5 Players Wolves fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament
By Austin McGee
2. Johnny Furphy, Kansas
Initially, Kansas star Kevin McCullar Jr. was included on this list. However, an injury has seemingly knocked him out of the NCAA Tournament. In a breakout season, McCullar Jr. has averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per contest.
Instead of the 23-year-old McCullar Jr., we'll focus on his Kansas Jayhawk teammate, Johnny Furphy. The 19-year-old wing is a far less heralded prospect who has risen considerably throughout the regular season.
Furphy is a long, 6-foot-9 athlete who loves to get out in transition. On the break, Furphy has demonstrated the ability to finish with contact and throw down emphatic jams. He doesn't typically start the break, but he does a great job of filling the lane in transition, making him an easy target for the ball-handler.
In the half-court, Furphy has yet to display off-the-dribble scoring potential. He does most of his damage off the catch or coming off screens. He's not the highest-volume shooter, but Furphy has shown some nice shooting touch. This season, he shot 35.4 percent on 3.6 triples per game.
On defense, the Australian forward is hyper-aware off the ball. Most freshmen don't offer the same awareness as Furphy who consistently jumps passing lanes and provides strong help defense.
In one-on-one scenarios, Furphy isn't the most agile defender. Quicker guards face little resistance when defended by Furphy. However, he pursues well. Despite getting beat off the bounce, Furphy has the requisite length to cut off his opposition and contest their shot at the rim.
In Minnesota, Murphy would fill in for the potential void Kyle Anderson would create upon leaving in free agency. At 6-foot-9, he profiles similar to Anderson. Unlike the veteran forward, Furphy is athletic and a quality marksman from deep.