March Madness: 5 players Pacers should watch in the NCAA tournament

4. Julian Strawther- G/F, Gonzaga; Projected Late First Round

Like Andrew Nembhard, Julian Strawther is an older guard/wing prospect out of Gonzaga.  He has good size, standing 6’7″ and weighing in at 205 lbs.  His frame makes him a reliable defender on and off the ball, and he has decent offensive upside.  His shooting this season has been impressive–he’s made 42% of his 3-point shots on over 5 attempts per game.  Strawther’s shot is most potent in catch and shoot situations, but he’s shown growth as a ball handler that allows him to get into more pull-ups and showcase his ability to be a connector in Gonzaga’s offense.

Strawther would provide the Pacers with defensive versatility as well as shooting off the bench, and could develop into a secondary ball handler.  His role at Gonzaga has prepared him to be an impactful second-unit player at the NBA level.

The 3-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs play the 14-seeded Grand Canyon Lopes at 7:35pm Friday (3/17).