For the past few weeks, the 2022 NCAA Tournament has seen solid performances from various players and teams across the country. The playing field has now been trimmed down to the Final Four squads set to vie for the national championship this season, including the Duke Blue Devils, Kansas Jayhawks, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Villanova Wildcats.
Having blue-blood programs as the last teams standing in the tourney ensure that top-notch basketball will be played at the highest stage of the collegiate level. On that note, there are also several talented prospects within these four squads who are bound to showcase their abilities for the last time before making the leap to the pros in the near future, with one team in particular holding a number of NBA players.
Let's take a look at the four best 2022 NBA Draft prospects who will see action in the Final Four of this year's NCAA Tournament.
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Best 2022 NBA Draft prospects in Final Four
4. Mark Williams
Mark Williams didn't really impress when he first came to Duke as a true freshman for the 2020-21 season. He only averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 23 games played. The Virginia native was merely seen as a project, which is why he opted to stay for another year with the Blue Devils.
In the 2021-22 season, Williams has emerged as a solid inside presence who can perform on both ends of the floor. His improvement has also been evident in his numbers across all major statistical categories. In 38 appearances, he has averaged 11.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks this season.
Williams has already proven how much of a threat he can be in the paint, and the Blue Devils will surely need his contributions if they want to come out of this Final Four victorious. If he continues to improve leading up to the draft, it wouldn't be hard to see the 20-year-old become a starter for an NBA team in the near future.
3. Ochai Agbaji
Perhaps the most experienced prospect on this list would be Ochai Agbaji from the Kansas Jayhawks. He has been with the team since 2018-19 and is currently playing in his fourth season under head coach Bill Self.
Agbaji is a versatile wingman who can be relied upon both as a scoring threat and a defender on the floor. He is averaging a career-best 18.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 37 games played.
The sensational campaign that he is currently having has already led him to be named as a First-Team All-Big 12 selection, Consensus First-Team All-American, and Big 12 Player of the Year.
Agbaji can be molded into a legitimate 3-and-D type of player at the next level, given the versatility and athleticism he has. His production will surely come in handy as the Jayhawks lean on him to upend the other powerhouse teams in the Final Four.
2. AJ Griffin
At first glance, AJ Griffin isn't your typical lottery pick who is ready to lead a rebuilding team right from the get-go. His averages of 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and an assist in 38 games this season can easily be overlooked as well.
Despite being deemed as a project, Griffin's level of talent is definitely something worth noting. At the age of 18, he will still need more time to develop and mature, but there is no doubt that he can make a ton of damage once he finally reaches his full potential a few years from now.
On the floor, Griffin knows how to maximize his athleticism both on offense and defense. He also has a sweet shooting touch as he is currently shooting close to 45.8% from beyond the arc this season. Some teams may be reluctant to wait and invest on a long-term basis, but it can't be denied that the Texas native surely has the makings of a future NBA star in the years to come.
Blue Devils star Paolo Banchero has been tearing up the collegiate ranks all throughout the 2021-22 season. He is also one who is gifted with good size and athleticism, which allows him to excel on both ends of the floor.
In 38 games played, Banchero has notched 17.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. His stellar performances also led him to be named as a First-Team All-ACC member, Consensus Second-Team All-American, and ACC Rookie of the Year in 2022.
In order to be a more complete player, Banchero still needs to improve his stroke from the outside as he is only shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc this season. Still, the Italian-American talent has a legitimate shot at being the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Banchero can strengthen his case even more if he manages to perform well in in the Final Four and give a proper send-off to Coach K by winning the national title this season.
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