March is in full swing, which suggests the NCAA Match is correct across the nook. For a lot of NBA followers, March Insanity is an thrilling option to get a primary look at among the school recreation’s most gifted gamers – lots of whom might at some point discover themselves on NBA rosters.
Amongst these younger males are numerous graduates of the NBA Academy.
Right here’s a deeper dive into among the NBA Academy alumni to look at earlier than first-round play will get underway on Thursday afternoon.
Tyrese Proctor (Duke)
NBA World Academy
After being chosen to the 2023 ACC All-Freshman staff, the 6-foot-5 Australian guard has made strides as a sophomore, beginning 21 video games for the Blue Devils this season and main the staff with 3.8 assists per recreation. With Proctor on the helm, Duke seems to be to make a deep run because the No. 4 seed within the match’s South Area.
- The 19-year-old erupted for a career-high 24 factors in a win over Louisville on Jan. 23
- Proctor is simply the fourth sophomore captain in Duke males’s basketball historical past (becoming a member of Tre Jones, Greg Paulus and Josh McRoberts)
Johnny Furphy (Kansas)
NBA World Academy
The 6-foot-9 Australian guard had a powerful inaugural marketing campaign for the Jayhawks, averaging 8.8 factors on an environment friendly 47.6% taking pictures from the ground. The 19-year-old Large 12 All-Freshman staff member helped Kansas safe the No. 4 seed on this 12 months’s Midwest Area.
- Because of his distinctive mixture of dimension, shotmaking and athleticism, Furphy landed at No. 20 on Jonathan Wasserman’s newest 2024 NBA Mock Draft
- He broke out for 23 factors and 11 boards (each profession highs) in a win over convention foe Cincinnati on Jan. 22
Oumar Ballo (Arizona)
NBA Academy Latin America
Hailing from Mali, the 7-foot senior has been a dominant inside power on each side of the ball for the Wildcats this 12 months, averaging 13.1 factors, 1.2 blocks and a career-best 10.1 rebounds. The 2-way expertise seems to be to energy No. 2 Arizona previous No. 15 Lengthy Seashore St. within the pair’s first spherical West Area matchup on Thursday.
- The 21-year-old has began all 33 video games for the Wildcats in 2023-24, recording a team-high 18 double-doubles on the season
- Ballo was named First-Workforce All-Pac-12 (his second consecutive choice), receiving Pac-12 All-Defensive staff honors as nicely
Nelly Junior Joseph (New Mexico)
NBA Academy Africa
Born in Nigeria, the 6-foot-10 junior massive man had a powerful first season with the Lobos after transferring from Iona, averaging 8.8 factors and eight.1 rebounds. If No. 11 New Mexico manages to upset No. 6 Clemson within the first spherical of West Area motion on Friday, search for Junior Joseph to be a giant cause why.
- The 22-year-old ahead has began 33 video games for the Lobos in 2023-24, rating second on the staff in complete rebounds (282) and blocks (49) for the 12 months
- His season-best efficiency was an imposing 26-point, 8-rebound, 5-block outing in a win over Utah State on Jan. 16
Aly Khalifa (BYU)
NBA World Academy
The 6-foot-11 Egyptian native had a powerful first season at BYU after transferring from Charlotte, serving to the Cougars go 23-10 and earn the No. 6 seed within the East Area. Nicknamed the “Egyptian Magician,” the junior massive man is a uniquely gifted passer, rating second nationally in help/turnover ratio (140/30, 3.80) this 12 months.
- Khalifa has been ultra-efficient of late, meting out 33 assists whereas committing simply 2 turnovers over his final eight video games
- Much more spectacular? He’s been acting at a excessive stage whereas fasting for Ramadan, which began on Mar. 10, recording a game-high plus/minus of +25 in BYU’s 87-73 win over Central Florida throughout the Large 12 Match.
Discover the total record of NBA Academy alumni collaborating within the 2024 males’s NCAA Match under:
Participant | College | Nation | NBA Academy |
Oumar Ballo | Arizona | Nigeria | NBA Academy Latin America |
Joshua Ojianwuna | Baylor | Nigeria | NBA Academy Africa; NBA World Academy |
Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua | Baylor | Cameroon | NBA World Academy |
Aly Khalifa | BYU | Egypt | NBA World Academy |
Francisco Farabello | Creighton | Argentina | NBA World Academy |
Fred King | Creighton | Bahamas | NBA World Academy |
Tyrese Proctor | Duke | Australia | NBA World Academy |
Halil Barre | Duquesne | Benin | NBA Academy Africa |
Alex Condon | Florida | Australia | NBA World Academy |
Jun Seok Yeo | Gonzaga | South Korea | NBA World Academy |
Derrick Michael Xzavierro | Grand Canyon | Indonesia | NBA World Academy |
Ayodele Taiwo | Howard | Nigeria | NBA Academy Africa |
Niccolo Moretti | Illinois | Italy | NBA World Academy |
Johnny Furphy | Kansas | Australia | NBA World Academy |
Ugonna Onyenso | Kentucky | Nigeria | NBA Academy Africa |
Ben Gold | Marquette | New Zealand | NBA World Academy |
Nelly Junior Joseph | New Mexico | Nigeria | NBA Academy Africa |
Alex Ducas | St. Mary’s (CA) | Australia | NBA World Academy |
Santiago Vescovi | Tennessee | Uruguay | NBA Academy Latin America; NBA World Academy |
Rueben Chinyelu | Washington State | Nigeria | NBA Academy Africa |
Babacar Faye | Western Kentucky | Senegal | NBA Academy Africa |