March 24, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa Bryant in attendance as the Duke Blue Devils play against Oregon Ducks during the first half of the semifinal game in the West regional of the NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant praised Lakers Draft prospect Brandon Ingram after watching him play on Thursday

As March Madness rolled on through the Sweet 16, the Duke Blue Devils took on the Oregon Ducks on Thursday night in the West Region and one of the top projected NBA Lottery picks for the 2016 NBA Draft in Duke freshman Brandon Ingram was on the floor. In the stands watching him, though, was a familiar face to Los Angeles Lakers fans in retiring legend Kobe Bryant.

With the game being played in Anaheim, CA, Kobe made the trip to soak in the Sweet 16 action and watch one of the players in Ingram that the Lakers will have their eye on if the Ping-Pong balls in the NBA Draft Lottery fall in their favor and they keep their pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

On Friday after the Lakers’ loss to the Nuggets, Kobe was asked about Ingram and what he thought about the Duke freshman as a prospect. The Black Mamba handed out some praise about the young forward, ultimately saying that he was “impressed” by what Ingram showed:

Kobe Bryant on Brandon Ingram: “I think he plays with a lot of poise…extremely long and he knows how to use it. I was very impressed." — Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) March 26, 2016

Though Bryant watched Ingram and the Blue Devils ultimately fall to Oregon in that Sweet 16 matchup, it’s not hard to imagine the Lakers legend being impressed with the freshman.

Not only does the prospect have that tremendous length—a 7-3 wingspan on a 6-9 frame—that is obvious when you watch him, but Ingram was by far the best player on the floor for Duke as he led the team with 24 points in addition to adding five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.

With many scouts and fans souring on the guy who has been considered the “unquestioned” No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft in Ben Simmons after how his freshman season with the LSU Tigers ended, Ingram has garnered a lot of buzz regarding his potential to overtake Simmons as the top pick for the draft.

Even more interesting when it comes to the Lakers, though, is the fact that Ingram is the more natural fit with the Lakers if they want to keep the young pieces already in the organization there for the long-term. Ingram would be a shooter and offensive threat with high defensive potential on the wing that would fit in easily with D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle. Simmons, on the other hand, wouldn’t fit nearly as easily and might necessitate trading Randle to make room for him as a top draft pick.

Obviously any talk of the 2016 NBA Draft comes with the caveat of “if the Lakers keep their pick.” While that still looms large over the organization, that Kobe likes what he sees in Ingram only adds to the narrative that he is heavily on the Lakers radar and could well be their top target in the upcoming draft.