Several top NBA prospects are out of NCAAs

Many of the freshman stars who garnered so much of the college basketball world’s attention during the regular season have already been bounced from March Madness.

Arizona’s Deandre Ayton, Oklahoma’s Trae Young, Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr., Alabama’s Collin Sexton and Texas’ Mohamed Bamba are all considered potential NBA lottery picks whenever they decide to turn pro. They’re also all out of the NCAA Tournament after facing the harsh reality that sometimes individual talent isn’t enough in March.

Sexton is the only freshman from that group who even reached the second round.

“I hate losing,” Young said after Oklahoma’s first-round overtime loss to Rhode Island. “That’s not in my DNA, losing.”

One lesson these freshmen are learning is rather obvious: It always helps to be surrounded by experienced players or equally talented freshmen.

Only three of the top seven prospects from the 2017 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite remain in the tournament.

Duke’s Marvin Bagley, Trevon Duval and Wendell Carter Jr. are in the regional semifinals after helping the Blue Devils win their first two NCAA Tournament games by an average margin of 23½ points.

Many of the notable freshmen who were ousted from the NCAA Tournament played well.

Young had 28 points and seven assists against Rhode Island. Ayton had 14 points and 13 rebounds in Arizona’s loss to Buffalo.

Now these freshmen will have to sit and watch the rest of the NCAA Tournament while learning from the frustrating finishes to their seasons.

“I left everything I could, and I know my teammates did as well, (left) everything they could on that floor,” Young said. “But I’ve had to mature, like I said, all season. This is all the process. This is all - this is a chapter in my book. This season, that chapter is closed now.”