If there was one moment that could be brighter than any shining moments this weekend in Minneapolis, it would be Zion Williamson cutting down the nets. Or tearing down the rim. Or destroying the backboard like it was a pair of his Nikes.
But college basketball's most famous player _ and probably its best _ won't be in Minneapolis for the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. Duke got eliminated by Michigan State on Sunday. While college basketball would certainly benefit from more Williamson, NBA executives and scouts don't care.
They've seen enough.
It wouldn't have taken a national championship for talent evaluators to crown Williamson as the top NBA prospect. That has been the case almost since the first day he stepped on campus and nothing that happened in any of his 33 games _ including the loss to Michigan State _ has changed any of that.
That's not to say there haven't been performances during the NCAA Tournament that have changed some perceptions, because that has happened. Even with Duke out of the tournament, there are still NBA prospects playing into college basketball's final weekend.
Here's a look at how some of the NCAA Tournament stars, starting at the top, are viewed by NBA scouts and executives:
