Chicago Bulls: Must-watch players in 2019 NCAA Tournament

Forward Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga

Another player you might see mocked anywhere from as high as the fifth overall pick down to 11 or 12 is Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura. Playing both forward spots at times, Hachimura is as physically gifted as they come. He measures at 6-foot-8 but boasts a wingspan of 7-foot-2,

This past season, Hachimura posted 20.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. He’s a great scorer when on the run, making defenders look silly on the break. He’s also a prolific scorer in the lane, where he can drive through traffic better than most.

While you won’t see him take many threes (averaged one attempt per game in 2018-2019), Hachimura did knock down 15-of-32 (46.9 percent) from long distance this year. If he has to, he’s comfortable shooting from outside. His jumper needs some work, but he’s been pretty raw prior to this season and really came on strong as a junior.

As I’ve said previously, Hachimura is part of an ultra-deep class at forward and would only make the Bulls better at that spot. Of course, as a fan, I would love for them not to have to worry about any prospect outside of the top three.

Gonzaga, another 1-seed, begins their tournament on Thursday evening in the West region.