5 Players Heat fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament

The men’s March Madness field is set and, for Miami Heat die-hards who haven’t spared much time for college hoops this season, it’s a chance to get a look at some of the sport’s top prospects ahead of June’s NBA draft.

On the heels of the successful Jaime Jaquez Jr. pick last summer, the Heat could look to double down with another impact rookie.

Let’s go through some of the key names you should be watching when clicking around the NCAA tournament.

5. Yves Missi, Baylor

One of the draft’s risers has been Yves Missi, the 7-foot shot-blocker out of Baylor who has been compared to Jalen Duren because of his chiseled frame and supreme athleticism. 

Although Missi has been used in a more traditional role at Baylor, there’s reason to believe he could expand his game further outside, which would be an ideal skillset if he were to play alongside Bam Adebayo.

Here’s what Yahoo’s NBA draft analyst Krysten Peek wrote: 

"Missi is one of the best rim-running bigs in college basketball. He has a ton of untapped potential and has continued to add to his game throughout his first year. Baylor has not utilized him in pick-and-pop situations with how many perimeter shooters it has this season, but he's shown his comfort in his 3-point shot in practice and during pregame warmups. Missi has great footwork around the rim, can catch the ball in traffic and finish on both sides of the basket."

Missi, 19, is an impact defensive player but a raw offensive player. But that didn’t stop the Heat from drafting Bam Adebayo, who had similar concerns coming out of Kentucky in 2017.