By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-03-19 14:42:12
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
在过去，随着每个赛季的流逝，圣安东尼奥对“疯狂三月”的关注度越来越低。
几十年来，马刺队年复一年地为很可能延续到六月底的季后赛征程做准备。如果圣安东尼奥没有举办最终四强赛或者地区赛，当地的篮球迷们既没有时间也没有兴趣过多关注NCAA锦标赛。
但近年来，随着马刺队陷入困境，情况发生了变化。
现在，NCAA锦标赛有可能让球迷们提前一睹未来银黑军团之星的风采。
以去年的锦标赛为例，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)在成为第四顺位新秀和NBA年度最佳新秀之前，帮助康涅狄格大学夺得了全国冠军。
考虑到这一点，我们为马刺球迷奉上这份“疯狂三月”观战指南——列出未来几周值得关注的10位球员，他们有可能在六月份成为马刺队的一员。
请注意，这份名单不包括那些几乎肯定会在马刺队选秀之前就被选走的潜力新秀（除非再次发生选秀乐透抽签奇迹）——包括公认的状元热门，杜克大学的库珀·弗拉格(Cooper Flagg)，罗格斯大学的两位球星迪伦·哈珀(Dylan Harper)和埃斯·贝利(Ace Bailey)以及贝勒大学的明星射手V.J.埃奇科姆(V.J. Edgecombe)。
该名单也不包括那些球队未能晋级NCAA锦标赛的球员，以及国际球员。
马刺队今年夏天拥有两个首轮选秀权，一个是自己的（预计会落在第8顺位），另一个是亚特兰大的（预计会落在第16顺位）。以下这些即将出现在NCAA锦标赛赛场上的球员，有可能在那个选秀范围内被选中：
特雷·约翰逊(Tre Johnson)，德克萨斯大学，后卫
严格来说，这已经有点作弊了，因为约翰逊表现不佳的长角牛队还没有完全进入NCAA的赛场。德克萨斯需要赢得周三对阵泽维尔大学的附加赛才能获得资格。
尽管如此，约翰逊仍然是大学篮球界顶级的射手之一，并且可以立即满足马刺队显而易见的需求。
德里克·奎恩(Derik Queen)，马里兰大学，后卫
身高6英尺10英寸的奎恩，兼具了NBA球队如今所钟爱的内线球员的身材、技术和控球能力。他不是一个身体对抗型的球员，也不是一个百发百中的射手，但他会改善马刺队在前场的整体状况。
哈曼·马鲁奇(Khaman Maluach)，杜克大学，中锋
作为至少两名除弗拉格之外，有可能进入乐透区的杜克大学球员之一，身高7英尺2英寸的马鲁奇将为马刺队带来一个足以和维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)相媲美的内线威慑力。作为南苏丹人，马鲁奇凭借着他的防守移动能力和跑动能力给球探们留下了深刻的印象，就像另一位前杜克大学球员马克·威廉姆斯(Mark Williams)一样。
杰斯·理查德森(Jase Richardson)，密歇根州立大学，后卫
身高6英尺3英寸的理查德森并不具备NBA得分后卫的标准身高，也不具备控球后卫的上等组织能力。尽管如此，大学赛场上很少有球员能够像理查德森一样拥有如此多样和富有创造力的得分方式。
卡斯帕拉斯·亚库西奥尼斯(Kasparas Jakucionis)，伊利诺伊大学，后卫
在去年选秀大会上选中了卡斯尔，并且在上个月交易得到了德阿隆·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)之后，马刺队可能已经不再需要另一名控球后卫类型的球员。不过，他们可能会觉得身高6英尺6英寸的亚库西奥尼斯所拥有的位置优势、篮球智商和组织能力太诱人了，以至于无法放弃。
阿萨·纽维尔(Asa Newell)，佐治亚大学，大前锋/中锋
另一位可以解决马刺队对内线身高迫切需求的潜在球员。身高6英尺11英寸的纽维尔在篮筐周围表现出了精湛的技术，并且有能力防守多个位置。再加上他不断进步的外线技术，纽维尔可以在更高的水平上满足很多需求。
孔·克内佩尔(Kon Knueppel)，杜克大学，小前锋
身高6英尺6英寸的克内佩尔在自主创造投篮机会方面并没有表现出太多的能力，但由于文班亚马和福克斯这两位进攻发起者已经在球队阵容中，马刺队并不需要他来做这件事。克内佩尔要做的就是站在三分线外，投进空位投篮。而克内佩尔是全国最擅长做这件事的球员之一。
耶利米·菲尔斯(Jeremiah Fears)，俄克拉荷马大学，控球后卫
菲尔斯的跳投仍然有待提高，但他的爆发力和原始速度使他成为一个真正有潜力的球员。然而，马刺队已经拥有了实力更强的福克斯，这可能会让菲尔斯在他们的阵容中显得多余。
利亚姆·麦克内利(Liam McNeely)，康涅狄格大学，小前锋/大前锋
麦克内利的运动天赋不会让人眼前一亮，而且在防守端也表现平平。然而，他接球就投的能力应该能让他尽快在NBA中找到自己的位置。
埃戈尔·德明(Egor Demin)，杨百翰大学，控球后卫/小前锋
杨百翰大学的历史上只有三名球员在前十顺位被选中。这个赛季有一段时间，德明看起来可能会为美洲狮队带来第四位。对身高6英尺9英寸的德明投篮能力的担忧已经使他的选秀顺位下降，但马刺队可能会尝试用亚特兰大的选秀权去赌一把，看看德明所拥有的身高和组织能力能否带来惊喜。
Maryland center Derik Queen (25) reacts to a basket against the Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) drives on Maryland forward Jordan Geronimo (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Duke center Khaman Maluach celebrates after scoring against North Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) shoots against Texas guard Tre Johnson (20) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
点击查看原文：A Spurs fan's guide to the NCAA tournament
A Spurs fan’s guide to the NCAA tournament
There were times, in a past growing more distant by the season, that March Madness was an afterthought in San Antonio.
For decades, the Spurs spent spring after spring gearing up for a playoff run likely to go into late June. Local basketball fans did not have the time or inclination to care much about the NCAA tournament if San Antonio was not hosting the Final Four or a regional.
With the Spurs having fallen on harder times in recent years, that has changed.
Now, the NCAA tournament has the potential to provide fans with an early glimpse of the next star in silver and black.
Take last year’s tourney, when before Stephon Castle became the No. 4 pick and presumptive NBA Rookie of the Year, he helped lead Connecticut to a national championship.
With that in mind, we present a Spurs fans guide to March Madness – a rundown of 10 players to watch in the weeks to come who could possibly become a Spur by June.
Note this list does not include prospects who will almost certainly be off the board by the time the Spurs select (barring another draft lottery coup) – the consensus No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg of Duke, a pair of Rutgers standouts in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey and Baylor star shot-maker V.J. Edgecombe.
Nor does the list include prospects whose teams did not qualify for the NCAA tournament, nor international prospects.
The Spurs own two first-round picks this summer, their own (projected to land at No. 8) and Atlanta’s (projected to land at No. 16). The following prospects, coming to an NCAA tournament floor near you, could be available in that draft range:
Tre Johnson, Texas, G
This is already cheating inasmuch as Johnson’s underachieving Longhorn team isn’t quite in the full NCAA field just yet. Texas needed to win a play-in game against Xavier on Wednesday to qualify.
Nevertheless, Johnson ranks among the top shooters in college basketball and would fill an obvious and immediate need for the Spurs.
Derik Queen, Maryland, G
The 6-foot-10 Queen boasts the combination of size, skill and ball-handling NBA teams love from their big men these days. He isn’t a physical banger or a dead-eye shooter, but would improve the Spurs’ outlook in the frontcourt.
Khaman Maluach, Duke, C
One of at least two Blue Devils not named Flagg likely to land in the lottery, the 7-2 Malauch would give the Spurs an imposing presence next to Victor Wembanyama. A native of South Sudan, Malauch has impressed scouts with his defensive mobility and rim-running skills in the mold of another recent former Dukie, Mark Williams.
Jase Richardson, Michigan State, G
At 6-3, Richardson doesn’t boast typical size for an NBA shooting guard, nor does he possess the upper-tier playmaking skills of a point guard. Nevertheless, few players in the college game are able to score with the diversity and creativity that Richardson does.
Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois. G
Having drafted Castle last summer and trading for De’Aaron Fox last month, the Spurs may no longer by in the market for another point-guard type. Still, they could find the 6-6 Jakucionis’ blend of positional size, basketball IQ and playmaking ability too much to pass up.
Asa Newell, Georgia, PF/C
Another prospect who would address the Spurs’ crying need for size, the 6-foot-11 Newell has flashed a polished touch around the rim and the ability to defend multiple positions. Couple that with a blossoming outside game, and Newell could check a lot of boxes at the next level.
Kon Knueppel, Duke, SF
The 6-6 Knueppel has not shown much in terms of shot-creation, but with a pair of advantage-makers in Wembanyama and Fox already on the roster, the Spurs would not need him to do that. All Knueppel he would have to do to be useful is stand beyond the 3-point arc and knock down open shots. Knueppel is one of the best in the country at doing that.
Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma, PG
Fears’ jumper remains a work in progress, but his burst and raw speed make him a bona fide prospect and the next level. The Spurs already have a better version of that player in Fox, however, which could render Fears redundant on their roster.
Liam McNeely, Connecticut, SF/PF
McNeely won’t wow anyone with his athletic gifts and isn’t much in the defensive department. His catch-and-shoot prowess, however, should allow him to fill an NBA role sooner rather than later.
Egor Demin, BYU, PG/SF
BYU has only had three players drafted in the top 10 in its history. For a while this season, Demin was looking like he might give the Cougars a fourth. Concerns about the 6-9 Demin’s shooting have knocked him down draft boards, but the Spurs might be tempted to gamble on the BYUer’s combination of positional size and play-making chops with the later Atlanta pick
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News