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Jeremy WooApr 9, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
- NBA draft analyst and writer
Joined ESPN.com in 2023
Covered the NBA and NBA draft for Sports Illustrated from 2015-2023
With the college basketball season in the books, the switch portal commence and the predraft route of underway, it be time to replace our top 100 for the 2026 draft class.
For the first time this cycle, there is a trade at No. 1: AJ Dybantsa takes that mantle because the mud has settled on the season, incomes the grisly with a courageous conclude to his freshman season that helped trot the needle for NBA executives. Unruffled, the very top of the draft stays commence for discussion, with Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer retaining compelling situations to trot first, and a neighborhood of proficient gamers, in conjunction with Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr. and Kingston Flemings, still jockeying for website online in the lottery. The stratification on the underside of the standings displays how inflamed league executives remain referring to the quality of top of the differ abilities in this class.
Past the head names, the finest demand now might presumably be who winds up in the draft. The affect of NIL earnings and the roster fluidity of the switch portal proceed to make staying in faculty extra compelling for gamers who maintain final eligibility. Right here is one thing NBA teams maintain anticipated all season, with the financial incentives to preserve in faculty great friendlier for the bulk of learners, sophomores and juniors. How that impacts the depth of this draft will most doubtless be a extreme storyline to have a examine, as teams ascertain the abilities curve and how one can fair with picks exterior the lottery. Meanwhile, faculty seniors can maintain a big different subsequent week to compete in front of teams on the Portsmouth Invitational.
Avid gamers maintain exactly 60 days earlier than the draft (the late-June date of which has yet to be finalized by the NBA), going into the draft combine and a excessive-affect lottery on Would possibly per chance 10. The likely wave of faculty returners technique this checklist will inevitably remain fluid up thru the NCAA’s Would possibly per chance 27 early entry withdrawal nick-off date.
Listed below are ESPN’s as a lot as this level top 100 rankings for the 2026 draft class, in conjunction with breakdowns for the head 25. This route of is urged by my own player opinions and intel from right thru the NBA and faculty ranks, and it provides a representation of the on hand player pool and perception into executives’ and scouts’ views.
Snappily links:
2026 mock draft | More draft coverage
1. AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
Freshman | High: 6-9 | Age: 19.2 | Previous ranking: 2
Dybantsa reinforced his case as a No. 1 decide candidate with a stellar freshman 365 days, proving that he’s able to carrying a well-known offensive workload and demonstrating advise as a choice-maker. His positional dimension, bodily upside and makeup give him an graceful tainted to damage on lengthy timeframe. He has a kind of room to shore up his ballhandling, perimeter taking pictures and particular individual defense, reasonable areas for advise that will decide what stage of stardom and group success he’ll indirectly attain. He’s going to enter the NBA on a advise trajectory and with a kind of unteachable obvious qualities.
After a courageous particular individual conclude to the season, amid BYU’s struggles with out Richie Saunders, Dybantsa has change into the player NBA executives most incessantly project to be selected first, with the expectation that he’ll be a megastar hover scorer with the skill to pressure a success on both facet of the ball in the lengthy trail. In a draft replete with excessive-stage abilities, he has positioned himself because the absolute most reasonable resolution at No. 1.
2025-26 stats: 25.5 choices, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists in 35 video games
2. Darryn Peterson, PG/SG, Kansas
Freshman | High: 6-6 | Age: 19.1 | Previous ranking: 1
Even supposing Peterson has ceded floor to Dybantsa in the No. 1 discussion, there is a frequent belief right thru the NBA that he’s able to great bigger than what he became indirectly able to level at Kansas. He’s one of the crucial gifted scorer and shotmaker in the class, with room to reinforce as an on-ball creator. NBA teams will proceed to be diligent in conception the context of his season, with a stout-body cramping episode in the preseason environment up a properly being setback that seemingly coloured the rest of Peterson’s freshman 365 days, both physically and mentally.
Indirectly, NBA teams are attempting to know that Peterson will most doubtless be completely on hand and jam what this is able to presumably take to discover the finest version of him in the mavens. He’ll maintain a possibility to acknowledge among the well-known lingering questions in the predraft route of, the put his clinical epic and group interviews will raise extra weight. Even supposing the No. 1 discussion will remain up for debate, there is a possibility for him to stabilize his stock over the next two months and make the choice route of extra functional for excessive lottery teams.
2025-26 stats: 20.2 choices, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 24 video games
3. Cameron Boozer, PF/C, Duke
Freshman | High: 6-9 | Age: 18.7 | Previous ranking: 3
Boozer carried Duke internal one chaotic sequence of a Closing Four berth, bringing a conclude to his dominant season. He didn’t trot away great else on the desk, leading faculty basketball with a 17.1 box plus-minus safe, taking pictures 39.1% from 3, and backing up his reputation as a big-time winner, also a success the Naismith and AP Participant of the 365 days awards. There stays debate in NBA circles as to the put his construction indirectly tops out relative to the somewhat a few alternate choices atop the draft, however there is tiny doubt that Boozer will proceed finding suggestions to discover at a excessive stage and assist expand a gaggle’s floor.
Or no longer it is laborious to argue with Boozer’s body of labor, impeccable offensive actually feel and productivity, which maintain drawn comparisons from scouts to gamers equivalent to Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Worship. Whereas he’s no longer hasty or vertically gifted, and there is some project he might presumably discover exploited defensively in obvious eventualities, there is a kind of fair to adore the issues he does properly.
2025-26 stats: 22.5 choices, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists in 38 video games
4. Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina
Freshman | High: 6-10 | Age: 19.7 | Previous ranking: 4
The public became deprived of postseason Wilson after a pair of hand injuries brought his season to an early stop, chopping rapid his breakout campaign. Even supposing there became presumably a left out different to pressure the space, he stays in an graceful website online as a consensus top-four prospect with room to reinforce in nearly every narrate of his game. Wilson projects to at very finest add value on both ends of the floor as an explosive, toolsy ahead with the skill to pressure secondary offense and evolve accurate into a versatile defender.
Fleshing those abilities out is going to take time — though Wilson is unpolished as a ball handler and a perimeter shooter (he shot dazzling 7-for-27 from 3-level differ), his physicality and motor largely compensated in faculty. His skill stage has to reinforce for him to actually fair on the perimeter in the NBA, that technique his projection requires a bit extra creativeness than the somewhat a few consensus top prospects.
2025-26 stats: 19.8 choices, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists in 24 video games
5. Keaton Wagler, PG/SG, Illinois
Freshman | High 6-6 | Age: 19.2 | Previous ranking: 6
Wagler cemented his breakout season with a Closing Four berth, because the main driver of an elite Illinois offense that stalled out in opposition to an experienced UConn group. Even supposing he had some u.s.a.and downs in the tournament, Wagler’s lengthy-timeframe upside became on stout affirm. His dapper decision-making, perimeter taking pictures (39.7%) and positional dimension advantage give him an graceful foundation as he provides strength and beneficial properties abilities.
Piece of the allure with Wagler on the next stage is his skill to pressure quality offense no longer only as a ball handler, however also as a astronomical perimeter player who can peep over the defense and is constantly spirited to make the next trot — a top quality scouts cherished about Tyrese Haliburton at Iowa Impart. Wagler’s skill to beef up lineups raises his NBA floor vastly, alongside with his upside tied to how ambiance friendly and technical he can change into as a lead guard. As a late-blooming, properly-rounded and hasty-bearing in mind player on an glaring advise trajectory, it be laborious no longer to stare Wagler turning accurate into a lengthy-timeframe backcourt fixture.
2025-26 stats: 17.9 choices, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists in 37 video games
0:19
Keaton Wagler loses the defender then splashes a 3 for Illinois
Keaton Wagler loses the defender then splashes an commence 3-pointer for Illinois.
6. Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
Freshman | High: 6-3 | Age: 19.4 | Previous ranking: 8
Acuff achieved the season on a heater, leading Arkansas to a Candy 16 berth and an SEC tournament title whereas a success SEC Participant of the 365 days honors. Or no longer it is laborious to maintain an even bigger freshman season than that, and he has vaulted himself into the mix as a top-5 candidate as one of the crucial NBA-prepared of the proficient freshman level guards.
His skill to dictate game float, elevate in website online traffic for tricky jumpers and win commence teammates with out design back off the leap provides him staunch offensive megastar vitality to expand his candidacy. Acuff impressively restricted turnovers (2.2 per game) whereas handling a 29.5% utilization payment and taking pictures 44% from 3, building a courageous all-around offensive profile for a lead playmaker. Questions persist around his defensive barriers, however teams looking a trustworthy level must take a lengthy stare early in the draft.
2025-26 stats: 23.5 choices, 3.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists in 36 video games
0:30
Darius Acuff Jr. comes alive late to gas Arkansas to Candy 16
Darius Acuff Jr. reveals up with a few grab baskets down the stretch to assist the Razorbacks attain the Candy 16.
7. Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
Freshman | High: 6-4 | Age: 19.3 | Previous ranking: 5
Even supposing Flemings cooled off a bit offensively in the very finest month of the season, he has proved himself as a a success player and explosive playmaker with the skill to anchor a backcourt lengthy timeframe. NBA teams had been impressed with the style he handled stress and emerged because the head player on an graceful Houston group that indirectly didn’t maintain a ton of consistent offensive contributors around him.
Flemings places big stress on the paint alongside with his jog, ending and willingness to play thru contact. He’s an unselfish and expert passer who shines on the commence floor. Despite the incontrovertible truth that his jumper still has room for advise, he has made well-known strides alongside with his self belief and alleviated some of those concerns. Flemings’ dimension, tempo and upside proceed to design him apart in a deep, proficient level guard class.
2025-26 stats: 16.1 choices, 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists in 37 video games
0:16
Kingston Flemings buries a deep 3 for Houston
Kingston Flemings makes a trot and buries a deep 3 for Houston.
8. Nate Ament, SF/PF, Tennessee
Freshman | High: 6-10 | Age: 19.3 | Previous ranking: 7
Knee and ankle injuries in February interrupted Ament’s necessary second half of, however he returned to contribute to Tennessee’s shock Elite Eight trail. Even supposing he continually left scouts looking extra this season, his skill stage and fluidity at his dimension and flashes of shotmaking fit a indispensable archetype and offer a courageous developmental tainted in the lengthy trail.
Or no longer it is likely Ament might presumably no longer be prepared to contribute to a a success group as a rookie, however gamers in his mould are laborious to win and are inclined to be indispensable in an NBA pushed by perimeter dimension and skill. Scouts are nick up on the likelihood of him reaching his ceiling, as he’s no longer an explosive athlete and has had some no longer easy moments this season. His easiest flashes in what became a suboptimal group context at Tennessee maintain kept him in the lottery mix.
2025-26 stats: 16.7 choices, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists in 35 video games
9. Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville
Freshman | High: 6-5 | Age: 20.0 | Previous ranking: 9
Brown sat out Louisville’s very finest six video games with a lingering succor rupture, lacking the postseason and ending his season in a affirm of flux. NBA teams are properly attentive to his abilities as a playmaker, and many scouts imagine he’s able to outperforming his 34% 3-level clip, however the incomplete nature of his season will website online value on his clinical.
The left out time made Brown tricky to take conceal of for NBA mavens, raising concerns about his availability and efficiency struggles amid a heavy reliance on taking tricky photography. The excessive choices of his season showcased his shotmaking and vision, which, coupled with plus positional dimension, give him sharp upside. A obvious predraft route of will most doubtless be pivotal for him to make his case in a extremely deep guard class.
2025-26 stats: 18.2 choices, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists in 21 video games
10. Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona
Freshman | High: 6-4 | Age: 20.6 | Previous ranking: 17
Even supposing Burries struggled in Arizona’s very finest tournament video games in opposition to Purdue and Michigan, he earned a website online in the lottery conversation over the route of a courageous freshman season. He’s no longer elite in somebody home, however he proved himself as a multifaceted contributor who’s at ease on and off the ball and provides value defensively and on the glass. He’s a full 365 days older than quite loads of the somewhat a few top learners and is viewed by teams as a succor-half of lotto candidate.
Scouts actually feel Burries’ upside eventualities revolve around whether he develops into extra of a stout-time ball handler, alongside with his frame playing up higher in that role than on the hover. Sharpening his kind out and playmaking abilities in the lengthy trail will most doubtless be one of the crucial well-known to making that work, alongside with his style of play extra reliant on strength and craft than explosive athleticism.
2025-26 stats: 16.1 choices, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 39 video games
0:20
Brayden Burries’ hustle play punctuates Arizona’s Elite Eight safe
Brayden Burries dives on the floor and will get the ball to Ivan Kharchenkov for a layup to assist ship the Wildcats to the Closing Four.
11. Karim Lopez, SF/PF, Unusual Zealand Breakers
High: 6-9 | Age: 19.0 | Previous ranking: 10
Lopez enters the draft coming off a productive second season in the NBL, with a mixture of positional dimension, environment up skill and toughness that creates a pathway for lengthy-timeframe success. He totaled one of the crucial choices ever by a draft-eligible Next Stars player and also tied the model for mixed steals and blocks, displaying advise because the season went on and taking pictures 50% from the field as an 18-365 days-primitive playing in opposition to great older competition.
Scouts’ questions level of interest on how great offense Lopez will have the choice to make for himself and how great he’ll strengthen as a shooter (32.6% from 3), as he is rarely any longer rapid of foot and has to count extra on skill and craft as a perimeter-oriented ahead. He can maintain a possibility to acknowledge those questions and discover in front of teams in the predraft route of.
12. Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, Michigan
Senior | High: 6-9 | Age: 23.5 | Previous ranking: 12
Lendeborg’s renowned very finest faculty season culminated in a nationwide title for Michigan, sending him into the predraft route of with momentum. Even supposing he’ll flip 24 in September, scouts explore him as prepared to contribute to a rotation, particularly coming off a courageous conclude to the season all the strategy thru which he showcased his shotmaking (52.9% from 3 in his very finest 11 video games) and abilities to play in transition.
Or no longer it is complicated to win gamers like Lendeborg, who can play on the perimeter and guard extra than one positions alongside with his necessary frame and 7-foot-4 wingspan, enabling him to fit into all kinds of lineups whereas conserving dimension on the floor defensively. Even supposing Lendeborg’s age choices to restricted developmental upside, that versatility must be of passion to any group looking frontcourt assist starting in the late lottery.
2025-26 stats: 15.1 choices, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists in 40 video games
1:05
Yaxel Lendeborg: Michigan’s ‘Fab Five’ gave plenty of strengthen
Yaxel Lendeborg joins “The Pat McAfee Present” to talk about what it intended to safe a nationwide championship for Michigan.
13. Thomas Haugh, SF/PF, Florida
Junior | High: 6-9 | Age: 22.8 | Previous ranking: 11
Haugh additional proved himself this season as a capable all-around player who makes a success contributions on both ends, one thing that will no longer be diminished by Florida’s early tournament exit. He’s primitive for a first-round decide, however great of what he does must translate to the NBA stage, inserting him in late lottery consideration for teams that need on the spot assist.
Haugh’s positional dimension, mobility, toughness and nonstop motor make him a versatile frontcourt option who wins extra possessions and would not need his quantity known as to discover. He likely might presumably no longer make great offense for himself, however his skill design slots in properly alongside megastar abilities. Showcasing his room for advise as a 3-level shooter (32.6%) will most doubtless be key in predraft workout routines.
2025-26 stats: 17.1 choices, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists in 34 video games
14. Aday Mara, C, Michigan
Junior | 7-3 | Age: 21.0 | Previous ranking: 32
Mara vastly helped himself right thru Michigan’s championship trail, turning in a signature efficiency scoring 26 choices in opposition to Arizona’s graceful defensive frontline in the Closing Four. His necessary conclude to the season (averaging 13.5 choices, 6.1 rebounds and a pair of.5 blocks in his very finest 24 video games) helped rejuvenate his website online as a prospect after two down years at UCLA.
In a category that is gentle on glaring excessive-upside abilities at center, Mara’s exclusive mixture of abilities, coupled alongside with his big frame, warrants extra extreme consideration from teams attempting to tackle that website online. He’s an graceful passer, expert with the ball and shot 66.8% from the field, with the sheer dimension to be a deterrent defensively. Or no longer it is miles a obvious mixture of traits that must, on the least, assist him prevail as a trade-of-tempo option in the NBA. He’s a glum free throw shooter (56.4%), however he had extra success down the stretch and has flashed some skill in warmups to at very finest stretch his differ previous the arc. Mara has vaulted himself squarely into first-round territory if he opts to enter the draft.
2025-26 stats: 12.1 choices, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 40 video games
0:18
Aday Mara muscle tissue in a Michigan and-1
Aday Mara backs down his defender for an tricky lay-in plus the tainted.
15. Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington
Freshman | High: 6-11 | Age: 19.9 | Previous ranking: 13
Steinbach achieved a productive 365 days in a losing context, recording 20 double-doubles and showcasing his dependability. His above-reasonable skill and actually feel, and abilities to fair out of somewhat a few spots on the floor, give him a trustworthy likelihood to gash out an NBA role. Even supposing no longer a dynamic scorer, Steinbach does provide floor-spacing doable, making 34% of his 3s this season.
He’s viewed by scouts as undersized for a center and sure no longer hasty passable to offer protection to at vitality ahead, one thing that will indirectly cap his direction to being a top-stop starter. Unruffled, Steinbach provides a graceful lengthy-timeframe floor as a rotation big man.
2025-26 stats: 18.5 choices, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 30 video games
16. Labaron Philon Jr., PG, Alabama
Sophomore | High: 6-4 | Age: 20.4 | Previous ranking: 21
Philon achieved the season with a profession-excessive-tying 35 choices in a Candy 16 loss to Michigan, going out on a courageous particular individual conceal that served as a reminder of his scoring abilities and competitiveness. He indirectly made an graceful decision to preserve in faculty, improved his taking pictures splits right thru the board, made nearly 40% of his 3s, and proved able to higher offensive utilization, now looking like a guard who can provide an precise offensive spark in the NBA.
As a safe-first guard lacking top-stop strength and explosiveness, Philon projects most safely as a combo guard who can give teams scoring punch off the bench. That might presumably preserve him on the fringes of the lottery in a extremely necessary guard class, however teams looking extra shot introduction and backcourt depth must value what he brings.
2025-26 stats: 22.0 choices, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists in 33 video games
17. Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn
Freshman | High: 6-6 | Age: 20.0 | Previous ranking: 14
Mullins grew to change into one amongst the faces of the NCAA tournament after his buzzer-beating imprint 3 in opposition to Duke sent UConn to the Closing Four. Even supposing he struggled to knock down photography in opposition to Michigan, he stepped up with four 3s in opposition to Illinois in the semifinal, in conjunction with one more extreme late-game make to seal the game. He has left scouts looking extra at situations, however Mullins’ taking pictures prowess and tricky mental makeup maintain shone thru in key spots.
Mullins now has an bright decision to make, with a possibility to capitalize on his necessary tournament and work his manner up the board. Teams will most doubtless be wanting to stare extra of him on the ball in predraft workout routines as they assess what else he can bring offensively previous his gravity as a shooter. There is also an precise different to trot higher in the 2027 draft, which is for the time being lighter on top-stop abilities, if he returns to what would presumably be a heavily featured role for the Huskies.
2025-26 stats: 12.0 choices, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 33 video games
0:16
Braylon Mullins’ dagger 3 sends UConn to its third title game in 4 years
Braylon Mullins’ dagger 3 sends UConn to its third title game in four years.
18. Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
Freshman | High: 6-11 | Age: 19.2 | Previous ranking: 15
Cenac made some crucial enhancements this season however stays a suggestions from being prepared as a method to add value in an NBA game, making him polarizing for evaluators who are nick up on his lengthy-timeframe prospects. A fluid big man with environment up offensive abilities, the strides Cenac has made in phrases of competing on every play and handling physicality bode properly, however his consistency as a scorer left one thing to be desired.
He must be an sharp name to have a examine this spring, with untapped upside and a possibility to upward thrust in the predraft route of, factoring in his early life, instruments, trajectory and the dearth of top center abilities, however he might presumably moreover maintain an even bigger likelihood on the lottery a 365 days from now with an even bigger sophomore season.
2025-26 stats: 9.5 choices, 7.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists in 37 video games
19. Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
Sophomore | High: 6-3 | Age: 20.0 | Previous ranking: 19
Anderson didn’t discover the season playing his easiest basketball, with an rupture to megastar ahead JT Toppin vastly hampering Texas Tech and making Anderson’s existence extra complicated. He won NBA teams over alongside with his stellar taking pictures (41.5% from 3) whereas taking up an expanded role this season, now projecting as a top quality game supervisor who’s at ease on and off the ball and can navigate ball monitors.
He now faces an bright draft decision, with the technique to preserve in faculty, be a well-known NIL earner and make a trail up the board in subsequent 365 days’s thinner level guard class, or to capitalize on a stellar sophomore season and work his manner up this 365 days’s board with a courageous predraft route of.
2025-26 stats: 18.5 choices, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists in 33 video games
20. Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky
Sophomore | High: 6-10 | Age: 18.7 | Previous ranking: 18
Quaintance played in precisely four video games this season after habitual knee considerations sidelined him coming off very finest 365 days’s ACL surgical operation. Those situations make him a necessary case sooner than the draft, given the restricted minutes he’ll maintain on his résumé and the barriers around his archetype as an undersized 5-man who would not put the floor. His defensive upside and abilities as a lob goal, both of which had been on affirm his freshman 365 days in a losing context at Arizona Impart, will preserve him in the head 20 conversation. NBA teams will stare carefully at his clinical, and it stays to be considered how many of the questions he’ll have the choice to acknowledge on the predraft circuit.
2025-26 stats: 5.0 choices, 5.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists in 4 video games
21. Isaiah Evans, SG, Duke
Sophomore | High: 6-6 | Age: 20.3 | Previous ranking: 25
Even supposing he struggled to make an affect in Duke’s loss to UConn, Evans stepped up in plenty of key spots in March and displayed all-around advise this season, upping his utilization and efficiency as a starter. His graceful frame and abilities to shoot from differ off circulation will always be an NBA calling card, and he has had some obvious flashes the inform of his dimension defensively.
Evans provides staunch lengthy-timeframe scoring upside if he can discover strength, sharpen his kind out and proceed to reinforce his decision-making. There is room for him to upward thrust on the board if he opts to enter the draft, however also likely extra for him to level in faculty.
2025-26 stats: 15.0 choices, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 38 video games
22. Koa Peat, PF/C, Arizona
Freshman | High: 6-8 | Age: 19.2 | Previous ranking: 16
Peat has been one amongst the extra divisive gamers in the class, with scouts conflicted on whether his physicality, toughness and defensive smarts can overcome his midrange-heavy shot possibility in the lengthy trail. He shot dazzling 7-for-20 from 3 this season and 62.3% from the tainted line, environment up an glaring direction to making improvements to his stock in 2027 if he opts to preserve in faculty and level of interest on construction.
His a success historical previous and intangibles must make Peat a first-round candidate regardless, however this is able to presumably take a courageous predraft route of to acknowledge the overarching questions about how his offensive game interprets to the NBA, the put he’ll maintain much less of a bodily advantage and will have to maintain to change into extra pronounced on the perimeter.
2025-26 stats: 14.1 choices, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 36 video games
0:24
Koa Peat takes it essential to the basket
Koa Peat rebounds his omit and lays it in for Arizona.
23. Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
Senior | High: 6-4 | Age: 22.5 | Previous ranking: 22
Stirtz played a focal role in Iowa’s dazzling Elite Eight trail, alongside with his poise and abilities to manipulate the game helping pressure a success no topic his streaky taking pictures performances. He played every minute of the tournament, and his heavy utilization on a gaggle that didn’t maintain a ton around him means that issues might presumably discover more straightforward for him in the mavens, the put he’ll have to maintain extra commence looks and can higher maximize his skill as a ball-conceal operator.
Scouts are nick up on Stirtz’s lengthy-timeframe upside, as he’s no longer the quickest, would not always discover big separation from defenders and must likely desire a ball conceal to make photography at a excessive stage. But it completely’s dazzling to deem he can come up the board from here, with guard-needy teams likely to stare in his route as a bolt-and-play option, particularly if somewhat a few gamers with eligibility make a selection to attain to highschool.
2025-26 stats: 19.8 choices, 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists in 37 video games
24. Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor
Sophomore | High: 6-5 | | Age: 21.4 | Previous ranking: 23
Carr is one more player coping with a necessary draft decision: He has an precise likelihood on the first round coming off a breakout in his third 365 days of faculty however might presumably moreover higher maximize his incomes doable if he stays in faculty. He’s a candidate to upward thrust in the predraft route of, with the style of explosiveness and taking pictures skill that in most cases stand out in workout settings.
Despite a down 365 days for Baylor, Carr became moderately ambiance friendly (61.8% TS) on excessive quantity. He provides a viable NBA framework as a highflyer with shotmaking chops and a 7-foot-1½ wingspan who can add value defensively and on the glass.
2025-26 stats: 18.9 choices, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 34 video games
25. Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
Junior | High: 7-2 | Age: 21.4 | Previous ranking: 27
As the defensive backbone of an graceful Arizona group, Krivas helped his stock in a well-known manner this season and has place himself in the first-round mix if he opts to enter the draft. He’s an above-reasonable athlete for his dimension, with a no-frills, lunch pail game as a play finisher and paint deterrent. He became among the many most impactful defenders in faculty basketball and looks prepared to slot in as a viable backup big. From a financial level of view, the pull of NIL might presumably make staying in faculty, the put he’d again be among the many head bigs in faculty basketball, a extra viable option.
2025-26 stats: 10.4 choices, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 39 video games
Closing big board for the 2026 class
26. Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas | Age: 20.7
27. Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan | Age: 20.2
28. Meleek Thomas, PG/SG, Arkansas | Age: 19.7
29. Amari Allen, SF/PF, Alabama | Age: 20.2
30. Alex Condon, C, Florida | Age: 21.7
31. Dame Sarr, SG/SF, Duke | Age: 19.8
32. Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara | Age: 19.7
33. Tyler Tanner, PG/SG, Vanderbilt | Age: 20.2
34. Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke | Age: 20.1
35. Joshua Jefferson, SF/PF, Iowa Impart | Age: 22.4
36. Alex Karaban, SF/PF, UConn | Age: 23.4
37. Zuby Ejiofor, PF/C, St. John’s | Age: 22.0
38. Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford | Age: 19.0
39. Juke Harris, SG, Wake Woodland | Age: 20.7
40. Tounde Yessoufou, SF, Baylor | Age: 19.9
41. Luigi Suigo, C, Mega Basket | Age: 19.2
42. Tarris Reed Jr., PF/C, UConn | Age: 22.7
43. Milan Momcilovic, PF, Iowa Impart | Age: 21.5
44. Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina | Age: 22.0
forty five. Braden Smith, PG, Purdue | Age: 22.7
46. Ryan Conwell, SG, Louisville | Age: 21.8
47. Pryce Sandfort, SG/SF, Nebraska | Age: 21.3
forty eight. Sergio de Larrea, PG/SG, Valencia | Age: 20.3
49. Flee Daniels, PG/SG, Melbourne United | Age: 18.3
50. Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas | Age: 20.9
51. Joseph Tugler, PF/C, Houston | Age: 21.3
52. Alijah Arenas, SG, USC | Age: 19.1
Fifty three. Paul McNeil Jr., SG, NC Impart | Age: 20.0
54. Jaden Bradley , PG/SG, Arizona | Age: 22.6
55. Baba Miller, PF/C, Cincinnati | Age: 22.2
56. Richie Saunders, SG/SF, BYU | Age: 24.6
57. Rueben Chinyelu, C, Florida | Age: 22.5
58. Adam Atamna, SG, ASVEL | Age: 18.3
59. Matthew In a position, SF, NC Impart | Age: 19.7
60. Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky | Age: 19.5
61. JT Toppin, PF/C, Texas Tech | Age: 20.8
62. Ugonna Onyenso, C, Virginia | Age: 22.0
63. Michael Ruzic, PF/C, Joventut | Age: 19.5
64. Bruce Thornton, PG/SG, Ohio Impart | Age: 22.6
65. Tomislav Ivisic, C, Illinois | Age: 22.7
66. Kylan Boswell, PG/SG, Illinois | Age: 21.0
67. Emanuel Racy, SG, Houston | Age: 22.1
68. Solo Ball, SG, UConn | Age: 22.3
69. Milos Uzan, PG, Houston | Age: 23.3
70. KJ Lewis, SG, Georgetown | Age: 21.7
71. Nolan Iciness, PF/C, Wisconsin | Age: 21.4
72. Andrej Stojakovic, SG/SF, Illinois | Age: 21.6
73. Jeremy Fears Jr. , PG, Michigan Impart | Age: 21.0
74. Tyler Nickel, SG, Vanderbilt | Age: 22.6
75. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, PG, Tennessee | Age: 22.1
76. Tamin Lipsey, PG, Iowa Impart | Age: 22.8
77. Maliq Brown, PF/C, Duke | Age: 22.4
78. Trevon Brazile, PF/C, Arkansas | Age: 23.2
Seventy nine. Tyler Bilodeau, PF, UCLA | Age: 22.0
80. John Blackwell, SG, Wisconsin | Age: 21.3
81. Zvonimir Ivisic, C, Illinois | Age: 22.7
82. Mouhamed Faye, PF/C, Paris Basket | Age: 21.2
83. Slash Martinelli, SF/PF, Northwestern | Age: 22.0
84. Cade Tyson, SG/SF, Minnesota | Age: 22.7
85. Oscar Cluff, C, Purdue | Age: 24.4
86. Felix Okpara, C, Tennessee | Age: 22.0
87. Tucker DeVries, SG/SF, Indiana | Age: 23.3
88. Trey Kaufman-Renn, PF/C, Purdue | Age: 23.6
89. Darrion Williams, SF, NC Impart | Age: 23.0
90. Rafael Castro, C, George Washington | Age: 23.0
91. Dillon Mitchell, PF, St. John’s | Age: 22.5
92. Jaron Pierre Jr., SG, SMU | Age: 23.7
93. Otega Oweh, SG/SF, Kentucky | Age: 22.8
94. Donovan Dent, PG, UCLA | Age: 22.3
95. Nate Bittle, C, Oregon | Age: 22.8
96. Fletcher Loyer, SG, Purdue | Age: 22.6
97. Quadir Copeland, PG, NC Impart | Age: 22.6
98. Seth Trimble, PG/SG, North Carolina | Age: 21.7
Ninety nine. Ticket Mitchell, PF, Missouri | Age: 22.6
100. Kashie Natt, SG, Sam Houston | Age: 23.2
