Ranking Spurs best draft fits after NCAA Tournament opening rounds

March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year if you're a sports fan. If you're one of the players, it's a time of immense pressure. For those of us watching the players closely to envision who would be the best fit for our favorite teams, watching these kids play through the pressure is a key component of solidifying our opinions of guys we like.

San Antonio has many needs, and so three months out from the draft, they've already had a variety of players mocked to them. I'm going to select a few who I like and watched during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament this past weekend and rank them based on the impact they made and how they would fit on the roster.

4. Asa Newell - Georgia

Newell was the least impressive of the players on this list, hence his position at number four. The Bulldogs got bulldozed by Gonzaga (89-68) despite only being one seed lower. The Zags played with energy that Georgia couldn't match, and Newell couldn't make enough of an impact to make a difference—mostly because he couldn't get the ball when it mattered most.

He finished the game with 20 points, showcasing his scoring ability, though. There is a reason Newell is a highly ranked prospect, and his soft touch around the basket on his 6'11" frame would do well backing up Victor Wembanyama. He'd be a fine pick if the Spurs end up with him coming off the bench.

3. Liam McNeeley

McNeeley was first on my list before the tournament started but has since dropped due to his last couple of games. His stat line in yesterday's loss to Florida says 22 points, but don't be fooled by the numbers—the projected lottery pick didn't have a great game (6/16 FG). 11 of those points came in the last seconds of the final period when the game was pretty much decided.

UConn was playing the free throw game at that point, intentionally fouling the Gators to put them on the line. Liam rattled off nine points—five of them free throws—in the final 11 seconds due to the lackluster defense of a Florida team that knew they had the game in the bag. He gets credit for fighting until the end, but he's docked points for not showing up when the game was truly in the balance.

2. Kon Knueppel

Kon had the most modest numbers of all of the players on the list, but there is a reason for that. Knueppel is on a stacked team, and not every game is going to be his night to go off. The fact that he understands that is a valuable trait the Spurs will need out of their draft pick. Between Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle, SA has high-usage players who need outlets.

Knueppel plays second, third, or fourth fiddle, depending on who has the hot hand. He has Cooper Flagg on his team, so he doesn't need to dominate all the time. But in the second half of their victory over Baylor, the Bears made a run. That's when Knueppel turned it on. Over the next several minutes, he knocked down free throws, dished assists, hit a three, and finished a couple of layups.

By the time he was finished with them, Baylor's coach needed to call a timeout. He only finished the game with 12 points, but he was 2/3 from deep, 2/2 from the free throw line, and added three assists, and they came when it was time to put the nail in the coffin. That performance showcased patience, maturity, versatility, and a killer instinct that would be more than welcome in San Antonio.

1. Cooper Flagg

This kid is unreal, and whoever ends up with him will have won the draft no matter what happens the rest of the night. Flagg put his stamp on the Baylor game early. He showed off his passing, scoring, and defensive abilities, much to the dismay of the Bears, who struggled to point points on the board. Duke's size and defense were too much for them, and Cooper led the charge.

Baylor has a star player of their own, projected top-five pick VJ Edgecomb, and he was completely overshadowed by Flagg. Edgecomb was 50% from the field with 16 points, but it didn't make a dent in the scoreboard or in the minds of viewers because nobody was talking about his performance after the game.

Flagg ended the game with 18 points. He was 7/9 from the free throw line, with nine rebounds, six assists, and a block. He's bigger, stronger, and faster than his opponents, and his game will translate to the league immediately.

Landing the number one pick will be a long shot, but that's why it's called a lottery. Anything is possible, and with the third-toughest schedule remaining, the team will surely lose more games, improving their odds. Fingers crossed, Spurs fans.