Jameer Nelson Jr., D.J. Wagner, A.J. Hoggard among Philadelphia-area players in this year’s NCAA Tournament

Kareem Watkins doesn’t see the floor too much, but the senior is one of Kentucky’s leaders. Guy’s been around awhile, serves the program on the scout team, and he’s also the step-brother of talented freshman D.J. Wagner. 

Watkins recently told the Lexington Herald Leader that spending so much quality time with his little brother was, “the best experience anybody could ever have. … The fact that we’re doing it at the college level – and it’s at KENTUCKY – it’s the best feeling in the world.”

There may not be a local team in the men’s NCAA Tournament, but there are plenty of local players dancing. Here’s a look: 

Alabama (8-seed, West) – Aaron Estrada, Woodbury High: Leads the Tide in assists (4.5 apg) and is second in scoring (13.4 ppg) … Had the fourth triple-double in program history on Feb. 28 at Mississippi. First game: Friday vs. 9-College of Charleston (7:35 p.m., truTV).

Alabama-Birmingham (12-seed, East) – Yaxel Lendeborg, Pennsauken High: The Blazers leading scorer (13.9 ppg) and rebounder (10.7 rpg). … Had 14 points, 16 boards and four assists in the league championship win against Temple. … His 19 double-doubles are tied for fifth in the nation. … Was the AAC Defensive Player of the Year. … Because of poor grades and just a general funk, Lendeborg played only half a season at Pennsauken. “I didn’t really have the will to do school or better myself in general,” Lendeborg told the Memphis Commercial Appeal in 2022. “I just didn’t think I was good enough for anything.” First game: Friday vs. 5-San Diego State (1:45 p.m., TNT).

Clemson (6-seed, West) – Jack Clark, Cheltenham High: Has started the last three games … Averages 4.3 points, 21.8 minutes … Began his college career at La Salle (2018-22). First game: Friday vs. 11-New Mexico (3:10 p.m, truTV).

Colgate (14-seed, West) – Alex Capitano, Episcopal Academy: His only action was a start on Senior Night when he grabbed a rebound and missed a three. First game: Friday vs. 3-Baylor (12:40 p.m., truTV).

Colgate (14-seed, West) – Jeff Woodward, Methacton High: Reliable sixth man who had 11 points in the Patriot League championship game win over Lehigh to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. First game: Friday vs. 3-Baylor (12:40 p.m., truTV).

Duquesne (11-seed, East) – Seamus McDermott, Holy Ghost Prep: Deep freshman reserve has appeared in two games this season. First game: Thursday bs. 6-BYU (12:40 p.m., truTV).

Florida (7-seed, South) – Thomas Haugh, Perkiomen School: A freshman off the bench averaging 3.9 points in 14.5 minutes. … Season high was 17 points in a win at Georgia on Feb. 17. … Third on the team with five charges drawn…. Last name is pronounced HOWK. First game: Friday vs. 10-Boise State/Colorado winner (4:30 p.m., TBS).

Florida Atlantic (8-seed, East) – Jalen Gaffney, The Westtown School: Averages 5.8 points, 25.0 minutes. … Best game this season was against Arizona when he had 20. … Played three seasons at Connecticut before joining FAU last season in time for their run to the Final Four. The Owls were a 9-seed last year. First game: Friday vs. 9-Northwestern (12:15 p.m., CBS).

Kansas (4-Midwest) – Elmarko Jackson, St. Augustine Prep: Freshman who started the first 15 games this season, plus two others while KU star Kevin McCullar Jr. was out with a knee injury. … Averages 4.1 points in 18.1 minutes. … Bragged on a postgame radio show in December that he was getting “all A-pluses in my classes. My mom (Ellen) is super proud.” First game: Thursday vs. 13-Samford (9:55 p.m., TBS).

Kentucky (3-seed, South) – Justin Edwards, Imhotep: Starting forward who averages 8.7 points. … Best game was Feb. 24 when he went 10-for-10 from the field and dropped 28 points on Alabama in a wild 117-95 win. First game: Friday vs. 14-Oakland (7:10 p.m., CBS).

Kentucky (3-seed, South) – D.J. Wagner, Camden High: Averages 10.3 points and 3.3 assists as the Wildcats’ starting point guard. … Was on the SEC’s all-freshman team and was the league’s Freshman of the Week three times. … His father, Dajuan, never played in the NCAA Tournament (Memphis won the 2002 NIT in his only season there), but his grandfather, Milt Wagner, played in three Final Fours and won the title in 1986 with Louisville. First game: Friday vs. 14-Oakland (7:10 p.m., CBS).

Kentucky (3-seed, South) – Kareem Watkins, Kingsway Regional: A reserve senior who walked-on to the roster at the height of the pandemic. He’s a step-brother of Wagner’s. First game: Friday vs. 14-Oakland (7:10 p.m., CBS).

Marquette (2-seed, South) – Al Amadou, Chestnut Hill Academy: Deep reserve who has appeared in 13 games this season. First game: Friday vs. 15-Western Kentucky (2 p.m., TBS).

Michigan State (9-seed, West) – A.J. Hoggard, Archbishop Carroll: Senior point guard who averages 11.0 points and 5.2 assists. … Needs three assists to pass Eric Snow for fifth-most in program history. Cassius Winston, Mateen Cleaves, Scott Skiles and Denzel Valentine are the top-4. (Magic Johnson is 10th.). … “We can play with anybody in the country,” Hoggard said after the Spartans hung with Purdue in the Big 10 quarters before losing, 67-62. First game: Thursday vs. 8-Mississippi State (12:15 p.m., CBS).

Northwestern (9-seed, East) – Blake Smith, Germantown Academy: Injuries elsewhere forced the sophomore walk-on into the rotation, including two starts a few weeks ago. … Had 11 points in 29 minutes in a loss to Iowa on March 2. … Has given coach Chris Collins 15 minutes off the bench in the two most recent games. … Intended major is journalism, so maybe he’ll come work for us some day. First game: Friday vs. 8-Florida Atlantic (12:15 p.m., CBS).

St. Peter’s (15-seed, Midwest) – Marcus Randolph, Archbishop Wood: Scoring nearly 10 points per game since coach Bashir Mason (a Drexel alum) moved him back into the starting lineup in early February. First game: Thursday vs. 2-Tennessee (9:20 p.m., TNT).

St. Peter’s (15-seed, Midwest) – Latrell Reid, Willingboro, N.J. native: Averages 11.1 points, 4.5 boards and 4.6 assists. … Was the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. … Was a deep reserve on the St. Peter’s team that made it to the Elite Eight as a 15 seed. Played only one minute in the NCAA Tournament, but it was a productive one as he recorded a rebound and an assist. He’s the only player from that team still on the roster.  First game: Thursday vs. 2-Tennessee (9:20 p.m., TNT).

St. Peter’s (15-seed, Midwest) – Elijah Perkins, Camden High School: Deep reserve who hasn’t played since Feb. 8.  First game: Thursday vs. 2-Tennessee (9:20 p.m., TNT).

TCU 9-seed, Midwest) – Jameer Nelson Jr., The Haverford School: Second-leading scorer at 11.3 per game. …Was all-Big 12 honorable mention. …  Played two seasons at George Washington, two more at Delaware where he earned his bachelor’s degree. … Played in an NCAA Tournament game for Delaware in 2022, a 20-point loss to Villanova. …This is the 20th anniversary of Saint Joseph’s magical season which fell just short of the Final Four. That team was led by Nelson’s dad. First game: Friday vs. 8-Utah State (9:55 p.m., TBS).

Virginia (10-seed, Midwest) – Ryan Dunn, Perkiomen School: A native of Long Island, N.Y., Dunn played his final high school season at Perkiomen. … Averages 8.2 points, 7.0 rebounds. … Led the ACC in blocked shots (2.3) and was named to the league’s all-defensive team. Told the Richmond Times recently, “I sucked at playing defense in high school. I couldn’t guard a lick, but I could shoot that corner three with my eyes closed.” First game: Tuesday vs. 10-Colorado State (9:10 p.m., truTV).

Wagner (16-seed, West) – Rahmir Moore, Mastery Charter: Was the team’s leading returning scorer, but hasn’t played since suffering a season-ending wrist injury on Nov. 14. Sucks that he missed the Seahawks stunning run through the NEC Tournament when they beat the league’s top-3 seeds all on the road. .. Moore played two seasons at Saint Joseph’s before transferring to Wagner. First game: Tuesday vs. 16-Howard (6:40 p.m., truTV).

Did we miss someone? Send an email to EdBarkowitz2.0@gmail.com. 

Ed Barkowitz is a semi-retired sports writer formerly with the Philadelphia Daily News/Inquirer.