New York Knicks: 3 Players to Watch in the East Region for the Sweet 16

As the New York Knicks prepare for their playoff push, here are three prospects to watch in the Sweet 16 in the East Region for the upcoming NBA Draft.

With the New York Knicks playing well and looking to move up the standings in the Eastern Conference, the front office will be keeping an eye on March Madness like the rest of the country.

After doing a good job stockpiling draft picks, the Knicks are projected to have two first-round picks as of now and also own two picks in the second round. This means they will have the opportunity to add some young players to the roster.

As March Madness rolls along, here are three players to watch for the Knicks in the Sweet 16 for the East Region.

Donovan Clingan

One player who has seen his stock rise in mock drafts has been UConn center, Donovan Clingan. The big man from Bristol, Connecticut is one of the best defensive players in the country right now and would fill a potential need for the Knicks.

This season, Clingan is averaging 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. With a center being a potential need for the Knicks during the 2024 NBA offseason, Clingan could be a great option for them.

Stephon Castle

Another player from UConn to keep an eye on is guard Stephon Castle. With UConn being arguably the best team in the country, they have a lot of depth and talent, with one of those players being their freshman guard.

On a team with a lot of skill, Castle was able to be a big contributor right off the bat as a freshman, as he averaged 10.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. At 6’6”, Castle is very athletic and tall for a guard, but he could still use some work on his game from behind the arc.

Terrence Shannon Jr.

While UConn certainly has a lot of talented prospects in the East Region, one of the appealing players for Illinois is Terrence Shannon Jr.

Shannon is one of the best scorers in the country, as he averaged 23.3 points per game. Shannon is capable of going for 30 points any night and would be a welcomed scorer on most teams. While Shannon is a senior and some teams frown on that, the Knicks haven’t shied away from players that have been in college for a few seasons.