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Who is the best NBA Draft prospect in the Final Four? We can't agree

At least last year had Buddy Hield.

The 2017 Final Four does not appear to have a single player bound to be a top 10 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. And while no one should associate NBA talent with quality basketball in today’s college landscape — so few of the elite prospects stay for more than a year, opening the door for less-heralded young men who stick around to develop — it does kind of sink one point of interest for basketball fans.

Two years ago, we had five of the top 10 picks reaching the Final Four, along with two other lottery picks. This year, the top remaining prospect on most boards is North Carolina’s Justin Jackson, who ranks anywhere from No. 12 (DraftExpress and SB Nation) to the mid-20s (Sporting News and NBADraft.net).

But the For The Win staff couldn’t even come to a consensus on which player to pick, so we’re going to each present our case for the guy we’d want on our NBA team from this very-not-NBA Final Four.

Justin Jackson, North Carolina’s 6-8 junior guard/forward

Over his first two seasons in Chapel Hill, Jackson relied entirely on his athleticism and otherworldly touch around the basket — seriously, I haven’t seen anyone hit as many awkward flip shots since Antawn Jamison was doing his thing in the NBA. This season, Jackson transformed his wacky game into a more well-rounded one. He’s developed a jumper to force defenders to close out, which has opened up the rest of his game. North Carolina has even put the ball in Jackson’s hands more often this season, and the junior has increased his efficiency.

Jackson’s got good size and athleticism, decent handles and an improving jump shot. While he probably won’t be a star in the NBA, he could very well develop into a poor man’s Nicolas Batum. You won’t find that kind of player on any of the other Final Four participants, and that’s why he should be a lottery pick. — Steven Ruiz

Dillon Brooks, Oregon’s 6-7 junior guard/forward

Brooks emerged as the Ducks’ best player last season, leading an Elite Eight run and being called out by Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski in the process. He’s the Pac-12 Player of the Year and a second team All-American. Yet, he’s not getting too much love from the NBA folks, typically ranked as an early second-rounder.

But Brooks has a lot for NBA teams to be excited about. He’s 6-7 but can do a bit of everything and has a knack for stepping up in crucial moments. NBA teams love a fearless competitor, and that’s exactly what Brooks is. He’s not an elite athlete, but he’s plenty capable. His perimeter shot has improved in each of his three seasons at Oregon, and that should continue at the next level. Will Brooks be a star in the NBA? Probably not. But this dude has what it takes to be a solid piece on an NBA roster. — Andrew Joseph

Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina’s 6-5 senior shooting guard

If it’s not Brooks, it’s the guy who has benefited more than anyone from this tournament. Thornwell was considered a fringe second-round pick heading into March despite a co-SEC Player of the Year season with remarkable efficiency numbers. But after 29-, 24-, 24- and 26-point performances in South Carolina’s surprise Final Four run, he’s likely played his way up the draft charts.

The Final Four will be packed with NBA personnel, and if Thornwell continues his spectacular play, the senior could hear his name called at the summer’s draft. He also has the coolest name in the draft. I mean, a “Sindarius Thornwell” has to end up on an NBA roster. It just sounds right. — Andrew Joseph

Zach Collins, Gonzaga’s 7-0 freshman center

Tony Bradley, North Carolina’s 6-10 freshman center

Those guys are currently better players than my picks, and the value of a seasoned perimeter player often shows in the NBA — look how many of the best wings were multi-year college players drafted a bit too low (Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson). But I’m gunning for the future here: Collins and Bradley — neither of whom starts — might both come back for next season, but either way, they have the potential to be studs in the NBA in a few years.

Collins is the obvious prospect here. His efficiency numbers are through the roofs: 23.1 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per 40 minutes while shooting 65.4% from the field. He was dominant against Northwestern and has been at least quietly efficient against all of Gonzaga’s power-conference opponents. He has the rare combination of rim-protector athleticism and instincts with the skill to feel comfortable all the way out to the 3-point line.

But Bradley might even be the better “project,” if either of them even deserve that tag. His per-40 numbers are similarly impressive — 20 points, 13.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks — and he has a great feel for the game. Bradley is in a similar position as Ed Davis was in 2009 — Davis came back after being a great backup for a championship team, then was picked in the 2010 lottery — but he has a much more NBA-ready frame and more developed skill set. He’s not going to be a go-to scorer ever, but no one in this Final Four seems to have that in their future. Bradley and Collins look like good starting NBA centers, and I’ll take that and the upside. Of course, they’re not the only big-name big men around. — Adi Joseph

Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga’s 7-0 senior center

I know you guys have gone so far as to watch full 2017 NCAA Tournament games before analyzing the draft prospects of its stars, and I understand that the NBA has long been trending toward athletic big men over lane-clogger types. But when the large Gonzaga man whose name I now know to be Przemek Karnowski is posterizing all the league’s best bigs next season, I’m going to print out what you guys told me about his future potential and show it to him, then videotape me and Przemek Karnowski laughing about how wrong you all were.

Though I previously knew him only as “that huge dude on Gonzaga,” I have seen at least one highlight of Karnowski doing basketball stuff and can confirm based on my expertise that he is extremely tall and can almost certainly dunk. After we mock you guys on video and share it with the world, I might say, “That was fun, Przemek, and thanks for doing it. Any chance you can help me dust my ceiling fan?” And he’ll be all, “no sweat, Ted. Thanks for believing in me.” — Ted Berg

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