5 players Pacers fans should keep an eye on in the NCAA tournament

Coby White, North Carolina

Position: PG | Class: Freshman | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 189 | Age: 19

Coby White is a scorer, but one with a spotted history as far as consistency is concerned. His 43.1 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from behind the arc are proof of that.

However, in 12 games this season he’s scored 19 points or more while three times scoring 30+. The potential is there, but he would average more than 16.3 points a game if his shooting was more reliable.

As a point guard, he has shown decent playmaking ability as he averaged 4.3 assists a game but he’s tempered by 2.8 turnovers. His passing needs some work obviously but as a19 year-old freshman, you hardly expect a perfectly rounded game.

His defense is solid enough to help deal with his lack of steadiness shooting the ball, but his 6’ 4 wingspan points to limits as a defender. It doesn’t help he is on the lean side of things, too. Some time in the weight room couldn’t hurt.

Depending on how the Pacers handle their pending free agent point guards — Darren Collison and Cory Joseph — they could be in need of a ball-handler.

There likely won’t be any perfect candidates late in the draft, but a young gunner like White could work out for Indiana if they can iron out his turnovers and occasionally questionable shot selection.

First game: North Carolina vs Iona, Friday and 9:20 p.m. on TNT

While none of these candidates are perfect fits for the Pacers, nor are their games readymade for the NBA, they offer upside for the Pacers. Indiana can find prospects with upside late in the draft, as they have in the past.