Undefeated and overall number one seed, Kentucky headlines the Midwest region of the NCAA Tournament. Although you could probably just make a list based on their NBA prospects, there are a nice group of future pros spread out among the rest of the teams in the region, including players from big name programs like Kansas, Indiana and Texas.

Here is a short breakdown of the best NBA prospects in the Midwest region, with the players listed in the order of their team’s seed:

Karl-Anthony Towns, Freshman, Kentucky, F/C – A potential number one pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Towns has dominated the Southeastern Conference since the beginning of February. At 6’11 and 250 pounds, he has the body to establish position in the low post to go along with footwork and touch that can make scoring look easy. If that wasn’t enough, he sees the floor well and can be a good passer out of the high or low post, he’s a very good (81 percent) free-throw shooter and he can be a menace on the offensive boards. Defensively, Towns has work to do both as a post defender and on pick-and-rolls, but he is a very good shot blocker, especially in Kentucky’s system of having two big men on the floor.  Towns can have trouble staying on the floor at times because of foul trouble, and he has been his most dominant against players three to four inches smaller than him, but as a long-term NBA prospect, he may be the best.

Willie Cauley-Stein, Junior, Kentucky, F/C – Very long and very athletic, Cauley-Stein is a frontrunner for National Defensive Player of the Year, along with being one of college basketball’s most spectacular dunkers. Though the often-stated “Cauley-Stein can guard all five positions” isn’t really true, I can’t recall a big man who could defend the pick-and-roll as well as he does, and even if forced to switch to a guard, he’ll make it difficult for them to get to the basket or get a jumper off.  Like his frontcourt mate Towns, Cauley-Stein is an excellent shot blocker, and his athletic ability allows him to help and get to shots that many others would not be able to. Cauley-Stein’s offense is nowhere near the level of his defense, though he has shown one decent post move and the occasional mid-range jumper. Where he shines is out in transition, where even at 7 feet tall, he can outrun everyone else down the floor, and all a teammate needs to do is throw the ball up anywhere in his vicinity, and he finds a way to slam it home.  Cauley-Stein does need to work on being a better rebounder and one-on-one post defender, and there is a big question of whether he will ever be able to develop the strength to handle the post at the NBA level. Even if he doesn’t, he will still be a valuable role player as a defender, and in the right offensive system, he can shine.

Trey Lyles, Freshman, Kentucky, F – Lyles has not gotten the recognition that a lot of his teammates have, but over the last month, he has been one of Kentucky’s best offensive players.  At 6’10, Lyles is able to step away from the basket and knock down mid-range jumpers consistently, and if given some space, he can attack the basket off the dribble. Like most Kentucky forwards, Lyles is good on the offensive glass, and he’s been an improved passer as the season has progressed. Defense isn’t Lyles’ strength, but he has shown some improvement out on the perimeter, though he doesn’t have the footwork to contain a skilled player off the dribble. Of the Kentucky prospects, he may be the least pro-ready, but there is a very good physical-skill foundation for him to work from.

Devin Booker, Freshman, Kentucky, G – Booker came into Kentucky with a reputation as a fantastic shooter, and he didn’t disappoint, shooting 43 percent from three-point range. He has good size, 6’6, at the shooting guard position, and his ability to catch the ball and get into his shooting motion is as good as any freshman over the past few years.  As the season went on, Booker tried to add more to his offensive game, including attacking the basket, but half of his shots were still three-point attempts, and a good number of his two-point attempts came in transition. Booker is an excellent perimeter defender, and don’t let the average wingspan fool you, he can lock up his man when needed. He may not be as multi-dimensional as other Kentucky prospects, but he is very good at the one thing that will get him to the NBA, shooting.

Kelly Oubre, Jr., Freshman, Kansas, F – After spending the early portion of the season tied to the bench, coach Bill Self let Oubre on the floor, and though inconsistent, he showed some flashes of a very good college basketball player.  Oubre is at his best when he can attack the basket off the dribble, and though he isn’t a very good ballhandler, the 6’7 lefty uses graceful, long strides to the rim, where he can finish big. Oubre has shown some potential as a long-range shooter, though at 36 percent, he isn’t quite a threat yet. On defense, Oubre uses his long arms well to disrupt passing lanes, but his awareness is poor, and he can just as easily be turned in circles trying to defend an active wing. Athletically-gifted, Oubre is similar to a lot of young players coming into college these days, long and quick, somewhat skilled, but having a poor understanding of the game. Oubre has long-term potential, but I wouldn’t expect too much, too quickly.

Jerian Grant, Senior, Notre Dame, G – Grant missed most of last season due to academic issues, but his return to Notre Dame not only made him a better player, but was a major reason Notre Dame won the ACC Tournament and is a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament.  The 6’5 Grant can play at either guard spot, though he is most comfortable with the ball in his hands. His 6.6 assists per game and 3.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio were both top ten nationally, and his ability to make reads in the pick-and-roll has improved in each of his college seasons. Grant can score at all three levels, and though shot selection can be an issue, he also finds ways to score when options don’t seem to be there. Defensively, Grant uses his length well, and he has great instincts off the ball and in help situations. Grant’s versatility will help him at the NBA level, where he’ll join his brother Jerami, following in the footsteps of his father, Harvey and uncle, Horace. 

Melo Trimble, Freshman, Maryland, G – Not as heralded as many of his freshman counterparts, Trimble emerged as the key to taking Maryland to the next level in their first season in the Big 10. A quick point guard who is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball, Trimble uses some nifty ballhandling to break down defenses and create opportunities for himself or teammates. He’s a 40 percent three-point shooter, and though he isn’t a great finisher at the rim, he gets to the free throw line a lot, where he is an 86 percent shooter. Trimble still has some time to develop, and may not even be in the NBA draft for another year or two, but he can be as exciting to watch as many players in the tournament.

Fred VanVleet, Junior, Wichita State, G – Along with teammate Ron Baker, VanVleet has been the catalyst for a Wichita State team which has won 63 games over the past two seasons. At 5’11, VanVleet shows the control and patience of an NBA veteran when directing the Shockers’ offense, and his ability to find teammates and get them the ball in scoring spots is as good as any guard in college today. During the past two years, he has 363 assists to just 101 turnovers, and is also a solid scoring option in the mid- and long-range areas. VanVleet uses screens very well, especially to find the space to shoot, and though not exceptionally quick, he uses a variety of dribbles and tempos to keep defenders off-balance. VanVleet is a workhorse on defense, using his ability to stay active to counteract any advantage he gives up in size and strength. He rebounds well for his size, and he doesn’t back down from any offensive player. There’s nothing flashy about VanVleet’s game, or the Shockers in general, but if you enjoy strong fundamental basketball, he is a must-watch player, and he’ll certainly have the eyes of NBA teams on him as well.

A.J. Hammons, Junior, Purdue, C – One of the most enigmatic players I remember in recent years, Hammons is long, skilled big man, who has the potential to take games over on both ends of the floor.  The Big 10’s leading shot-blocker, 7-foot, 260 pound, Hammons has the body and the wingspan to be a next-level post player. The problem is that his effort seems to come and go, and though seemingly more consistent this season, it’s still a question mark for him long-term. Hammons has improved as an offensive player over the past few years, adding some secondary post moves and a reliable mid-range jumper, though I really want to see him become more aggressive on the offensive end. Also, he isn’t a great rebounder for his size, and again, some more effort would really help him there. Still, issues aside, he has the foundation to be a decent NBA big man; he’ll just need to put a bigger effort into it.

Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell, Junior, Indiana, G – Indiana may have been a surprise team to get into the NCAA Tournament, but it was the play of Ferrell throughout the season that may have gotten them the win or two they needed to get in. Ferrell showed last season that he could put points up in a hurry, but this season, his ability to push the ball and get Indiana quick scoring chances often helped the team overcome a lack of talent and depth. A small (6-foot) guard with good speed, Ferrell has little problem getting into defenses, though he needs to work on how to score once he does. He shot 41-percent from three-point range this season, and even at his size, he has little problem creating his own shot. Ferrell can still be a bit careless with the ball, but his passing and vision have improved. Defensively, Ferrell won’t take a lot of chances, preferring to contain the ball to the perimeter. He may or may not be an NBA guard in the near future, but he has the skill, and he will be exciting to watch this week.

Myles Turner, Freshman, Texas, F/C – One of the nation’s top recruits, Turner’s season was not as great as many would have hoped, but he did show, at times, why he was so highly regarded. A long and lean seven-footer, Turner has a lot of skill on the offensive end, though he just doesn’t yet seem to know how to match it to his size. He is more comfortable playing on the perimeter, and he is a very good shooter for his size. Turner has shown some flashes of skill in the low post, though he can be awkward and doesn’t have the strength you want in your big man. Turner looked better on defense, and was one of the nation’s best shot-blockers, at nearly three per game. He was a late-blooming prospect in high school, and it shows in a lot of ways now, especially in the sense that I don’t think he’s sure what kind of player he is and could be. But, his size and skill is a package that NBA teams will love, and even if he needs another year in college, he will be highly sought after.

Others to watch: Aaron Harrison, Kentucky; Andrew Harrison, Kentucky; Dakari Johnson, Kentucky; Wayne Selden, Kansas; Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame; Jake Layman, Maryland; Juwan Staten, West Virginia; Ron Baker, Wichita State; Isaac Haas, Purdue; James Blackmon, Indiana; Justin Moss, Buffalo; Alec Peters, Valparaiso