Between their regular season performances and individual workouts they'll eventually conduct with NBA squads, prospects have the opportunity to showcase themselves during the NCAA's Big Dance.

Some of the biggest names in basketball history made their mark on the Tournament's stage, capitalizing on the added attention and thriving on the pressure. This is when elite prospects begin the process of separating themselves.

With the Draft less than 100 days away and after day one of the Tournament, who may be seeing their name rise on draft boards? Who's beginning to slide?

STOCK UP – Who's on the rise?

Brandon Rush
Brandon Rush has been tempted by the NBA waters on two occasions – first, in 2005, Rush put his name into the draft and participated in the then-Chicago Pre-Draft Camp but decided to go to college after he didn't get a first-round promise. He declared again for the NBA Draft last year and pulled out because he hurt his ACL as he prepared for the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp.

NBA scouts have seen a lot of what Brandon Rush can do by now – everyone knows he's got prototypical size, athleticism, and skills. He can do everything on the basketball court from playing lockdown defense to making the perfect pass to knocking down jumpers. But Rush has always seemed to lack the aggression needed to be a solid NBA player. He's found himself floating as a late-first or early-second round pick.

However, more performances like Thursday's outing against Portland State should solidify Rush as a first rounder.  His statline doesn't seem impressive at first: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 7-17 shooting. But before the first half had even ended, Rush had 15 points and 6 boards as the Jayhawks were manhandling their inferior opponent.

That first half outburst shows the kind of assertiveness scouts are looking for from him; Rush helped himself more than any other player on Thursday.

Bill Walker
Although Michael Beasley has been and will likely continue to be the story for the Kansas State Wildcats, it was Walker who stepped up and likely caught the attention of pro observers with his performance against the USC Trojans.

Walker's 17 points in the first half gave the Wildcats the firepower to withstand Beasley's early foul trouble. Beasley had only taken one shot in the first 12 minutes of the game, but KSU didn't need him to score with the way Walker was playing. He was hitting jumpers, getting to the basket, and causing a fit for Trojan defenders, finishing the game with 22 points.

Walker is generally known as an athletic freak who simply uses his gifts to score and put pressure on opponents, but the polish he showed in his game on Thursday was quite notable. 

Worth mentioning: Beasley bounced back and finished the game leading his squad with 23 points and 11 boards, but it's hard to argue that his stock can get any higher than number 1. He did show scouts his ability to keep his head in the game and come strong in the second half, handling the pressure of the Tournament well and adjusting to USC's defensive scheme against him. At this point, people are clearly looking for reasons not to select Beasley number one; he didn't give them any.

Luke Harangody
The Big East Player of the Year, Harangody looks more like he should be starting on the Irish football team than starring on the basketball court.

The 6-8, 251-pound big man finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds in Notre Dame's victory over George Mason. Although Harangody doesn't plan on leaving college anytime soon, his consistent production at this level is going to catch the eyes of an NBA team at some point. He doesn't have the athleticism pro scouts are looking for and he doesn't have the length to make up for it, but he may be able to earn time as a bruiser at the next level.

Joe Crawford
Crawford ended his Kentucky career in style on Thursday, scoring 35 points before fouling out and keeping his Kentucky Wildcats squad in a game they had no business being in. The heart he displayed in putting everything he had on the court was admirable.

This performance should keep Crawford's name bandied about as a possible second-round pick. At 6-4, Crawford doesn't have the size to play the 2 at the next level, but he has the athleticism and intangibles (leadership, unselfish, etc.) to make up for some of that. He's a scorer, plain and simple, able to finish acrobatically around the basket and also hit jumpers. Should the NBA not work out this summer, Crawford has a future playing ball in Europe and might be able to come back around later after his game develops some more.

STOCK DOWN – Who didn't impress?

Jerryd Bayless
Bayless had an off shooting night for the Arizona Wildcats, who fell to West Virginia. Known primarily as a scorer, he was only able to put score 11 points on 4-10 shooting. Although he looked good in flashes and spurts, Bayless struggled to play at the slower tempo West Virginia dictated. Because so many NBA teams need a point guard, he'll probably still be a top-10 pick in this year's draft, but what could be his final collegiate game wasn't as great as many had hoped.

OJ Mayo
As with Bayless, Mayo had a chance to re-establish himself as an elite NBA prospect by answering the many questions scouts have about him. Mayo had a very solid run at the end of the regular season, seemingly coming into his own, but there's still a lot of doubt about him as a point guard. There's no doubt, though, that he can score and make superb passes at times, but the consistency is still a question mark. Mayo was wearing the NBA logo on his socks, perhaps tipping his hand and indicating his plans to leave USC. Likely still a lottery pick, albeit a later one, Mayo could elevate himself to top-three status for the 2009 draft if he chooses to come back to school and play one season beside Demar DeRozan (considered an elite high-school player and enrolling in the fall).

DeAndre Jordan
Many consider Texas A&M's DeAndre Jordan to be the second-best big man prospect in college, just behind Brook Lopez. But somehow, Jordan only managed to play 5 minutes in the Aggies victory over BYU. Jordan, a seven-foot, 250-pound athlete, is considered to be very raw and needs a lot of both physical and basketball development. If he intends to leave school this year and hopes to be a lottery pick, he'll need a better performance in the next round.

Brook Lopez
Lopez, the only big man considered to be a better prospect than Jordan, only scored 4 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in Stanford's victory over Cornell. He struggled with early foul trouble and wasn't really needed, but to keep his status as a top-5 pick, he also needs to pick it up as Stanford advances.