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Post-March Madness Scouting For Golden State

After an exhilarating month of March full of thrilling games at the NCAA Tournament, Kansas has come out on top to take the college basketball crown. As March Madness wraps up, it's time for the NCAA's best hoopers to prepare for the next stage of their career.

This year hosts yet another loaded draft class with Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, and Jaden Ivey, the expected top three picks. While the Warriors' first draft pick isn't until the late first round, the top three picks are a clear indicator of just how talented this class is.

The Warriors own the first-round draft picks mentioned above and two late second-round draft picks. The three picks and versatile talent in this year's class gives Golden State some flexibility with whom they can choose. So let's take a look at three prospects the Warriors should keep their eye on to bring back to the Bay.

Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky, F, Jr)

Season Stats: 17.4 PPG / 15.1 RPG / 60.6 FG %

It's a shock that the reigning AP and Naismith Player of the Year is projected this low in the draft. For the Warriors, this is gold. For everyone who wants to see the Warriors pick up size to their roster, here is your guy.

Tshiebwe, without a doubt, was the top big man in college basketball this year. At 6'9", 255 pounds, the Kentucky Junior fills the paint with a staggering frame already built for the NBA's physicality.

This past season was a historic season for Tshiebwe. He is the first Division 1 player to average 15+ points and 15+ rebounds since the 1979-1980 season. Tshiebwe finished this season with an impressive 16 consecutive double-doubles and set the single-season record for double-doubles at Kentucky with 28. He also is only the third player in the Wildcats' program to grab 500+ boards in a single season. Consider what he did this year; this is the same program that was home to some of the best bigs the NBA has seen over the last decade, including Demarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and Karl Anthony-Towns.

Dominance is the perfect way to describe his game. This past season, some of his best games included stat lines such as 30 and 16 against Saint Peter’s, 27 and 19 against Florida, 17 and 20 against Duke, and 14 and 28 against Western Kentucky. No one else in college basketball was putting numbers up close to this.

Let alone the forward's rebounding ability, his length, and athleticism can help this Warriors' team on both sides of the ball. He's capable of stepping up high to cover picks on the defensive end while still recovering either for help defense or to grab a rebound. He is still a little raw on the offensive end with his footwork, but his role with Golden State would not ask for him to be a scorer. He'll get his buckets on the offensive end through what he does best– rebounding.

Apologies to our fellow writer James Homer, but this is whom the Warriors need to fill their lack of size.

Johnny Juzang (UCLA, G, Jr)

Season Stats: 15.6 PPG / 4.7 RPG / 43.2 FG %

Looking into the late second-round picks for Golden State, Johnny Juzang would be like a gift falling into the Warriors' lap. The junior guard is in a situation similar to Tshiebwe's; it would be surprising if Juzang fell this low in the draft. At the same time, however, he didn't perform to expectations this season after an impressive run during the NCAA Tournament in 2021.

Whatever the reason may be, in some mock drafts, Juzang is landing around that 47th-53rd pick range, and that's where the Warriors' second pick in the draft is projected to fall. Juzang, at 6'7", can compare to Klay Thompson because he can create a mismatch nightmare for guards who are defending him. When you mention a three-level scorer in the college game today, Juzang fits right into that category. On-ball, off-ball, the UCLA guard is a bucket that can both get crafty with the leather and drop you, or can tire you out by moving well off screens.

With the Warriors already having multiple players that can be primary on-ball weapons, Bringing in Juzang as an off-ball option can make a very deep and young backcourt for Golden State. This especially can work in the split action sets or drive and kicks. While his game is geared more toward having the ball in his hands, just like how Poole’s game is geared, the Warriors’ offensive system will polish him into score both ways.

Talking about drive and kicks, Juzang's ability to get into the paint is what makes him an exceptional scorer. He is not a player that needs the ball for long to create an effective move to get inside or to break down a defender. With a quick first-step, it’s tough to stop Juzang from getting into the middle.

While we're still waiting to hear if Juzang will be returning to UCLA or declare for the draft, it still would be a safe bet for the Warriors to keep him on their radar for this year’s AND next year’s draft.

Ron Harper Jr. (Rutgers, SF, Sr)

Season Stats: 15.8 PPG / 5.9 RPG / 44.2 FG %

Is there a Ron Harper Jr. Fan Club? If there is, count me in. My first time seeing Harper play was against my Syracuse Orange back in 2021 for the BIG 10/ACC Challenge. To keep it short (and not sweet), he lit us up for 26 points, going 9/13 from the field. Ever since then, I’ve been a fan.

The Rutgers Senior is entering the NBA Draft after an incredible career in New Jersey. Harper led the program to back-to-back bids for the Big Dance, including their first bid in 30 years during his junior season.

At 6'6"245, Harper is another NBA-ready player in terms of physique. At his frame, Harper is a skilled scorer that can work both inside and out. He improved his three-point shot throughout his four-year career, shooting his best at 39% from three his senior season. You'd always love to see the Warriors bring in another deep ball threat. He is also a high-energy player that feeds off of the momentum and energy of his teammates. In an environment like Golden State, he would thrive in the Dub's culture.

With the scoring ability and physicality that Harper brought to Rutgers, Harper can get that same energy and make an impact with this Golden State team. As a four-year college vet, this makes for a more mature and higher IQ player coming into the league, so his development won't be starting from the ground.

He's known to be clutch. He's known as a class act at Rutgers. So for reasons on and off the court, this would be a good second-round pick-up for Golden State.

(Photo credit: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)