Draft prospects to watch in March Madness No. 1: Cade Cunningham
As likely the prospect that will be the first off the board come the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery, the Oklahoma State Cowboys superstar freshman point guard and the top rated 2020 recruit in the nation Cade Cunningham is ready to breakthrough on the national stage. Oklahoma State hasn’t seen that much postseason success in a long time, and that could all change thanks to Cade.
Head coach Mike Boynton and the Pokes already looked like one of the hottest teams in the entire country when they were rolling through the Big 12 Tournament. Cade’s huge second half effort in a Big 12 Tournament semifinals win over the Baylor Bears provided that juggernaut of a team with just their second loss of the entire season.
Cunningham is in a group with the likes of Mobley, and G-League studs Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga at the moment as to the list of potential top picks in the 2021 draft. At the moment he would have to be considered the odds on favorite to be the top pick.
For his efforts this season so far, Cunningham has garnered Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and All-Big 12 Tournament Team honors. He averaged an impressive 20.2 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks, in 25 games played so far. And he’s shot 45.4 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 85.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Cunningham and the four-seed Pokes will take on the 13-seed Liberty Flames on the evening of March 19 in the Round of 64.