The NBA Draft’s early entry withdrawal deadline was May 27 and there were 38 players that elected to return to college. Most notable were Tounde Yessoufou, who quickly committed to St. John’s, Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt), Billy Richmond III (Arkansas), Andrej Stojakovic (Illinois) and Amari Allen (Alabama). Players who elected to stay in this year’s draft class who were on the bubble were Koa Peat (Arizona) and Meleek Thomas (Arkansas), both projected first-round picks.
Since the combine and agent pro days, there has been some projected movement in the lottery. Mikel Brown Jr. was fantastic and appears fully healthy. He’s already had individual workouts with teams inside the top five and could be at play for the Clippers with the fifth pick. The Wizards haven’t come out and said whether or not they’re targeting AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson, but Dybantsa still feels safer as the No. 1 pick.
Who helped themselves the most at the combine and whose stock is moving? Here’s a look at the first and second round and how things could end up in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23 and 24.
AJ Dybantsa
BYU Cougars
6'9" / 196
Forward
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, 6-foot-9 freshman guard, BYU
Dybantsa backed up his No. 1 projection at the NBA Draft combine during the shooting and agility drills. He had one of the best max vertical jumps with a 42-inch vertical and was consistent during the shooting drills. Leading up to the draft, Dybantsa plans to only work out and meet with the Wizards and Jazz. He led the nation in scoring at BYU, and what he does with his size and length on the perimeter makes him a safer pick than Peterson.
Darryn Peterson
Kansas Jayhawks
6'6" / 205
Guard
19
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, 6-foot-6 freshman guard, Kansas
Dybantsa might be Utah’s No.1 choice, but having Peterson fall to No. 2 actually works out better for the Jazz and their current roster construction. Peterson might prefer to call himself a point guard, but the reality is, he’s just as deadly off-ball when he’s coming off screens and cutting. No other player in this draft class can get the ball off quicker for a shot, and his scoring instincts are elite. Dybantsa might be favored to go No. 1, but it wouldn’t be shocking if Peterson was the first name off the board.
Cameron Boozer
Duke Blue Devils
6'9" / 234
Forward
18
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, 6-foot-9 freshman forward, Duke
Boozer has been rumored as a target for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but there’s a reason why so many teams have targeted this draft class. It’s a long shot that Memphis would entertain any trade talks involving Boozer. What he possesses as a floor-spacer, connector and winner solidifies him as a top-four pick and a great option for the Grizzlies at No. 3.
Caleb Wilson
North Carolina Tar Heels
6'10" / 215
Forward
19
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, 6-foot-10 freshman forward, North Carolina
Wilson looked fantastic at his pro day for Klutch Sports and has improved his three-point jumper. He’s fully recovered from his broken right thumb injury he suffered in February and looked stronger while going through testing at the NBA Draft combine. Wilson’s upside might be higher than Boozer’s, and it would not be shocking at all if the Grizzlies took him at No. 3. But if he’s there at No. 4 for the Bulls, he’ll be a tremendous addition to build around.
Mikel Brown Jr.
Louisville Cardinals
6' 5" / 190
Guard
20
5. LA Clippers: Mikel Brown Jr., 6-foot-5 freshman guard, Louisville
Brown has worked out for teams inside the top five (including the Utah Jazz and an upcoming workout with the Chicago Bulls) and was great at the combine and his individual pro day. Prior to the college season, Brown was a projected top-five pick and he fell during the season due to his lingering back injury. Prior to shutting things down at Louisville, Brown had 45 points against NC State and put on a scoring clinic, both on and off the ball. The Clippers have options with their pick, but Brown has been a buzzy name from teams and appears fully healthy.
Darius Acuff Jr.
Arkansas Razorbacks
6'3" / 190
Guard
19
6. Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr., 6-foot-3 freshman guard, Arkansas
Acuff is still the best player available at No. 6 and the Nets can gamble with a potential superstar that emulates the same characteristics as Trae Young and Russell Westbrook. Acuff was the best point guard in college basketball and led Arkansas to the SEC championship. His defense is an area of concern, but it’s offset by what he does with the ball in his hands. Acuff proved he can coexist alongside other ball-dominant guards like he did at Arkansas with Meleek Thomas and DJ Wagner.
Kingston Flemings
Houston Cougars
6' 4" / 190
19
Guard
7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Houston
The Kings have ties to Acuff with general manager Scott Perry, who coached Acuff’s father at Eastern Kentucky in the late 1990s. If Acuff is their guy, they’re going to have to trade up to No. 5 to get him. If they’re fine with seeing how things play out, Flemings is a great secondary option. He’s a little bigger as a lead guard and is a better two-way player with how well he defends the backcourt.
Aday Mara
Michigan Wolverines
7' 3" / 255
Center
21
8. Atlanta Hawks: Aday Mara, 7-foot-3 junior center, Michigan
The Hawks need some additional size and rim protection in the frontcourt and no one measured better at the combine than Mara. Onyeka Okongwu is only 6-foot-10, and if teams in the Eastern Conference have learned anything, they need some size to battle with Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren in the paint. Mara moved well during agility testing; this could be a target for the Hawks inside the top 10, or they could trade down with a team looking for a lead guard.
Keaton Wagler
Illinois Fighting Illini
6' 6" / 180
Guard
19
9. Dallas Mavericks: Keaton Wagler, 6-foot-6 freshman guard, Illinois
Wagler had a fantastic season at Illinois and showed his potential as a combo guard who can get off tough shots and score at will. He went from an unranked high school prospect and surged to a top-10 pick in this year’s draft in how efficient he was during his one year at Illinois. He has the length advantage out of any of the lead guards in the lottery, but his untapped potential and question marks with his verticality and foot speed might make him fall to the back half of the lottery.
Brayden Burries
Arizona Wildcats
6'4" / 205
Guard
20
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Arizona
There’s no way the Bucks don’t target a point guard with the 10th pick in the draft, especially with how talented the guards are in the lottery. Questions loom about where Giannis Antetokounmpo will be next season, but the reality is, Milwaukee needs a franchise point guard and this is the draft to do it. If Burries is still on the board, they’ll take him in a heartbeat — or any combination of Wagler, Flemings or Philon.
Nate Ament
Tennessee Volunteers
6'10" / 207
Forward
19
11. Golden State Warriors: Nate Ament, 6-foot-10 freshman forward, Tennessee
The Warriors have options with this pick and if they want to take a swing on an upside talent, Ament fits that description. He still needs some time to develop prior to being fully ready for NBA physicality, but with his size and shot selection on the wing, he’s a fantastic pick this late in the lottery.
Yaxel Lendeborg
Michigan Wolverines
6' 9" / 240
Forward
23
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Yaxel Lendeborg, 6-foot-10 senior forward, Michigan
Lendeborg measured well and shot the ball consistently during drills at the combine and was very comfortable going through the pre-draft process for a second time. The Thunder also own the No. 17 pick and can try to move up and package other assets to get the pick they want. If they keep this pick, Lendeborg will be an instant-impact player who can space the floor for Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Labaron Philon Jr.
Alabama Crimson Tide
6'4" / 185
Guard
20
13. Miami Heat: Labaron Philon Jr., 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, Alabama
Philon elected to return for his sophomore season to improve his draft stock and it helped. He proved he can play both on and off the ball and be effective as a lead guard. Philon was one of the toughest guards and scorers in the SEC and the Heat desperately need a lead guard.
Morez Johnson Jr.
Michigan Wolverines
6'9" / 250
Forward
20
14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr., 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, Michigan
No one measured better at the combine than Johnson, and he backed it up with hot shooting during the on-court drills as well. Johnson won a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup and was the connector in the frontcourt for Michigan’s title run. Charlotte is set in the backcourt with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, so Johnson will add some size in the paint and options in the post.
Post-Lottery
Karim López
New Zealand Breakers (NBL)
6'9" / 225
Forward
19
15. Chicago Bulls: Karim López, 6-foot-8 wing, NZ Breakers (Australia’s NBL)
If the Bulls take Boozer at No. 3, they have the flexibility to add some length and shooting on the perimeter with this pick. Not a lot of fans know much about Lopez after he elected to play two seasons in Australia’s NBL. Originally from Sonora, Mexico, Lopez moved to Spain at 14 years old to join the youth academy Joventut Badalona. He joined the NZ Breakers in New Zealand as part of NBL’s Next Stars program and set the single-season scoring record for draft-eligible prospects, netting 358 points.
Cameron Carr
Baylor Bears
6' 5" / 175
Guard
21
16. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Carr, 6-foot-5 junior guard, Baylor
Similarly to Mara, Carr transferred from Tennessee to Baylor and it made all the difference in the world. His dad, Chris, played six seasons in the NBA and was Selected 56th overall in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Sun. Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game and he’s one of the most explosive athletes at the rim, arguably having the dunk of the year against Arizona State.
Allen Graves
Santa Clara Broncos
6' 9" / 225
Forward
19
17. Oklahoma City Thunder: Allen Graves, 6-foot-9 freshman forward, Santa Clara
Graves is one of the buzziest names going into the draft and Sam Presti already found one gem coming out of Santa Clara when he drafted Jalen Williams with the 12th pick in 2022. Graves has excellent positional size and shot 41.5 percent from behind the arc on three attempts per game. The combine is an excellent test to see how mid-major players stack up against high-major talent, and Graves could be that one guy that shoots into the first round after a strong combine performance.
Hannes Steinbach
Washington Huskies
6'11" / 220
Forward
20
18. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, 6-foot-10 freshman forward, Washington
Steinbach measured a solid 6-foot-10 without shoes and 7-foot-2.25 wingspan, making him an almost 7-footer in shoes. He shot the ball well during drills and was surprising in the agility testing.
Dailyn Swain
Texas Longhorns
6' 8" / 220
Forward
20
19. Toronto Raptors: Dailyn Swain, 6-foot-8 junior wing, Texas
Swain’s passing and defensive versatility stand out immediately as a small forward. He logged 21 assists in four NCAA Tournament games against tough teams, and although his three-point shot needs some improving, his scoring instincts are there and his long ball is something he can develop at the next level.
Chris Cenac Jr.
Houston Cougars
6'11" / 240
Center
19
20. San Antonio Spurs: Chris Cenac Jr., 6-foot-11 freshman center, Houston
Victor Wembanyama rules the paint, adding an additional floor-spacer in Cenac in the first round would be ideal. The freshman center didn’t make the U19 USA Basketball team and it motivated him to really work on his body and foot speed. There is no better program than Houston in conditioning and footwork around the rim, and Cenac entered the season visibly stronger, in shape and with better touch around the rim.
Bennett Stirtz
Iowa Hawkeyes
6'4" / 190
Guard
22
21. Detroit Pistons: Bennett Stirtz, 6-foot-4 senior guard, Iowa
Stirtz averaged 18.3 points and 3.5 assists in postseason play, but the most impressive statline was playing 40 minutes and averaging 0.8 turnovers in four tough NCAA Tournament games. Stirtz is consistent and there’s nothing super flashy about his game, but he runs the offense well and has good size at 6-foot-4..
Jayden Quaintance
Kentucky Wildcats
6'10" / 255
Forward
18
22. Philadelphia 76ers: Jayden Quaintance, 6-foot-10 sophomore center, Kentucky
Quaintance didn’t have the year he hoped at Kentucky after tearing his ACL during his freshman season at Arizona State. The staff took their time in allowing him to return to the court and there were glimpses of what he could project to be as a future NBA center. With the 76ers, he would have the time to develop and learn behind Joel Embiid.
Meleek Thomas
Arkansas Razorbacks
6'5" / 185
Guard
19
23. Atlanta Hawks: Meleek Thomas, 6-foot-5 freshman guard, Arkansas
Thomas was excellent in the NCAA Tournament, playing alongside Acuff and complementing him well. He’s a high-volume shooter from behind the arc and made 41.6 percent on four attempts per game. Thomas was consistent during the NCAA Tournament and averaged 19 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals in three games, showing NBA scouts his potential as a two-way threat.
Christian Anderson
Texas Tech Red Raiders
6'3" / 178
Guard
20
24. New York Knicks: Christian Anderson, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard, Texas Tech
Anderson could make a jump on draft boards with a strong combine and team workouts, and if his name is still on the board at No. 27, this is a steal for the Celtics. Anderson is a tough lead guard who plays bigger than his listed 6-foot-2 frame, and he is an excellent facilitator. He was fourth in the country in assists, averaging 7.4 per game, and shot 41.5 percent from behind the arc.
Koa Peat
Arizona Wildcats
6'8" / 235
Forward
19
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Koa Peat, 6-foot-8 freshman forward, Arizona
Peat’s jump shot is concerning and many around the league expected him to return to school for an additional year of development amongst his peers. The flexibility that the Lakers have to bring him in and fix his jumper, coupled with his size and basketball IQ, makes him a great pick late in the first round.
Isaiah Evans
Duke Blue Devils
6'6" / 180
Guard
20
26. Denver Nuggets: Isaiah Evans, 6-foot-6 sophomore wing, Duke
Evans is a high-volume shooter from three-point range and really improved his shot selection and confidence during his sophomore season at Duke. Evans shot his way into the Elite Eight after matching St. John’s excellent shooting night, finishing with 25 points and going 4 for 8 from behind the arc.
Tarris Reed Jr.
UConn Huskies
6'11" / 265
Center
22
27. Boston Celtics: Tarris Reed, 6-foot-10 senior center, UConn
Reed averaged 14.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game at UConn and was fantastic during the five-on-five scrimmages during the combine. He’s played himself into the first round, given the amount of players electing to return to college — and the track record of prospects who played for Dan Hurley.
Joshua Jefferson
Iowa State Cyclones
6'9" / 240
Forward
22
28. Minnesota Timberwolves: Joshua Jefferson, 6-foot-9 senior forward, Iowa State
Jefferson has great size as a stretch-four and moves very well off the ball and in space. He averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game and was instrumental in Iowa State’s defensive success with the way he guarded the switch and help side.
Ebuka Okorie
Stanford Cardinal
6' 2" / 185
Guard
19
29. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ebuka Okorie, 6-foot-2 freshman guard, Stanford
What Okorie did during his one season at Stanford was incredible. He shattered the school’s freshman scoring record (previously held by Brooklyn Nets wing Ziaire Williams) and became the first Cardinal player in 24 years to score 40 points in a single game when he finished with 40 in a win over Georgia Tech in February. He also set an ACC freshman record with eight games of at least 30 points and finished eighth in the country in scoring, averaging 23.2 points per game.
Luigi Soigo
Mega Superbet (KLS)
7'3" / 240
Center
19
30. Dallas Mavericks: Luigi Suigo, 7-foot-4 center, Italy (Mega)
The Mavericks have a lot of options at the end of the first round, but if they want to take a swing at a center who can potentially battle with either Wembanyama or Holmgren in the Western Conference, it’s Suigo. Dallas can utilize Cooper Flagg as a floor spacer and open up the lane for Suigo to operate on the block.
Second Round
31. New York Knicks: Henri Veesaar, 7-foot-1 junior center, North Carolin
32. Memphis Grizzlies: Sergio de Larrea, 6-foot-6 guard, Spain (Valencia)
33. Brooklyn Nets: Alex Karaban, 6-foot-8 senior wing, UConn
34. Sacramento Kings: Richie Saunders, 6-foot-5 senior guard, BYU
35. San Antonio Spurs: Baba Miller, 6-foot-11 senior wing, Cincinnati
36. Los Angeles Clippers: Trevon Brazile, 6-foot-10 senior forward, Arkansas
37. Oklahoma City Thunder: Zuby Ejiofor, 6-foot-9 senior forward, St. John’s
38. Chicago Bulls: Jack Kayil, 6-foot-5 freshman guard, Gonzaga
39. Houston Rockets: Aaron Nkrumah, 6-foot-6 senior guard, Tennessee State
40. Boston Celtics: Jaden Bradley, 6-foot-3 senior guard, Arizona
41. Miami Heat: Otega Oweh, 6-foot-6 senior guard, Kentucky
42. San Antonio Spurs: Ryan Conwell, 6-foot-3 senior guard, Louisville
43. Brooklyn Nets: Felix Okpara, 6-foot-10 center, Tennessee
44. San Antonio Spurs: Emanuel Sharp, 6-foot-3 senior guard, Houston
45. Sacramento Kings: Tobi Lawal, 6-foot-8 forward, Virginia Tech
46. Orlando Magic: Dillon Mitchell, 6-foot-7 senior wing, St. John’s
47. Phoenix Suns: Izaiyah Nelson, 6-foot-9 senior forward, South Florida
48. Dallas Mavericks: Milos Uzan, 6-foot-4 senior guard, Houston
49. Denver Nuggets: Bryce Hopkins, 6-foot-7 senior guard, St. John’s
50. Toronto Raptors: Braden Smith, 6-foot-1 senior guard, Purdue
51. Washington Wizards: Nick Martinelli, 6-foot-8 senior wing, Northwestern
52. Los Angeles Clippers: Rafael Castro, 6-foot-11 senior center, George Washington
53. Houston Rockets: Ugonna Onyenso, 7-foot-1 senior center, Virginia
54. Golden State Warriors: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 6-foot-1 senior guard, Tennessee
55. New York Knicks: Bruce Thornton, 6-foot-2 senior guard, Ohio State
56. Chicago Bulls: Keyshawn Hall, 6-foot-7 senior wing, Auburn
57. Atlanta Hawks: Jaron Pierre, 6-foot-6 senior guard, SMU
58. New Orleans Pelicans: Tre White, 6-foot-7 senior guard, Kansas
59. Minnesota Timberwolves: Pavie Pacho, 6-foot-11 center, Serbia
60. Washington Wizards: Mark Mitchell, 6-foot-9 senior forward, Missouri
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