NBA Draft Watch: February 20th, College Basketball Game of the Day (#8 North Carolina at #1 Duke) Preview/Prospects of Note

Duke freshmen Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish, Tre Jones, RJ Barrett

The biggest rivalry in college basketball and one of the fiercest in all of sports will add another chapter tonight when 8th ranked North Carolina travels down Tobacco Road to take on 1st ranked Duke.

There have been plenty highly anticipated contests between the two teams in their long, tangled history together, though their matchup tonight might take the cake in the excitement ahead of each and every game to have previously taken place.

In a nationally televised contest, set to tip-off at 9 PM EST the Tar Heels and Blue Devils will be playing in front of a sold-out crowd that reportedly will include former President Barack Obama and likely millions tuning in from around the country. The game which has tickets that have reached Super Bowl-level prices on the resale market will provide two prestigious programs, with two Hall of Fame coaches, and several stars in the game of college basketball.

Buoyed by their high scoring offensive attack, averaging 87.5 points per game (2nd in the country), North Carolina enters the game tonight with a record of 20-5 on the season. Holding their opponents to 73.3 points on average and 42.0 percent shooting from the field, the Tar Heels score at an efficiency of 47.5 percent from the floor, themselves.

Bouncing back from a 69-61 home loss last Monday to 3rd ranked Virginia, they handily defeated Wake Forest on Saturday by a score of 95-57 to improve their record in the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) to 10-2. Currently, third place in the conference, the Tar Heels will have an opportunity to move into a 3-way tie in the ACC along with Virginia and their opponent tonight, Duke, with a win this evening.

Winners of nine consecutive games, Duke comes into tonight's contest the newly 1st ranked team in college basketball. Standing at 23-2 for the season the Blue Devils are backed by an explosive offense and dominant defense outscoring their opponents on average by 20 points, as they put up 86.4 points (4th in the country) while keeping teams to 66.1.

Coach K's team forces plenty of misses as they've allowed just a 39.2 field goal percentage (12th in the country), while sinking shots at a high clip, specifically from inside the arc as they make 58.7 percent of all 2-point baskets (3rd in the country).

Narrowly holding onto first place in the ACC, Duke stands at 11-1 against conference opponents, defeating North Carolina State 94-78 at home on Saturday in their most recent game.

Powering the two prestigious programs are plenty of talented players that are among the best currently in college basketball and have a promising future as potential stars in the NBA.

With each team offering a handful of individuals that will likely leave a legacy at their respective school before ascending to the next level, tonight not only tenders an opportunity to bear witness to a potential special matchup in the present, but one that fans may look back on in the future and realize just how compelling the number of brilliant basketball players the game brought.

Below Matt's Draft Journal will bring your attention to the double-digit legitimate NBA prospects that'll be performing in tonight's game.

• Garrison Brooks, North Carolina

A 6'9, 230-pound big man, Garrison Brooks mans the '5' spot for the Tar Heels and does so capable both on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. While just a peek at his stats (8.2 points, 6.2 rebounds) may not stand out on the surface, the sophomore starter brings a post presence with his solid build combined with his ability and awareness to establish effective position on the block. 

Defensively, Brooks may not strike fear as a rim protector but has quality agility for a guy his size that lends to him being capable of hedging out on pick and rolls while on the perimeter and recovering to the paint to cut off penetration. Coming off the game against Wake Forest where he attempted just three shots in scoring 4 points, tonight North Carolina may need him to have a similar performance to the one he had against Virginia when he put up 12 points (5-8 shooting), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.

• Cameron Johnson, North Carolina

The leading scorer for North Carolina (16.3 points per game), Cameron Johnson is one of the most efficient perimeter offensive options in the country. At 6'9, 210 pounds Johnson is able to shoot over the top of the defense with ease, especially from beyond the 3-point line where he leads the ACC and is 4th in the country with a 47.9 percent efficiency — making nearly three shots (2.7) from distance per game. 

The senior exhibits an understanding of how the defense is playing him out on the perimeter and will step in to sink a shot from mid-range without hesitation (31-73 on 2-point jump shots), while also using his length in allowing him to score the ball on cuts and drives to the rim (42-58, 72% on shots at the rim, 21 via assists). 

• Nasir Little, North Carolina

Entering the season as one of the top-rated freshmen in the country along with some of the talented top prospects on Duke's team, Nasir Little has taken to the 6th man role on a veteran-lead team that returned a number of experienced upperclassmen. At 6'6, 220-pounds the wing/forward is a physical force with above-average athleticism whose feel for the game has come along throughout the season. 

While he averages under 20 minutes per game, Little has been productive when on the floor for the Tar Heels averaging just under 10 points (9.6) and 5 rebounds (4.4) per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field. Though his efficiency and skill on the perimeter offensively are still developing, the strong statured young player with explosive athletic ability is highly effective attacking the basket (59-77, 77% on shots at the rim, 26 via assists) and in grabbing offensive rebounds for putback attempts (3.0 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes, 70.6% on putbacks at the rim). 

• Luke Maye, North Carolina

Though his shooting from the floor this season is probably not what he'd prefer for it to be (43.7 FG%), Luke Maye remains a positive and productive player for the Tar Heels. A senior who gained a reputation for his shooting ability as a big man during his sophomore and junior seasons is averaging nearly a double-double in 2018-2019 at 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds. 

With a game that is more grounded than in the air attack, Maye remains able to effectively score the ball in the paint against big bodies (52-71, 73% on shots at the rim) and is an able and aware passer out of the post (2.1 assists). At 6'8, 240 pounds he also knows how to throw his weight around underneath the basket and bring in misses off the rim by his teammates to convert on second-chance opportunities (80% putbacks at the rim). 

And although his percentage has dropped from up over 40 percent from beyond the arc the last two years to 32.6 this season, he remains a threat from out on the perimeter making 1.1 3-point shots per game.

• Coby White, North Carolina

Establishing himself as one of the best point guards in the country as just a freshman for North Carolina, Coby White has been a big reason for the team's high-scoring offensive attack. At 6'5, 185 pounds White brings solid size at the '1' spot and has the skill to successfully operate both as a scorer (15.7 points) and decent distributor (4.3 assists). 

A confident shooter from out past the arc, he can sink shots both in setting himself up for a look off the dribble from deep or be ready to shoot on a swing from teammates when playing off the ball. Not just strictly a jump shooter, White is able to wind his way into the lane with ease as he has a sure-handle and quick initial dribble when looking to penetrate the defense on pick and roll opportunities. 

Once in the lane, the first-year player for the Tar Heels exhibits excellent body control to adjust in the air against contested attempts at the rim and has also flaunted a number of floaters in scoring the ball when stopped short of taking it all the way to the basket.

• RJ Barrett, Duke 

Coming off an excellent performance in Duke's last game against North Carolina State where he recorded just the fourth triple-double in program history — 23 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, with no turnovers — RJ Barrett has been one of the best players in the country on the top-ranked team in college basketball. 

An aggressive attacking wing, Barrett is a straight-line drive who plays downhill off the dribble whether from out near the top of the key, on the wing, or when in transition. Most prone to plow his way through the defense for layups and dunks (116-192, 60% on shots at the rim, 43 via assists), the high-volume scorer (22.7 points per game, 18.5 field goal attempts) will also score from the 3-point line (2.1 made 3-point shots per game, shooting 33.5%) and displays an in-between game as well when in rhythm. 

• Marques Bolden, Duke 

Standing 6'11, 250 pounds Marques Bolden is the primary player positioned on the block for a Blue Devils team that emphasizes attacking the defense with multiple perimeter options on the floor. Also, the only junior in a starting lineup that features four freshmen, the starting center for the Blue Devils brings experience and rim protection (3.9 blocks per 40 minutes) to the young squad. 

While he may not receive many touches offensively throughout the course of the game, Bolden does possess capable footwork and moves in the post to score the ball with high efficiency (48-68, 71% on shots at the rim). He displayed just those exact attributes and high-quality effectiveness in Duke's last game against North Carolina State when he scored 9 points, shooting 3-3 from the field, and grabbed 8 rebounds, with 4 blocked shots, and also came away 3 steals in the win. 

• Tre Jones, Duke 

 One of the best pure point guards and floor generals in the country as a freshman, Tre Jones often takes a backseat in recognition to the other Duke first-year players, but his importance to the team isn't to be overlooked. With the Blue Devils last lost coming to Syracuse on January 14th, when Jones was injured just a few minutes into the contest, they've looked nearly unbeatable in the seven games since his return to the floor. 

An excellent on-ball defender and proficient playmaker on offense, the 6'2, 183-pound prospect plays with a palpable poise as he forces more turnovers (2.0 steals per game) than he allows (5.4 assists, 1.2 turnovers) at the point. Not known as a scorer (8.7 points per game, 44.3 field goal percentage), Jones has also shown he can play off the ball when asked and remain a respectable offensive option, putting up 13 points on 6-9 shooting and adding 5 assists in Duke's last game against NC State, as RJ Barrett operated as the primary playmaker. 

Still, Jones is at this best when in possession of the ball, pushing the pace and finding one of the few prized perimeter options that Duke has on its roster.

• Cam Reddish, Duke

A skilled scoring perimeter player, Reddish has struggled at times this season to find a rhythm and get his shot in-sync (35.6 FG%, 38.5 2P%). Despite those deficiencies, the Duke freshman wing is more than capable in performing as one of the most talented offensive options in the country, which he displayed during a 5-game stretch (averaging 18.4 points and 4 made 3-point shots per game, shooting 42.6 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 93.3 FT%), before shooting a meager 2-15 from the floor, including 1-7 on 3-point shots, scoring 9 points in their last game against NC State. 

Carrying a calm ball-handling ability and the range to release a shot from deep with little restraint, the 6'8, 218-pound prospect is a threat to drill a few treys each game even when he is off his game (2.7 made 3-point shots per game). Reddish is also an underrated defender who does well in using his length and subtle quickness to create turnovers, particularly in playing the passing lane. 

• Zion Williamson, Duke

Quite simply, Zion Williamson is the best player in college basketball — bar none — and to date has put together the most efficient season seen in history at this level. Known for his boundless bounce and highlight-reel dunks, Williamson has proven to be a lot more than just a dunker, accounting for an all-around stat line of 22.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.9 blocks, which is supported by a stupid shooting percentage of 68.3 from the floor. 

Standing a strapping 6'7, 285 pounds the powerful prospect can play both inside and out, penetrating from the perimeter with unmatched momentum and punishing opposing players — and usually the rim as well — from the painted-area (187-236, 79% on shots at the rim). While he can certainly score the ball within the half-court, Williamson wows when in transition as he is able to flow freely and emphatically to the basket for the gravity-defying dunks that fans desire. 

Though his offensive prowess will often take precedence over his defense, the forward's proficiency on the opposite end of the floor is also outstanding (83.1 defensive rating, 2nd in the country). Defensively, Williamson is able to apply his athletic attributes and do it all as a capable on-ball defender on the perimeter, a quality off-ball defender in the passing lane, a solid rebounder, and also a real rim protector.