Lehigh's Whitlock Ready for His Turn in the National Spotlight

The biggest stars in college basketball help build the hype for March Madness each year, but it’s the unexpected stars who always end up capturing our hearts. 

We believe one of those stars will be taking the national stage on Wednesday in Lehigh’s Nasir Whitlock. The 6’2” junior was named a starter for the first time in his third season with the Mountain Hawks and hasn’t looked back since. He finished the season ranked eighteenth in scoring (21.0 PPG) and inside the top ten in three-point percentage (44.5%). 

While the odds from March Madness betting sites suggest Lehigh won’t be cutting down the nets in April, they are favored to defeat Prairie View A&M in the First Four on Wednesday. That means Whitlock will at least have one chance to show his stuff on a national stage, and we expect him to capitalize.

Whitlock Led Lehigh to an Incredible Season

One reason Lehigh fans are so excited for the team’s March Madness hopes is the play of Whitlock to finish the season.

The Mountain Hawks earned their way to an NCAA Tournament by winning eight of their final nine games. During that run, Whitlock averaged 23.8 points and made 56.8% of his three-point attempts. It also included a buzzer-beater three-pointer that helped avoid an upset in the Patriot League tournament Quarterfinal.

Whitlock’s incredible 2025-26 campaign earned him a spot on the Lou Henson Award finalist list, which honors the best mid-major player in the NCAA. It also led to his being named to the First Team All-Patriot League.

The junior’s impact is also evident in the team’s 11-7 conference record, a massive turnaround from 6-12 last season.

Lehigh Fans Getting 2012 Vibes from Mountain Hawks

Stars often drive success in March Madness, which Lehigh knows all too well.

The last time such an impressive star led the team was over a decade ago, when future NBA star CJ McCollum led the Mountain Hawks. During his impressive career at Lehigh, McCollum helped lead the team to its biggest tournament win in history, upsetting a second-seeded Duke. It was just the sixth time a 15-seed had upset a 2-seed in the tournaments this season.

While McCollum was a better defender, his offensive efficiency wasn’t close to what we’ve seen from Nasir Whitlock this season. That has fans hoping he can deliver similar results, starting with the First Four matchup against Prairie View A&M Panthers. 

Caesars Sportsbook has Lehigh favored to win against the SWAC champions, but the margin is only 3.5 points. The Panthers weren’t good during the regular season, finishing eighth in the SWAC. However, a stunning conference tournament championship helped them earn the automatic March Madness bid, despite their 18-17 record.

Mountain Hawk fans will be eager to look forward to a matchup against regional one-seed Florida in the Round of 64, but overlooking the Panthers is a mistake. If Whitlock dreams of following McCollum’s path, he’ll need to keep his focus on beating the upstart SWAC team in the First Four.

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More on the Line Than Winning for Whitlock

Whitlock’s motivation to deliver for Lehigh will be strong heading into the First Four matchup. He has spent his entire college career at the school, meaning he’ll be motivated to represent the Lehigh brand during the tournament. However, there is another reason for Whitlock to show off on the national stage.

While McCollum became a star in the NBA, he was consistently great throughout his four seasons at Lehigh. Whitlock’s success only began this season, meaning he’ll have a far more difficult path to playing as a pro.

No NBA team will be looking to draft Whitlock regardless of his play during March Madness, but other NCAA scouts will take notice. A strong showing could help the Lehigh star get offers from larger programs, where he’d find far more national attention. This could boost his NBA hopes and greatly raise his odds of another March Madness appearance in his senior season.

With Whitlock’s national spotlight likely ending before this weekend, there will be plenty of pressure to shine against the Panthers in the First Four.