Rating the stars of the NCAA tournament

As usual, the NCAA tournament is playing a big role in the NBA draft. But that seems to be the case even more this season.

That's because power forward Derrick Williams looked a little bit like Dwight Howard (only with 3-point range) in Arizona's shellacking of Duke in the Sweet 16.

Prior to that game, Williams was viewed as a potential top-two pick. Afterward, he may have secured his spot as No. 1.

Williams single-handedly dominated perhaps the best college frontcourt in the nation, finishing with 32 points and 13 rebounds.

It's probably no surprise that a tweet from Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert came across the Internet as soon as the game had ended.

"NBA rules prevent any comment on players still playing and/or undeclared for draft," Gilbert wrote. "And how I wish I could comment!"

Actually, Gilbert could have been secretly referring to a couple of players, as Duke point guard Kyrie Irving was playing opposite Williams. Irving missed all but eight games of the regular season with a toe injury, but finished with 28 points in 31 minutes off the bench � including a drive to the basket in which he finished right in Williams' eye.

So what we might not have known before the tournament, we seem to know now. And that is the idea that Williams and Irving can potentially change the course of an NBA franchise.

Now, sometimes March Madness has the opposite effect. Sometimes, guys hurt their draft positions. And that certainly has happened this year.

But this list is for the winners . . . and our first quick look at who has improved his stock in the NCAAs.

Derrick Williams, 6-foot-8, F, Arizona

It's true that Williams has Dwight Howard-like shoulders and toughness underneath the basket. His soaring right-handed tomahawk dunk off a rebound against Duke proved as much, in one quick instant.

Williams is very strong, very athletic and truly seems to enjoy mixing it up with guys his size and bigger. Throw in the fact he went 5-for-6 on threes, and it's no wonder he's ringing up long-ago memories of former UNLV star Larry Johnson. Only Williams is a little more spry than Johnson ever was.

His long arms will help him overcome any lack-of-height issues for his NBA position (power forward), and there is still time to improve his so-so ball-handling and passing skills.

Either way, a couple of more games like the one vs. Duke and no one will want to pass on this guy come June.

Kyrie Irving, 6-foot-2, PG, Duke

Irving drives past even the quickest defenders like they're standing in place, and if he has any sort of edge over Williams, it's that Irving has the ball in his hands most of the time. In other words, he can dictate the tempo of an entire game and has already proved he can play extremely well at either a slow-down or fast-break pace.

As an added bonus, Irving never forces a thing and casually gets his teammates involved, his top priority obviously being to take care of the ball and work for a good shot. He is just so heady, so smooth and so quick. Great kid, too.

If there's a drawback (and really, there isn't), it's that Irving is generously listed at 6-foot-2, when 6-foot-0 would probably be more like it. His small frame can sometimes be a hindrance on defense, particularly when it comes to bigger point guards who can shoot over the top.

That said, Irving is at least as good of a defender as Chris Paul, and chances are, you could likely live with that.

Jimmer Fredette, 6-foot-2, G, BYU

Those who brush off Fredette as little more than a volume shooter never saw Allen Iverson play. Heck, they probably didn't watch Fredette play, either.

Truth is, Fredette is quicker than people give him credit for, with a better handle than the masses want to admit. And while he's not as quick or as overall athletic as Iverson, Fredette already has better range than just about anyone in the NBA.

He is also sturdy and can really finish at the rim, even over taller defenders. Fredette plays with tons of heart and believes he can score on anyone, anywhere, anytime � and since he averaged better than 32 points per game in the tournament, you should believe him.

Defense is an issue, but no guard in this draft is gonna lock down opponents at the next level. Instead, Fredette just usually outscores the man he is guarding.

Kemba Walker, 6-foot-1, G, Connecticut

Like Fredette, Walker would probably be a reach to take in the top 10 of the draft. Walker is just a shade over 6 feet, and his natural position seems to be shooting guard.

But there have already been comparisons to Dallas sixth man Jason Terry, as Walker is explosive and gets it done without really being stuck in one true position. He is extremely quick and has a knack for freeing himself for open shots, and like Terry, he almost always plays at one speed: very, very fast.

Walker is another guy who possesses tons of passion, seemingly always believing he will find a way to knock you out � smallish frame be darned.

Alec Burks, 6-foot-5, SG, Colorado

Granted, Burks and the Buffaloes didn't make the NCAA tourney, but the fact he's managed to enhance his draft status via the NIT really tells you something.

Prior to the post-season, Burks was viewed as a potential mid-first-rounder, a strong perimeter shooter with an NBA-like first step. Now, he could fall somewhere within the top eight.

He also showed he can do so much more than score, displaying serious determination when it comes to rebounding and defense. His passing skills are also too often undervalued by those who haven't really seen him play (which is how too many draft "experts" approach things these days).

Those who have studied Burks closely, however, see that he has a lot of similarities to Atlanta's Joe Johnson.

Up next: More draft risers and a couple of plungers.

Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @SamAmicoFSO