With the Final Four ready to kick off!!!
The tournament always gives us a few draft risers and this year was no different. The biggest riser on my board is UConn big man Tarris Reed Jr. who catapults all the way into first round territory, coming in at no. 26. In the game of basketball there’s nothing quite as exciting as seeing a big man realize he is stronger than everyone else on the court and asserting his will on the game. Reed has been doing that at an elite level recently and has lifted his draft stock in the process.
Mo Krivas is another big riser, moving to just outside the top 20. He’s looking like a starting NBA center and that’s a good value at that range of the draft.
One difference in this big board compared to the last is that instead of including all draft eligible players this board ranks only the prospects that are likely to be in in this draft and excludes those that are very likely going back to school (Daniel Jacobson etc.).
2026 NBA Draft Big Board 6.0
 | TIER 1 – SUPERSTAR – FRANCHISE CORNERSTONE |
| 1 | AJ Dybantsa – 6-9 – BYU – It’s hard to imagine AJ Dybantsa failing at the next level. He’s such a dominant athlete and plays with such ferocity that at the very least he’ll be a nightmare to defend in transition and on his moves to the basket. As he polishes the rest of his game I think he can become a point forward type who draw the defense and can spray passes all over the court. He grades out a hair below last year’s no.1 Cooper Flagg but I still think he can be a first option/franchise changing player. |
| 2 | Darryn Peterson – 6-5 – Kansas – What a weird year for Peterson. I joked here that he’ll be on a minutes restriction for his pre-draft interviews…but jokes aside, he’s still the most naturally talented guy in the class who could still be the first name off the board in June. I think anyone dropping him too far will regret that in hindsight but I think it’s fair to say his draft range as widened from top 2 to about 1-5. The question marks that have come up for him this season are enough to drop him one spot on my board but I don’t feel great about it. |
| 3 | Caleb Wilson – 6-10 – North Carolina – His upside is as high as any player in this draft but his game is a little bit less polished than the rest of the fab four. Wilson missed the final stretch of the season with a couple injuries and so he didn’t get any March Madness bump in the public eye but NBA scouts have seen enough during the season to form their opinions. I feel like it’s sacrilege to rank anyone over Cam Boozer but the way Wilson combines exceptional athleticism while oozing upside potential and plenty of polish |
| 4 | Cameron Boozer – 6-9 – Duke – I think Boozer will be effective at the next level but I just don’t see him as a superstar prospect. He could have a similar career to his old man, or be a Paolo Banchero level player…mabye a bit better. I get the case for him in the top 3 but I just couldn’t draft him over a guy like Wilson who has such superior athletic traits. Maybe this ranking will come back to haunt me but I’ve gotta go with my gut on this one. |
| TIER 2 – ALL-NBA LEVEL PLAYER | |
| 5 | Kingston Flemings – 6-4 – Houston – After a scorching-hot start to the season the wiry 6-4-ish Flemings cooled off a bit down the stretch but still shot nearly 38% from 3 and 84.5 from the FT line this year. He’s as quick and explosive of a guard as we have in this class and he’ll be a nightmare to defend with NBA spacing. He reminds me a of a slightly bigger and more vertically explosive De’Aaron Fox, which is a player who can be an All NBA level guy. He’s not a pure shooter and I have some questions about how he’ll shoot it from the NBA line but his athletic tools, two-way ability and overall talent keep him near the top of my board. If he gets drafted ahead of Boozer or Wilson I wouldn’t bat an eye. |
| 6 | Darius Acuff Jr. – 6-2 – Arkansas – Darius was absolutely dominant over the second half of the season, showcasing special scoring talent and imposing his will on the game. He’s so hard to keep out of the lane with his compact frame, quick first step and ball-on-a-string handling ability. Add in the 3pt shooting and the tough shot-making and he’s just a lethal offensive player. His defense leaves something to be desired and he’s never going to be a stopper but with his offensive workload his lack of D can be forgiven. In some ways he doesn’t exactly fit the prototypical NBA guard. He’s not the tallest guy and not much of an above the rim player but he’s just a filthy offensive talent and a scoring fiend that’ll be hard to pass on in the mid lottery. I have him graded out equally to Flemings but give the Houston guard the slight edge due to his explosive athleticism. |
| TIER 3 – ALL STAR LEVEL PLAYER | |
| 7 | Brayden Burries – 6-4 – Arizona – I had Burries no.15 on my pre season big board in October and, although it took awhile for him to find his groove, he has more than justified that ranking over the second half of his season. He’s got a skill-set that is a great fit in today’s NBA, with the versatility to play on or off the ball, create offense, hit shots and defend all over the court. He’s a big older for a freshman and that maturity shows with his strong frame and the confidence he plays with. I don’t think he has quite as much upside as Flemings or Acuff Jr. (or Mikel Brown) but he seems to have clear path to success at the next level and a pretty high floor. |
| 8 | Mikel Brown Jr. – 6-5 – Louisville – If it wasn’t for the back injury I’d probably have MBJ at no.6 and pushing for top 5. As it is he slides a few spots and comes with some risk/potential reward in this range. I’m a full believer in his ability to light it up from outside and think he could be a guy who pours in 50 points in a game before too long into his career. It would be nice if he had a little more bulk/strength but really my only concern is the injury. |
| 9 | Keaton Wagler – 6-6 – Illinois. – Wagler isn’t very quick but he’s got wiggle and and shake and puts together combinations of moves that leave defenders flummoxed. He’s so crafty and shifty that I think he’ll be effective at getting to his spots, even against NBA level size/speed. If had all this talent PLUS better athleticism he’d a truly elite prospect but his athletic limitations bump him down a few spots on my board. |
| TIER 4 – HIGH LEVEL STARTER – POSSIBLE ALL STAR | |
| 10 | Hannes Steinbach – 6-11 – Washington (Germany) – I freaking love his game and think he’ll be a problem at the next level. He might not be a franchise cornerstone type but I think he can be a really valuable piece to a winning team. You can’t teach the heart, hustle and high energy play that he brings. Combined with his impressive mobility, great hands and high level rebounding he’d be hard to pass in this range for a team needing a big. |
| 11 | Braylon Mullins – 6-6 – UConn – The new Mr. Big Shot, Mullins has had a mixed season for the Huskies but I’m a full-on believer in his talents and think he deserves to be in the top 10, or at least the late lottery conversation. He’s a really smooth athlete with rangy size, great off-ball instincts and a jump shot that looks like it was created in a lab. I don’t think we really got to see how good he can be during this up and down season for UConn. His big shot to beat Duke might be a preview of things to come in his career. |
| 12 | Labaron Philon – 6-3 – Alabama – Philon is such a baller. He’s slippery and quick with the dribble and gets wherever he wants. I sometimes worry about his slender frame and lack of bulk but he holds up well on defense and is really feisty and active defender. And he’s taken his offensive game to a whole new level this season. In some drafts I’d have him as a top 10 lock but in this stacked draft he falls just outside the top 10. Some team could be getting a steal if he lands in this range. |
| 13 | Yaxel Lendeborg – 6-9 – Michigan – There are a few narratives with Yaxel. He’s one of the most complete and polished players in the draft. He also one of the oldest prospects and some people question how much upside he has left to develop. In many ways he’s exactly what every team needs, a big versatile forward who can handle the ball and hit shots. He’s not the most sexy pick but it’ll be hard for teams to pass on him in this range of the draft. |
| 14 | Aday Mara – 7-3 – Michigan – I was way up and then way down on Mara. Now finding the middle ground. When he first came over from Spain I thought he had top 5 potential, but he was soft like Charmin then. This year he’s started to show that immense upside that had me so intrigued. I think there’s a chance he gets pushed around and abused early in his NBA career but longer term I think his mix of size, passing, shot blocking and feel will be valuable. |
| 14 | Karim Lopez – 6-8 – NZ Breakers, NBL (Mexico) – I feel like Lopez has been flying under the radar all season and could explode in the pre-draft process. It’s hard to overstate how impressive he’s been in a solid pro league as a teenager. He’s a big, solid athlete with a NBA-ready from. He shot over 50% from the field this past season and showed some improvement from 3pt land. He’s still not a great shooter but if that part of his game comes along, watch out! |
| TIER 5 – POSSIBLE STARTER – SOLID ROTATION PLAYER | |
| 15 | Chris Cenac Jr. – 6-10 – Houston – He’s one projected mid first round pick that I’d love to see. return to school (although that is unlikely). He’s an upside talent who improved a lot throughout the season but still has a long ways to go. He’ll likely be drafted as a developmental big who pays dividends a few years down the road. |
| 16 | Koa Peat – 6-8 – Arizona – I feel like Peat has star role player potential and that’s not meant to be knock against him. I just don’t think he’s a first option type of guy but does so many things at a high level and plays winning basketball. |
| 17 | Nate Ament – 6-10 – Tennessee – I don’t know what to do with Ament. Just when I nearly give up on him he would put up 20 points and show some improved strength/intensity but then just when I get excited he flops for a few games. I’m not sure going back to school is in the cards for him but I would love to see him develop for another year in school. He’s got loads of talent but plenty of areas of his game that need improving. 6-10 shooters are highly coveted in the NBA but with all the question marks I just can’t have him in the lottery in this loaded draft class. |
| 18 | Alijah Arenas – 6-6 – USC – He’s one of the hardest players to rank in this class. We have only a small sample size so far, which has been a mixed bag. He’s clearly got a lot of upside but is pretty far away from harnessing all that talent and being NBA ready. I think he’s a bit more of a project than some people think but his NBA tools are so clear and his talent so obvious that he’ll be in the mix in the late lottery to mid first round. |
| 19 | Dailyn Swain – 6-8 – Texas – An NBA level athlete with all the tools but will have to continue to develop his game. Shows some really nice flashes and it’s easy to see a path to him developing into a solid NBA wing. His offensive game has taken big strides this season and his arrow is definitely pointing up. |
| 20 | Cameron Carr – 6-6 – Baylor – After a few years of hype Carr is in the midst of a breakout season and has been really impressive for the Bears this year. His combination of 3pt shooting, above the rim ability and disruptive defensive has the full attention of NBA scouts. The biggest question in my eyes is whether he’s more of an off-the-ball role player or if he can develop his on-ball creativity. |
| 21 | Motiejus Krivas – 7-2 – Arizona (Lithuania) – The lengthy Lithuanian is a solid post presence who controls the boards and has a big impact on the defensive end. He’s not a high volume offensive player and scores mainly within a few feet of the rim. I don’t see him as a starter in the NBA but think he can be a serviceable big off the bench. |
| 22 | Morez Johnson Jr. – 6-10 – Michigan – Every NBA team can use a player like Morez. He’s a powerful, high-energy enforcer who has a big impact in the paint, changes ends well and can anchor a defense, despite not being the biggest center out there. |
| 23 | Bennett Stirtz – 6-4 – Iowa – I was a little too high on Stirtz to start the season but I still like him as a mid/late first rounder. He could be a nice third guard who has some versatility playing on or off the ball. Even if he’s not a starter I think he can be a valuable piece to a winning team. |
| 24 | Henri Veesaar – 7-0 – North Carolina (Estonia) – Veesaar is unlikely to be a star in the NBA but at this point of the draft board finding a really solid starting level center who can stretch the floor would be a really good value. He’s a high feel player who makes really good reads and is a good big-to-big passer. I’m higher on him than most and think he’ll be really good in the NBA. |
| 25 | Thomas Haugh – 6-9 – Florida – Haugh might not be the sexiest pick but NBA teams will be highly intrigued by the nice 6-9 do-it-all forward who competes at a high level and impacts both ends. As with a lot of these guys becoming a knockdown 3pt shooter will really elevate their chances of sticking in the league. |
| 26 | Tarris Reed Jr. – C – UConn – A March Madness hero, Reed Jr. has done as much as any player in the country to lift his draft stock and will now be getting first round looks. He’s a great rebounder on both ends, a skill that should translate well for him at the NBA level. He doesn’t need to be a high volume offensive player to be effective and looks the part of a starting big, or first big off the bench, which is solid value in the 20’s or 30’s. |
| 27 | Ivan Kharchenkov – 6-7 – Arizona (Germany) – Ivan has been awesome this season for the Cats. He’s a well built wing who really excels on the defensive end and just plays a really solid all around game. I’d love to see him return for a second season to develop his outside shot but the way he’s been playing recently could make him a this year guy. |
| 28 | Tounde Yessoufou – 6-6 – Baylor (Benin) – I feel like we were all waiting for Tounde to find his rhythm and put together a more complete game but so far he’s looked like more of an athlete than a polished basketball player. Still, it’s hard to bet against such a high level athlete who also has a really strong work ethic. A team drafting in the late twenties could get a steal. |
| TIER 6 – ROTATION PLAYER – BENCH PLAYER – POSSIBLE STARTER | |
| 29 | Meleek Thomas – 6-5 – Arkansas – A microwave shooter/scorer who can get hot but lacks consistency. Will need to round out his game and do more than just score the rock. Could use some more time in school and would likely spend a lot of time in the G League if he enters the draft this year. |
| 30 | Ebuka Okorie – 6-2 – Stanford – Okorie has been an absolute stud this year, coming in as an under recruited guy and scorching opponents to the tune of 21 points per game while looking to be in total control of the offense. |
| 31 | Allen Graves – 6-9 – Santa Clara – A do-it-all forward who came out of nowhere to be a potential first rounder. I’d love to see him in the transfer portal instead of the draft but after such a good season for the Broncos he could be NBA-bound. |
| 32 | Joshua Jefferson – 6-9 – Iowa State – Jefferson is old, a bit slow and doesn’t really excite you with his style of play but man, he is just damn good at the game of basketball. At some point in the draft it’s less about upside and more about finding NBA players who can contribute to winning games. |
| 33 | Christian Anderson – 6-2 – Texas Tech – I think there’s a real chance Anderson out-plays this ranking. He’s not the biggest guard out there but is so skilled, is a great decision-maker no the court and has a rare combination of play-making and scoring ability. He’s also going to get a really big NIL offer so there’s a chance he returns to school if he’s projected in this range. |
| 34 | Rueben Chinyelu – C – Florida – A defensive menace with great length and strength. Only a junior, he could be back next season and really see his draft stock fly. He’s still a developmental player but he’s on a really nice trajectory as a prospect and I expect that to continue. He reminds me of a modern day Dale Davis. |
| 35 | Jayden Quaintance – 6-10 – Kentucky – It’s been a really tough year for JQ after ACL surgery last March and some ongoing issues with his recovery. It might make sense for him to return for another year in school to really show how good he can be. But there’s risk with that path as well. He’s a unique defensive talent but the injury history and the lack of an offensive game hurts his draft stock. He’s still incredibly young and has plenty of time to develop into a good NBA player if his body holds up. |
| 36 | Isaiah Evans – 6-7 – Duke – Evans is probably more of a bench scorer than a starter and so his draft stock is probably not as high as some think. He’s made really good improvements in his all-around game since last season and if he continues that trend he’ll have a long NBA career. |
| 37 | Keyshawn Hall – 6-7 – Auburn – I’m a big Keyshawn Hall fan. He’s got a pro-ready frame and a really nice 3pt shot. I’d take him early to mid second round, and can also see him continuing to rise up the board. |
| 38 | Amari Allen – 6-8 – Alabama – Allen is a heady, mature and efficient player who looks like a NBA level role player who doesn’t need to be a star but just gets it done at a high level. He’s been one of the more surprising breakout players this year and is making a strong case to be a first round pick. |
| 39 | Flory Bidunga – 6-10 – Kansas (Congo) – Flory is a high energy role-playing big man who projects as a guy who can come off the bench and provide meaningful minutes. He changes ends really well and puts a lot of pressure on opposing bigs with his quickness up and down the court. I think he’s going to solid early in his career but won’t really bring a lot of value until his second contract. |
| 40 | David Mirkovic – 6-9 – Illinois (Montenegro) – He’s a really fun player to watch and to evaluate. He’s a baller with great skill and a lot of strength. He’s not a run/jump athlete and doesn’t always look the part of a NBA player but he’s very effective and can really make his mark on games. I hope he stays in school but if he is in the draft I wouldn’t let him fall too far into the second round. |
| 41 | Dame Sarr – 6-7 – Duke (Italy) – Sarr shows some very high level flashes but can also look very raw and not nearly NBA ready at times. He’s a candidate to stay in school and be a 2027 pick but if he comes out this year he’s likely a second rounder. |
| TIER 7 – BENCH PLAYER – MAYBE STICKS IN THE LEAGUE – DEVELOPMENTAL | |
| 42 | Alex Condon – 7-0 – Florida – A solid all around center who does a bit of everything but doesn’t really stand in one area. I think he might take some time but could eventually earn a few NBA minutes. |
| 43 | Massamba Diop – 7-1 – Arizona State (Senegal) – Diop is an extremely gifted 7-1 athlete who is very smooth, twitchy and agile with his movements. He’s got good touch around the rim and on push shots out to about 12 feet. And he does a good job of protecting the rim and has the makings of becoming a defensive anchor. He’s very much a developmental player but has tools you can’t teach and a lot of upside to grow into. I like him early second round. |
| 44 | Juke Harris – 6-7 – Wake Forest – A big guard/wing who can really score the ball. Has taken a major leap this season and is looking like a potential NBA player. |
| 45 | Milon Momcilovic – 6-8 – Iowa State – The best 3pt shooter in the county and one of the best on Planet Earth, Milon doesn’t have a great all around game and will be more of a specialist at the NBA level. |
| 46 | Malachi Moreno – 7-0 – Kentucky – Moreno isn’t the most fleet-footed center but is highly skilled and plays with good power and strength. He’s gotten a lot of run this season for a Kentucky team missing JQ and he’s taken advantage of the minutes, showing good touch in the lane, from mid range and a nice overall offensive package. I really hope he returns for another season to develop his body and athleticism but if he declares this year he could flirt with first round territory but is most likely a second rounder. |
| 47 | Zuby Ejiofor – 6-9 – St. John’s – A high energy big man who has taken the next step with his scoring and his overall skill level. Lacks ideal size but is quick, powerful and plays with an edge. I could see him being a playable guy off a NBA bench who brings energy and a change of pace up front. |
| 48 | Patrick Ngongba II – 6-10 – Duke – Not flashy but highly effective and could be in for a breakout season. He does all the big man things well and is a fundamentally sound player who is highly effective. |
| 49 | JT Toppin – 6-9 – Texas Tech – Toppin might have been a first rounder last year but chose to return to dominate college basketball. Now he’s suffered a season-ending knee injury after a really strong first half of the season. I don’t think the injury will impact his draft stock too much. I had him as an early second rounder before the injury and think he’ll stay in that late 30’s to 40’s range. |
| 50 | Dash Daniels – 6-5 – Australia – He’s very young, a great defender and has NBA bloodlines but I’m not sure he’ll be ready to contribute anytime soon and will probably be more of a second contract guy (if he makes it that far). I think he has upside but is far from a sure thing. |
| 51 | Lamar Wilkerson – 6-6 – Indiana – A lights out shooter with good size and ball handling ability? Sign me up. |
| 52 | Ryan Conwell – 6-4 – Louisville – A rock solid 6-4 guard who loves to let it fly from downtown. Is better in an off-ball role but can give you some minutes at point. An older player but one who could contribute early. |
| 53 | Jaden Bradley – 6-2 – Arizona – Bradley has gotten better and better every season and now looks like a solid back-up point guard option. He’s learned to harness his athletic talents and become more of a passer and play-maker. I’m a big fan. |
| 54 | Trevon Brazile – 6-10 – Arkansas – He’s got great tools and some of the flashes he shows are breathtaking. I think he still needs some developmental time before being a NBA guy but I’d swing on the upside at this point in the draft. |
| 55 | Matas Vokietaitis – 7-0 – Texas (Lithuania) – Matas is one of my favorite players to watch with how he throws his weight around and plays with an edge. He’d do well to stay in school another year but if he’s in the draft I’m taking him somewhere in the mid/late second round. |
| 56 | Alex Karaban – 6-8 – UConn – Karaban will go down as one of the greats in the UConn programs history. His NBA role is a little murky but big shot-makers have value and he’ll get a long look from NBA teams. He might not be a high upside guy but he does some things at a high level and has a chance to be a solid role player at the next level. |
| 57 | Mouhamed Faye – 6-10 – Paris Basket (Senegal) – One of the top interior defenders and rebounders in this draft class Faye was a late withdrawal from last year’s draft and will look to solidify his draft stock this season. |
| 58 | Tomislav Ivisic – 7-1 – Illinois (Croatia) – He’s not had the season I expected and has taken a tumble down my draft board. I could still see him getting drafted and having a NBA career but I’m not as high on him as I was. |
| 59 | Billy Richmond – SF – Arkansas – Richmond is the type of athlete and two-way talent that NBA teams love to develop. If he enters the draft this year I could see a team taking a flyer on him in the mid/late second round. |
| 60 | Cayden Boozer – PG – Duke – It was an unfortuante end to the season for Cayden, turning the ball over to lose the game for Duke. But he did play really well over the final month+ of the season and started to look like the guy we thought he would be to start the season. He’ll have an interesting stay/go decision to make. I’m sure he wants to go to the league with his brother but could be a much higher draft pick next year if he stays in school. I see him as a valuable guard off the bench and think he would have a real shot to get drafted this year. |
| 61 | Sergio de Larrea – 6-6 – Spain – A slick passing big guard who doesn’t blow you away with athleticism but is crafty, shifty and can get to his spots. A bit older than other international prospects but has a lot of game. |
| 62 | Fletcher Loyer – 6-5 – Purdue – He’s about as NBA-ready as they come. He’s probably not a starter in the league but I could see him having a solid NBA career and finding some success at the NBA level. He seems like the type of player a NBA team would love to add as a cheap roster option. |
| 63 | Tyler Bilodeau – 6-9 – UCLA – Tyler isn’t a great athlete and might not have great upside but he’s just a damn good basketball player who can really shoot the rock. He’s got a toughness to his game that allows him to hold his own in the paint against bigger players. But it’s his shooting ability that will get him on a NBA court. |
| 64 | Richie Saunders – 6-5 – BYU – A flamethrower from outside, Saunders is a natural scorer who moves well without the ball and lets it fly with a ton of confidence. He’s a much older prospect and should be ready to play some minutes early in his career…once he recovers from his recent ACL tear. |
| 65 | Tyler Tanner – 6-0 – Vanderbilt – Tanner has been sensational this season and could be ranked higher but I have a hard time trusting small guards and he’s extra small. Yes, he’s a high level athlete with good length that somewhat offsets his lack of size but I’m not ready to put him in my first round. He’s a strong candidate to return to school next season. |
| 66 | Paul McNeil Jr. – 6-5 – NC State – A high scoring guard who is wired to score the ball and has taken some nice steps with his play-making and feel for the game. Gets his shots within the flow of the offense. |
| 67 | Braden Smith – 6-0 – Purdue – Super undersized by incredibly dynamic, Smith could be a fun guard to have coming off the bench to change the tempo. |
| 68 | Coen Carr – 6-7 – Michigan State – There’s athleticism and then there’s Coen Carr. He’s an insane above the rim player but is also starting to round out his game and is on a nice trajectory as a prospect. |
| 69 | Baba Miller – 6-11 – Cincinnati – It’s been a long road for Baba to get here but he’s been playing really good ball this year and still has that impressive combination of size and mobility. He’s shown a willingness to harness his athletic prowess and live more in the post, make plays in transition and play more like a big forward instead of a guard. |
| 70 | Bruce Thornton – 6-2 – Ohio State – He’s a baller, a gamer and a winner who looks the part of a solid back up point guard at the NBA level. |
| > | Back to the mock draft |
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