T.J. Leaf, forward, UCLA
T.J. Leaf, a 6-foot-10, 225 pound freshman forward, is one of the best big men heading into to 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Leaf is averaging 16.6 points per game this season for the Bruins, and he’s had nine 20-plus point games, including a 32 point outing against Washington State.
Post play matters in a big way in the NCAA Tournament, but Leaf is more than just a big man. Sure, he can bang down low when he needs to and he’s really good at getting open in the paint, but he’s agile enough to make plays on the perimeter or on the fast break. And if he’s left open, he’s going to make a defense pay.