We are on the cusp of the best days of the calendar year. Yeah, you got it. It is March Madness and while this year’s freshmen class isn’t the best compared to past years, guys like Jamal Murray, Jaylen Brown, and Brandon Ingram will still have a strong say as to who cuts down the nets in Houston. That got us to thinking, with most seniors finishing out their high school careers, who are some of the members of the 2016 class that could be in the spotlight come this time next year as catalysts in cutting down the nets in Phoenix? We indulge.

LONZO BALL, PG, UCLA

A few months ago, one unnamed coach spoke on the fan support and game day experience of his program and how his university was a much better place to attend compared to another unnamed program within his conference. That unnamed program may have been UCLA and if it was, Lonzo Ball should be able to put tons of fannies in their seats with his entertaining style of ball play. The high school realm hasn’t seen a prospect like Lonzo Ball for some time now. His entire length of the floor passes, sometimes coming off of one leg and with little balance needed, would make Kevin Love look like a couldn’t pass the ball to save his life. Standing at 6-foot-5 and with unteachable vision and a passing prowess to him, while Steve Alford’s crew is having a down year at the moment, next season should be quite the opposite. The loaded backcourt featuring Isaac Hamilton, Bryce Alford, Prince Ali, and Aaron Holiday, should all have a field day playing alongside the Chino Hills star. They should receive much easier looks at the basket and offensive outputs should never be much of an issue with Ball at the helm in Westwood; look out for the Bruins in March, 2017.

MILES BRIDGES, F, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

No Denzel Valentine, no problem. Actually, it could be an issue but with the incoming talents of a prolific recruiting class which includes five-star forward Miles Bridges, the future still looks mighty bright in East Lansing. Michigan State may be the favorites at the moment to cut down the nets in a few weeks and that is primarily because of the play of Valentine. With the loss of the 6-foot-5, do it all type, Bridges should be the perfect stop gap at the small forward position. The lefty is ambidextrous to a certain extent and one of the most explosive guys around. He gets to the rim and finishes with the best of them, has developed an outside jumper, and has the body and athleticism to guard practically any spot on the floor minus the point guard position. With Tom Izzo back again at MSU next fall, Bridges should be a go-to option for the potent Spartans a year from now and again, a major threat to make its way to another Final Four appearance.

JJ CALDWELL, PG, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

While he isn’t perceived by most as a top-50 recruit, Caldwell’s fingerprints could be all over the season next year in College Station. With the losses of Anthony Collins and Alex Caruso in the backcourt, there will be a desperate need for a ball handler and facilitator for the Aggies. Thankfully they signed one of the quickest, toughest, and best passers of the ball in JJ Caldwell. The feisty and electric guard will remain in the state and lead a cupboard full of talented frontcourt pieces next year. He will slide alongside Admon Gilder on the perimeter creating a dynamic 1-2 punch and have sharp shooter DJ Hogg and back to the rim asset Tyler Davis next fall. Billy Kennedy has transformed the program around and with losses of four of its top producers in the coming weeks, Caldwell should be able to solidify the SEC program straight out of the gates and help keep the program on the uptick moving ahead.

ANTHONY COWAN, PG, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Mark Turgeon has his crew in line to make a run to Houston in the coming weeks but next year brings more uncertainty. The Terps will lose Rasheed Sulaimon and Jake Layman, while Diamond Stone is more than likely to leave College Park after just one year at the Big 10 program. The true wild card of it all is if Melo Trimble, the sophomore floor general, returns for another campaign. If he does head to the NBA, a giant hole is left in the backcourt at Maryland. Anthony Cowan, another DMV recruit just like Trimble, could be the guy that gets called on early in leading the talented Terps. A top-75 recruit that wins, Cowan won’t wow you with his athleticism or much of the rest of his game, but what makes you respect him is how consistent he is, his competitive nature, and his ability to get the best of out of his teammates. He already plays well beyond his years and if he gets the keys to the program due to the departure of Trimble, Cowan could become a household name this time next year.

DE’AARON FOX, PG, UNIVERISTY OF KENTUCKY

With pending losses of the best backcourt in America with Jamal Murray and Tyler Ullis, while Isaiah Briscoe will more than likely remain in Lexington, the need for a killer perimeter punch is a must. Hence, UK brings in the best guard prospect in the 2016 class in De’Aaron Fox. The smooth lefty that has a ton of dog in him, the Texan is capable of stepping up his game and closing out any contest like vintage Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning of a World Series outing. He can absolutely lock down his opponent due to his quick twitch muscles, length, and consistent focus and is one of the best two-way producers in all of the land. As long as John Calipari is a fixture as the head coach at Kentucky, Big Blue Nation should feel confident in their chances in contending for the title. De’Aaron Fox is next in the long line of lead guard that has flourished under Calpari along the lines of John Wall, Derrick Rose, and Brandon Knight and will have a major say as to who wins the whole thing next April.

MARKELLE FULTZ, G, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

You might be thinking, how will Washington have a major say in March next year? Well, the Huskies only lose one producer from this year’s bunch in Andrew Andrews, and if all of its freshmen return and hold off on the NBA for another year, then UW has a chance to surprise. With budding stars in Marquese Chriss, Dejonte Murray, and David Crisp all back in tow, Lorenzo Romar’s program welcomes to town McDonald’s All-American guard Markelle Fultz. The product of the famed DeMatha Catholic program, Fultz has takeover material and with great size at the lead guard spot, paired alongside the already mentioned Murray in the backcourt, Romar will be able to throw out three potential first round NBA draft picks onto the floor at one time and with a young but maturing group, make a major run in the NCAA Tournament next season.

ANDREW JONES, PG, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

Who would have thought that four months ago, the Texas Longhorns would be in position for a deep run into March? With Shaka Smart at the helm of the Big 12 program in his inaugural season in Austin, the former VCU head coach has meshed the pieces that he walked into and made Texas a dark horse candidate for the Final Four in April. Looking ahead, Smart will finally be able to bring in his first full class next fall led by 6-foot-4 guard Andrew Jones. The rapidly developing guard may be leaned upon earlier than thought with the loss of Javan Felix and possible early departure of star point guard Isaiah Taylor. Current freshmen guards Eric Davis and Kerwin Roach are great weapons in the backcourt but both are more in your score-first variety. While Jones can really fill it up on the scoreboard, his pace, feel, and presence at the lead guard spot should allow for him to play like he is an upperclassman in March and thus, lead the Longhorns to a great run that might place them in Phoenix.  

LAURI MARKKANEN, PF, UNIVERISTY OF ARIZONA

The fact that Sean Miller has the Wildcats in place to receive a top-five seed in the NCAA Tournament this month is quite remarkable in keeping in mind the fact that half of his team has been injured this season and he lost four of his five starters from last year’s Elite Eight bunch. Next year may be even more difficult in the early going as the Pac 12 power loses three of its primary frontcourt pieces in Ryan Anderson, Kaleb Tarczewski, and Mark Tollefsen. Sure, Chance Comanche and Dusan Ristic should be able to provide sparks but none have the basketball ceiling or polished scoring abilities than Lauri Markkanen. The Finnish big man, who can play either spot in the frontcourt, is a tremendous offensive weapon. He can score the ball in various ways out to the 3-point line and for a prospect that stands 6-foot-10, Markkanen has a great feel and passing skills on top of it all. With a backcourt that will lack no shortage of talent, the polished big man should be the glue to the season that hopefully takes Sean Miller to his first Final Four next year, which is if they don’t make a run this month to Houston.

OMARI SPELLMAN, C, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Jay Wright has his program clicking on all cylinders and headed into March as another top-two seed candidate, there is a lot to be excited about on the Main Line. With the losses of Ryan Arcidiacono and big man Daniel Ochefu, the deep and talented backcourt should be able to solidify the loss of Arcidiacono, primarily with more usage out of current freshman guard Jalen Brunson. Furthermore, with the loss of low post presence Ochefu on the interior, the need for a big man to step up next year is a need. Enter Omari Spellman. The 6-foot-8 forward is one of the toughest matchup issues in all of the senior class. He is best facing the basket but with his giant girth and a strong lower body, the St. Thomas More senior can post up and hit on turn and face jumpers with shades of Dirk Nowitzki on the attempt. While he does have to remain in solid shape, if the Wildcats can keep Spellman in line, the Buckeye State native may have a major say as to how far the Big East bunch goes in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

JAYSON TATUM, SF, DUKE UNVERSITY

It seems all but likely that Duke will lose Brandon Ingram in a few weeks to the NBA. After the departure of Justice Winslow at the small forward spot the year prior, it looks like there will be a desperate need for a go-to scorer and those shoes should be filled by Tatum. As easy as the game comes for Ingram in putting the ball through the goal, it is actually even easier for Tatum. One of the most polished offensive weapons that the high school realm has seen in some time now, the 6-foot-7 forward will be leaned upon pretty heavily next year. Part of a monster four-man class headed to Durham in the fall, Tatum might have the most say next March for Coach K’s Blue Devils as to how far the bluebloods goes within bracket play.