The Bulls front office got a first-hand look at NCAA’s best in Chicago last night

The next great Chicago Bulls star may have played at the United Center on Tuesday evening at the loaded Champions Classic which featured matchups between No. 1 Duke versus No. 2 Michigan State and No. 4 Kansas versus No. 7 Kentucky. Nine players in the Champions Classic showed up in the first round of SBNation’s (by BaB legend Ricky O’Donnell) mock draft.

In attendance to take it all in was everybody’s favorite executive team: Chicago Bulls Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson and General Manager Gar Forman along with Director of International Scouting Ivica Dukan along with other Bulls scouts.

The Bulls look poised to get a very high pick in a loaded 2018 draft, so this was one of the first steps in determining who they will eventually select. So, who made a good impression on Gar/Pax and company tonight?

In ten minutes of playing time, Duke big man Marvin Bagley Jr. compiled four points and six rebounds, but had to sit out most of the game after getting his eye poked by a teammate midway through the first half. Naturally, Bulls fans had a field day with the jokes.

Michigan State’s highly touted tandem of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges (No. 6 and No. 7 respectively in Ricky’s mock) were both as good as advertised. Both players posted 19 points apiece, and Jackson Jr. was a very efficient 7-for-10 from the field. Miles was 1-for-2 from the field in the first half, before finding his offense in the second. His defense throughout the game was fantastic.

Duke senior Grayson Allen stole the show in the Duke versus Michigan State game, scoring 37 points in 40 minutes. Of course, because he is a productive four-year player who won a championship at an elite program, he may be on Gar/Pax’s radar (Ricky doesn’t have him going in the first round; Sports Illustrated has him going No. 22). His offense in crunch time was very impressive.

Several other projected first round picks also played in this game. Their box score line is highlighted in the graphic below. Snipped from ESPN.com.

And in the Kentucky versus Kansas game...

Gar Forman has already been to/is going to? Europe to scout Luka Doncic so the Bulls have kind of at least made an effort to scout this month. Baby steps for an admittedly small staff.