Sixers fans should keep their eyes on these NBA draft prospects during March Madness

March Madness has officially begun. For the first time since 2021, multiple Big 5 schools have made the men’s NCAA Tournament, with Villanova and Penn securing spots in the Big Dance, and Philadelphia will host games in the first two rounds.

But college sports’ electric postseason is also a showcase for future NBA draft talent. The 76ers are projected to pick at No. 24 with the selection they acquired by trading Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston). With that in mind, here are five names to watch that you might be hearing more about come June:

Mara and No. 1 seed Michigan will face Howard in the first round. He transferred from UCLA to Michigan this season, and the 7-foot-3 center immediately became one of the Big Ten’s most important players. Mara is an elite passer and offensive rebounder, and a strong finisher and defender at the rim. There are concerns about how his shooting and mobility will translate at the NBA level, especially on defense. With Joel Embiid’s significant injury history and Andre Drummond on an expiring contract, adding a center in the draft could make a lot of sense for the Sixers.

The other Michigan center who could be drafted within the Sixers’ pick range is Johnson, who’s a better fit for small-ball lineups at 6-9. Johnson is extremely mobile on defense and is developing his three-point shot, but plays his best basketball around the rim. The Sixers could look at Johnson as a third center option behind Embiid and Adem Bona, and as added forward help alongside Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow.

Evans and top overall seed Duke take the floor on Thursday against Siena. He’s one of the draft’s best shooters, excelling off the ball as a catch-and-shoot guard. Look out for him playing off projected No. 1 overall pick Cam Boozer.

After trading McCain to the Thunder, the Sixers are low on three-point shooters, relying heavily on Tyrese Maxey from behind the arc. The team’s 34.6% shooting from three ranks 24th in the league. A player like Evans could slot right in to contribute and provide space for the team’s main scorers.

Ngongba missed the ACC tournament with a foot injury, and his availability is questionable for the opening rounds of the tournament, although coach Jon Scheyer said he was trending positively. He’s not the most mobile at 6-11, but Ngongba is a good passer and solid interior defender.

Jefferson was a second-team All-American at Iowa State in his senior season, leading the Cyclones to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He’s the focal point of Iowa State’s offense, and showed strong skills with the ball in his hands, but he isn’t the best shooter. Jefferson is a great passer with enough physicality to play bully ball when needed. With Kelly Oubre Jr. on an expiring deal, Jefferson is a potential developmental pick as a playmaking forward. We’ll get to see more of Jefferson when the Cyclones play Friday against Tennessee State.