farr - Xavier. 6'10" 247, SR. 
Matt Costello - Michigan State. 6'9" 245, SR. 

Power forwards to watch in the 2015 NCAA Tournament

The power forward position in the NBA is presently LOADED with good players. Cracking the rotation of an NBA team as a BIG is tough. You start with Anthony Davis as the premier power forward in the game. He is followed by skilled and athletic players such as Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph, and Paul Millsap. The further down you look at the most recent NBA power forward efficiency rankings you see names outside of the top 30 like David West, Markieff Morris, and Nene. The point is, the current NBA power forward landscape has little room for growth. Any college power forward will have to be pretty special to deserve minutes in an NBA game next fall. ...Let's examine the players we will watch the closest during the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

Johnson is an NBA athlete! 

Brice Johnson - North Carolina 6'9" 210 lbs. - junior. ...Johnson is the most efficient (per-minute) power forward in the Tournament. He will need to add weight to bang in the NBA but his athleticism and ability to finish in transition are ELITE! Johnson does not shoot the three-ball at all which is why I view him more as a PF.

Kennedy Meeks - North Carolina 6'9" 279 lbs. - sophomore. ...Meeks is a traditional power forward with a big butt that can score in the low post. He shoots 55% FG (career), and he rebounds the ball at a high level. Meeks needs to improve his free throw shooting (just 64% FT).

Domantas Sabonis - Gonzaga 6'10" 230 lbs. - freshman. ...The son of international hoops legend Arvydas Sabonis, Domantas is gaining playing time as an effective BIG for the Zags. He is a terrific defender that had the best defensive rating in the West Coast Conference.

Bonzie Colson - Notre Dame 6'5" 226 lbs. - freshman. ...Colson has added a tremendous deal of efficiency to Notre Dame's attack. The freshman is shooting 62.9% FG as an under-sized post. He might remind you of P.J. Tucker when Tucker was a freshman at Texas.

Bobby Portis - Arkansas 6'10" 242 lbs. - sophomore. ...Portis can bang inside but he also has the finesse to hit face up jumpers. Portis converts on 36% of his three point attempts (career). Portis averages 17 points and eight boards per game.

Jalen Reynolds - Xavier 6'9" 222 lbs. - sophomore. ...Reynolds is a sophomore but he is already 22 years-old. He rebounds the ball and shoots a high percentage (60% FG - career).

TaShawn Thomas - Oklahoma 6'8" 240 lbs. Senior. ...Thomas, a transfer from Houston, has added scoring punch to the Sooners. He averages 11.3 points, and six rebounds per game.

Jameel McKay - Iowa St. 6'9" 215 lbs. junior. ...McKay adds a shot blocking presence to Iowa St. He also shoots a high percentage (58% FG).

Montrezl Harrell - Louisville 6'8" 235 lbs. junior. ...In our opinion, no front-line player "brings it" more than Harrell. He is a determined, physical player.

Perry Ellis - Kansas 6'8" 225 lbs. junior. ...Dependable, and capable, Ellis will likely have to score more in the absence of Cliff Alexander. Ellis has raised his scoring and rebounding averages with each season.

Jordan Bell - Oregon 6'7" 190 lbs. freshman. ...Bell has an uncanny ability to block shots.

Rico Gathers - Baylor 6'8" 280 lbs. junior. ...Gathers is a rebounding machine!

Ryan Spangler - Oklahoma 6'8" 232 lbs. junior. ...Spangler is a 58% field goal shooter (career).

Justin Moss - Buffalo 6'7" 240 lbs. junior. ...Led the MAC in scoring (17.2 ppg), and rebounding (9.2 rpg.). 

Centers to watch in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.