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Charlotte Hornets: Five draft prospects to watch for in the NCAA Tournament

By Jerry Stephens

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 14: Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) battles with Duke Blue Devils forward Wendell Carter Jr (34) for a loose ball during the State Farm Classic Champions Classic game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Michigan State Spartans on November 14, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 14: Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) battles with Duke Blue Devils forward Wendell Carter Jr (34) for a loose ball during the State Farm Classic Champions Classic game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Michigan State Spartans on November 14, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA PA- FEBRUARY 01: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats dribbles around Mitch Ballock #24 of the Creighton Bluejays during a college basketball game at the Wells Fargo Arena on February 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Wildcats won 98-78. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA PA- FEBRUARY 01: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats dribbles around Mitch Ballock #24 of the Creighton Bluejays during a college basketball game at the Wells Fargo Arena on February 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Wildcats won 98-78. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

2. Mikal Bridges – Villanova

The junior small forward is second on the Wildcats in scoring behind only Jalen Brunson, second in rebounds, first in steals, second in blocks and first in three’s made. Villanova ended the regular season as the No. 2 team behind on Virginia in the AP Top 25. They won the Big East tournament and earned a No. 1 seed in the East Region this year.

Bridges averaged 18.0 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks during the 2017-18 campaign. Mikal shot an impressive 52.1% from the field, 43.3% from three and 85.1% from the free throw line. The 21-year old has nearly doubled his scoring from last season and has been efficient in a bigger role. He scored 20+ 14 times this year and only had three games with fewer than 10 points.

He is an effective two-way player who will most likely be selected in the lottery this year. NBADraft.net has the Hornets taking him at No. 10. If that were to happen, it’s safe to say that Bridges would have a good shot at being Charlotte’s starting small forward next season. At 6’7, he not only has great size but can help space the floor.

Mikal and Villanova won the NCAA National Championship two years ago and will be looking to make it back to the Final Four this season. It won’t be easy as the Wildcats will face Radford in the first round and are in the same region as Purdue and Texas Tech. If they do make another deep run, expect Bridges’ stock to rise even more heading into the draft.