Оклахома Сити Тандер багийн төвийн тоглогч Чет Холмгрен Баруун бүсийн шигшээ тоглолтуудад Виктор Вембаньямагийн эсрэг тааруухан тоглолт үзүүлсэн ч багийн удирдлагууд түүнийг үргэлжлүүлэн тоглуулах төлөвтэй байна. Хэдийгээр Вембаньяма плей-оффт давамгайлсан ч Холмгрен улирлын турш хамгаалалтын шилдэг бүрэлдэхүүн болон All-NBA гуравдугаар багт нэрлэгдсэн нь түүний чадварыг илтгэнэ. Ирэх улиралд Оклахома Сити Тандер бүрэлдэхүүнээ хадгалж, Холмгрен болон Айзая Хартенштайн нарыг төвийн байрлалд хослуулан тоглуулах чиглэл баримталж байна.
Энэ жилийн драфтын эхний сонголтуудад AJ Дибанца, Даррин Петерсон нар тэргүүлж байгаа бол Дьюкийн Кэмерон Бүүзер болон Хойд Каролинагийн Калеб Уилсон нар гурав, дөрөвдүгээр байрт бичигдэх нь бараг тодорхой болжээ. Бүүзер нь тоглолтын уншилт, самбараас бөмбөг авалт болон дамжуулалтаараа онцгойрдог бол Уилсон нь будагтай талбайд тэсрэлттэй тоглолт үзүүлж, дундын зайнаас довтлох чадвартай юм. Шинжээчид Бүүзерийг өндөр IQ-тэй, тогтвортой тоглолттой тоглогч хэмээн үнэлж байгаа бол Уилсоныг хамгаалалтын бүх байрлалд тоглох чадвартай, ирээдүйтэй нэгэн хэмээн тодорхойлж байна.
Мичиганы гурвал болох Яксель Лендеборг, Морез Жонсон болон 7-3 өндөр Адай Мара нар 2026 оны үндэсний аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээнд түрүүлснийхээ дараа драфтын эхний тойрогт сонгогдох өндөр магадлалтай байна. Ялангуяа Марагийн биеийн өндөр болон хамгаалалтын чадвар нь багуудын анхаарлыг ихэд татаж байгаа аж. Мөн Вашингтоны Хэннес Стайнбах, Хьюстоны Крис Сенак нарын тоглогчид драфтын дараагийн шатны сонголтуудад өрсөлдөх нь тодорхой боллоо.
Драфтын хоёрдугаар тойрогт Малик Браун, Баба Миллер, Угонна Оньенсо болон Тоби Лавал зэрэг тоглогчид багуудын сонирхлыг татаж байна. Тэдний зарим нь хамгаалалтын чадвараараа, нөгөө хэсэг нь самбараас бөмбөг авалт болон биеийн хүчний тоглолтоороо NBA-д өөрийн гэсэн орон зайг эзлэх боломжтой гэж мэргэжилтнүүд үзэж байна. Эдгээр тоглогчид нь багуудын сэлгээний бүрэлдэхүүнийг зузаатгах, хамгаалалтын хувилбаруудыг нэмэгдүүлэхэд чухал үүрэг гүйцэтгэх юм.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
No, the Oklahoma City Thunder are not likely to trade Chet Holmgren after the third-year center’s terrible Western Conference finals run against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. (Unless, maybe, that sorcerer Sam Presti can pry away Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks for less than a half-dozen future picks.) It’s more likely that Oklahoma City keeps it moving and runs it back next season, with the 24-year-old Holmgren continuing to guard the yard alongside center Isaiah Hartenstein. No matter Wemby’s dominance in the postseason, Holmgren was on the All-Defensive First Team and All-NBA Third Team, and one good big is no longer enough.
So, while there are two legit superstar prospects at the top of this year’s draft in AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, and a half-dozen guards that could go in the lottery, two quality bigs — Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson — are near-certain locks to go, in some order, third and fourth overall. In many other drafts, Boozer and Wilson could have gone one-two, such are their qualities and potential.
Boozer brings elite processing skills, rebounding and passing, and he shot 39 percent on 3s for the Blue Devils, continuing a pattern of team success wherever he plays. His Columbus High School team in Florida won four straight state championships.
Wilson displayed explosive offensive power in the paint — he had 67 dunks in 24 games for the Tar Heels before a broken hand ended his season early — along with strong midrange skills and the potential to be a plus rim defender. Believe it or not, Wilson claims he wasn’t all that athletic well into his teenage years.
“I really started changing during COVID,” Wilson said at the Chicago pre-draft combine last month. “Starting jump roping every day, working out with my dad a lot, just really applying myself to getting better.”
Boozer, Wilson and the other bigs complete this year’s Draft Confidential, my annual compilation of intel from more than two dozen NBA and college head coaches and assistant coaches, NBA scouts, college executives and NBA front-office people, dating back to before the NCAA Tournament. In exchange for anonymity, the in-the-know people and decision makers told me the truth about each year’s top prospects.
As ever, this is not a definitive list of every potential draftee. Some people you know and love will not appear here. I kept it, as I do most years, to most — not all — of the guys whom I think have at least a puncher’s chance of getting drafted. The incomparable Sam Vecenie went to town again this year with his exhaustive list of 100 potential draftees and two-way players, along with video. It’s truly one-stop shopping for the hardest of hard-core draftniks.
In contrast, my shop is come in, get a cup of coffee, grab a Danish, go on about your day. It’s my version of what our Bruce Feldman does every year before the NFL draft — getting the skinny from college and pro coaches and coordinators about the top college football prospects, his detailed reporting a complement to Dane Brugler’s annual Beast.
Part I, highlighting Peterson and the top guards, is available here. Part II, highlighting Dybantsa and the top wing prospects, is available here. Heights listed are the official measurements of the players from the Chicago pre-draft combine in May.
Cameron Boozer | 6-8 1/4 big | 18 years old | Duke
Why Cameron Boozer produces and wins at every level
Sam Vecenie
College head coach No. 1 (his team played Duke): All Booz has ever done is won. When we played them, watching him on tape, getting ready for them, when we played them, he played just an OK game against us. The thing that was most impressive to me, though, watching him live and watching on tape, was just how he carried himself, his demeanor. He reminded me, in that way, and this may sound crazy, of Tim Duncan. Tim was just even-keeled all the time, whether he did something exceptional, or if he screwed up. Booz had some wild plays this year. It was almost like, this is what I’m supposed to do. He’s so steady. He’s so versatile. There’s more that he can do. He can shoot; he’s 40 percent from 3. And that’s going to continue to get better.
He reminds me of Kevin Love. I’m pretty sure there were questions about Kevin Love’s athleticism, and at that time, he wasn’t in great shape. But he rebounded, unbelievable touch. And that’s what Boozer did. I think Boozer’s better because he can handle the ball, do stuff with it. They actually ran ball screens for him. Whoever he goes to, they’re going to win. In that league, I think he can be a stretch five. Because you can run offense through him. I thought he was Duke’s facilitator this year. He was the guy that got them into stuff. Not necessary that he brought it up, he did sometimes. But he got them into stuff. And he’s really smart. He’s going to be a low-maintenance, really good player.
Eastern Conference scout No. 1: The thing he showed this year that I hadn’t really seen before was passing. He showed he really could pass the ball this year. His 3-point shot can make him look really good. I saw a lot of summers where he didn’t make 3s, and his shot, I don’t know what his percentage was, I know I wrote reports where it was very poor, just going from high school to the international 3-point line. It seemed like it was much better this year. Sometimes it seems he shoots a moon shot, and it has very little chance of going in. If he can knock those down where he’s 35 percent or better from 3 in the NBA, he’s going to be a really, really good player. He’s a winning player. I think he got his (basketball IQ) from his dad. His dad was really good in the post. He wasn’t asked to do a lot of that (processing) stuff.
College assistant coach No. 1 (his team played Duke): Two phrases kept coming up: paint presence and emotional maturity. … He was just so mature emotionally, and so patient. When he got the ball around, he never was in a rush, no matter if you doubled him, no matter if you tripled him — and one-on-one, don’t even think about it. Too big for smaller forwards, and then when you were bigger than him, he was able to go by you. Because bigs are so jumpy, he just jump stopped, played off of two (feet). … Jon (Scheyer) did such a good job of putting him in spots, very similar to what he did for Cooper (Flagg). He iso’ed him at the elbow, put him in that mid-post where he could catch and face and see the entire defense.
Eastern Conference executive No. 1: I’m taking Cam (over Wilson). He’s not flashy, he’s not as athletic as those guys, but I’m a big believer in basketball IQ, and processing, translating (to the NBA). And I think he’s at the top of the list with basketball IQ, processing and maturity. He’s a high-level passing forward. His ability to make reads at a standstill, low post, high post, middle of the floor, it’s pretty impressive. Can shoot the ball at 6-9. Size and shooting is a premium in the league. I think he can play both frontcourt positions. He’s probably more of a four. I wouldn’t love him anchoring the paint at the five defensively. But he just knows where to be positionally. Lateral mobility isn’t great. But he’s strong, he’s mature, he can rebound the ball, finish defensive plays. Once he grabs a rebound he’s an elite outlet passer.
He plays fast. He’s going to be able to advance the ball. Productive, smart, the size and shooting, the frontcourt value there, there’s a lot to like. High-motor player. Is he going to be a No. 1 option on a championship team? I’m not there with him to that extent. But I think he’s going to be an elite complementary player. I can see him being the second or third-best player. Maybe second-best player, but he can definitely be the third-best player on a contender. Going back to EYBL, they win. Peachtree championships, ACC championships, he had success in the NCAA tournament, even though their season was heartbreaking. I hear the skeptics about the finishing around the rim, he’s not going to be able to bully guys. I just think his processing is so high he’s going to figure it out.
Eastern Conference scout No. 2: I had a college coach talking about Caleb Wilson is a high floor, low ceiling, and he’s talking about ‘Boozer’s a winner, Boozer’s a winner.’ Yeah, if he had gone to Wake Forest. He went to Duke! Let’s save all that. He’s just not quick-twitch; he’s got heavy legs. Will he be a solid pro? Yes, he’ll be a solid pro.
College head coach No. 2 (his team played Duke): He’s damned good. (Defense) is going to be his issue in that league. He’s going to be smart. But when we were at our best, and we were spreading them out, we just tried to put him in a ball screen every time out. No matter who had it, he had a really hard time. A really hard time.
Caleb Wilson | 6-9 1/4 big | 19 years old | North Carolina
Caleb Wilson blends power, explosiveness and coordination in a way other players can’t
Sam Vecenie
College assistant coach No. 2 (his team played North Carolina): I think he’s Garnett. That’s Baby Garnett.
College head coach No. 1 (his team played North Carolina): For me, with the athleticism of that league, I would probably pick Wilson. But it’s hard. Cam just wins. If Wilson doesn’t get hurt, Hubert (Davis) doesn’t get fired. I just think the athleticism, especially for that league. He’s got, like, some Garnett s— to him. Man, Caleb Wilson’s highlight package, I saw it a few weeks ago. Man, it’s unreal. And he seems like a great kid, super competitive.
College head coach No. 3 (his team played North Carolina): Caleb Wilson is really good. Versatile. Defensively can guard one through five. Athletic and long! Can rebound and push the break. Vocal on that end as well. Offensively he’s a three-level guy. I don’t know what his trick is on that end but as an offensive rebounder, he’s elite. Quick second jump. Secondary ball handler. Has to get a go-to move or find that spot on the floor where he can consistently score.
Eastern Conference scout No. 1: It would be interesting to see, I know the Bulls really want Caleb. It will be interesting to see if Memphis lets him get there. They’re so analytically driven, much like the Cavs.
Eastern Conference executive No. 1: You can work with the shot, because he can score in the midrange area. I’ve seen him turn and face, face up, shoot over guys. I’ve seen him make impressive 17-footers inside the arc. That tells me there’s some touch as a shooter. You’ve just got to be able to extend it out. It’s going to take reps, it’s going to take hard work. There’s no guarantees. But if he gets to 34 percent, he’s a nightmare. His straight-line ability, it’s so impressive. It’s up there with A.J. (Dybantsa) in terms of how he can cover ground, how smooth he is. He’s an ideal four man in the NBA with his ability to move without the ball, be an athletic finisher, lob threat, offensive rebounder, cutter. He’s actually a really good passer. He showed it more in high school than this year. If you play fast in transition, he’s going to make some really good passes. That’s not something he showed at UNC, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he shows more connective passing feel on the NBA level.
Defensively, he’s a problem. A legit problem. He’s going to be able to guard all over the floor. Low man disruptor, he’s going to be a rim protector. He’s really good. He’s a stat stuffer. I was at the Kansas game at the beginning of the season, and the way he came out and took that personally, I was shook. Like, he is the best player on the floor. He came out here letting people know, I am the best player on the floor today. That was an early indication of his competitive edge.
Eastern Conference scout No. 2: Looking at his shooting mechanics, I think it’s going to translate, in terms of him being able to knock down the 3, because he’s got touch in the midrange.
College head coach No. 2 (his team played North Carolina): Of all the guys we played, he made the most pro-like plays. Had he been healthy the whole year … Early in the season, he had absolutely no idea what he was doing on defense. But he just has this natural athleticism. Once he gets in tune with the mental part of it, he’s going to skyrocket.
Next come three Wolverines … and a Husky. Michigan’s front court of forwards Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson, alongside mammoth 7-3 center Aday Mara, will all likely be rewarded with lottery selections in the first round after leading the Maize and Blue to a 37-3 record and the the 2026 national championship. The Wolves’ trio beat up opponents all season (“those three guys weigh more than our whole team,” one college coach said), and smoked Alabama, Tennessee and Arizona in succession before holding off UConn in the title game. Mara, with a 7-6 wingspan has been linked to the Hawks, who have the eighth pick, since the lottery. At 23, Lendeborg, the Big 10 Player of the Year, seems a natural fit for a win-now group like Golden State. Johnson will be a target for multiple teams in the late lottery, or other teams that would like to trade into the first, perhaps to Oklahoma City’s number 17 pick overall. Washington’s Steinbach, who made First Team All-Big 10 as a freshman, led the conference in PER (28.0), and inhales rebounds.
Aday Mara | 7-3 center | 21 years old | Michigan
Eastern Conference executive No. 2: I think he’s played himself into a top 20 pick. I still think he’s a little soft, but at the same time, he’s 7-4. This kid’s probably more skilled (than Edey), but he doesn’t have the toughness.
Western Conference scout No. 1: He’s built like Chet Holmgren — very narrow shoulders, not going to have much bulk. But he’s 7-3, and he has a 7-9 wingspan. He’s going to be in front of that rim. But he’s very slender. … But, he’s going to be very good. He’s got a 9-9 standing reach. He’s an inch below the rim standing straight up. So there’s a value to that kind of length and size. He’s got excellent footwork, great touch. You can actually throw himself into the post a little bit. If you put him in there on a steady diet, they’re gonna beat on him, which is not good for him. But flash post, catch it, he’ll turn around and score. He’s got enough dexterity to catch a lob.
College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Michigan): I love this kid. I think he’s going to get better and better and better. Inline (out-of-bounds) plays, he guards the inbounders. It’s hard to score against them out of bounds. This guy doesn’t just stand there; he’s doing jumping jacks and things like that. He carried them in the (Big Ten) tournament and many of the NCAA games, because they started to go, they found something. They would run a play and throw the ball to him in the post. And he’s starting to get very accomplished with either hand. And when you doubled, they’re diving Yaxel or Johnson. When they were at their best was when they were posting Mara. I don’t know him. I know he plays with a lot of energy; he’s always excited, he’s talkative. I think he’s confident in his own ability. He came out after the game and cheered them on. It said something.
Eastern Conference executive No. 3: Body scares me. Is he ever going to be able to get that body together? He’s very skilled, with his IQ. I was not a big (Zach) Edey fan. I thought he was too slow. I still think he’s too slow. But he did produce. Mara has improved, for sure.
Yaxel Lendeborg | 6-8 3/4 big | 23 years old | Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg is one of the best high-leverage role player bets in the 2026 NBA Draft
Sam Vecenie
College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Michigan): I thought he guarded the best (opposing) player, so I admire him for that. He guarded point guards, he guarded threes. You could switch with him. I think he’s a really good player. When he wasn’t banged up, down the stretch, he made 3s when they really needed him, and made his free throws when he needed them. I like him because he takes the challenge. But, he talks too much. But, he’s a real talent.
Western Conference scout No. 1: The best player (at the Nike Academy last August) was Yaxel Lendeborg. Could really play every element of the game: move the ball, rebound the ball, shoot the ball, handle the ball. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. Yaxel’s biggest issue is he doesn’t have a star’s mentality. He’s the guy who relentlessly and ritualistically is looking to make the right play. Whereas, your star player has to sometimes say ‘You know, it’s the right play for me to swing it to that guy, but I’m better than him; I’m gonna take it.’ That’s what your star has to do. Yaxel’s just not that guy. He’ll pass the ball to the 32 percent shooter and encourage him to throw up a shot, when Yaxel shoots (37) percent from 3.
Morez Johnson | 6-9 big | 20 years old | Michigan
College assistant coach No. 2 (his team played Michigan): I would take him over (Tarris) Reed. There’s some Bam Adebayo to him. I know that sounds crazy, ‘cause Bam’s developed so much. But Morez has some of that. He’s nasty, he’s mean.
Western Conference executive No. 1: Plays so hard, rebounds. I think he’ll get better offensively. He has a man’s body right now. I think he’s going to be able to guard multiple positions, have some versatility. I’ve grown to like him. He really stepped up. He was a good player at Illinois, and he clearly went up several notches.
College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Michigan): At the end of the year, he needed to finish his shots better rolling to the rim. Whether it was the length of people in the tournament or the competition being better, I don’t know. He’s got to develop a consistent perimeter shot, and they wanted him to take it. But the one thing this kid does is, he plays extremely hard. Runs the floor, is the point on their press. Guards multiple positions. So he’s not afraid to switch screen and rolls. Plays with youthful enthusiasm. And he’s got a very high motor. If he learns how to play, get good angles in scoring opportunities, he’s a good roller. If he could score a little more, his ceiling is very good.
Western Conference scout No. 1: Explosive. Some people think he’s undersized, but he’s 6-9 and long; that’s plenty big enough. He would be perfect for the Spurs. Because he’s physical and hard-nosed, and he plays a physical, bruising type of game. San Antonio has to find a physical presence in their lineup to protect Wemby. If you want to get Wemby open, he’s the guy who screens for Wemby. And he makes sure the guy that he screens knows, ‘Hey, man: stop grabbing him. Because I’m going to crunch you every time you do.’ …the next time I set a screen on you, you’re probably going to hit the ground.’
I do think they need that, and Morez Johnson is the guy in this draft at a fairly high level that fits that.
Hannes Steinbach | 6-10 1/4 big | 20 years old | Washington
College head coach No. 4 (his team played Washington): Great length. Really long arms. Has huge hands. Quick reactor off the floor. Incredible rebounder. Did a really good job finishing around the rim and drawing fouls. Needs to continue to improve defensively. Needs to expand his perimeter game. Great character. Will play in NBA for 10-plus years.
Eastern Conference executive No. 2: He’s staying in. They think he’s going 15 to 25. Probably true. He’s not my cup of tea, but there’s been a revival for big men in the league. Great hands, not going to wow you, but he’s big in the lane. There’s a role for him.
College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Washington): You could put a $50 bill on the court before the game. And you say: ‘Who’s going to get the first offensive rebound in the game tonight?’ And if you bet on him, you’re going to win every time. The kid is a rebounding machine, especially offensively. Plays hard. The kid never flinched, played almost every game. They struggled when he didn’t play. The kid’s a really, really high-level player. He’s big and he plays that power forward spot, where you play him with a center. Washington did that.
Houston freshman Chris Cenac Jr. averaged close to a double-double for the Cougars. (Reese Strickland / Imagn Images)
More bigs could go just after the lottery or late in the first round. Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. had to move from center, where he’d played his whole life before college, to power forward for Kelvin Sampson. The freshman responded by averaging a near double-double (9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds) and posting a Big 12-best defensive rating of 92.2. North Carolina’s Henri Veesaar profiles as a pick-and-pop big, becoming a full-time starter for the Tar Heels after coming off the bench for most of his two seasons at Arizona. After shooting 43 percent on 3s, he’s definitely got a path to the pros. Zuby Ejiofor took home all of the Big East hardware, winning Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors as the anchor of the Red Storm’s relentless defense.
Connecticut’s Tarris Reed, Jr. was the Big East’s Sixth Man of the Year, but he was a force down the stretch with the Huskies’ starters en route to the national championship game, displaying a huge motor in the paint that projects promisingly. Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance played in just four games last season after swelling followed his rehab of a torn ACL suffered in February, 2025. The limited play obviously impacted his draft stock; whether offered or declined, he won’t be in the green room on Tuesday with other players expected to be taken in the lottery or soon after.
Chris Cenac, Jr. | 6-10 1/4 big | 19 years old | Houston
College assistant coach No. 4 (his team played Houston): His dad was absolutely stone cold set on him going to (a college) to have his ass kicked. No one’s babying him (at Houston). Kelvin is great. (Cenac’s) big, he’s athletic. I think he can do a little more than he did, and that’s not a knock on Kelvin. He did what he had to do for them. I think he’s a little better shooter than what people have seen. Really good athlete, really good kid. Our only worry was, does he play hard enough? But I think he exhibited it. I think Kelvin got it out of him. Does he go in the teens?
Henri Veesaar | 6-11 1/4 center | 22 years old | North Carolina
Eastern Conference executive No. 4: Some people like him because they like his stretchablity. He can shoot the ball. I don’t know how well he’ll shoot in live play. When you watch him work out, he can shoot the ball. It’s not a manufactured thing. He’s tall, but he’s kind of thin. It’s going to be difficult for him to put on weight quick. He’s thin through his chest. Although he’s got broad shoulders, he’s thin through his chest, thin through his waist. I saw him and Caleb standing together. You watch them standing next to each other, but you could see that Caleb is going to be a lot bigger.
Zuby Ejiofor | 6-7 1/2 big | 22 years old | St. John’s
College assistant coach No. 5 (his team played St. John’s): Love him. I’m just a huge fan. Maybe because I watched him, and St. John’s was my scout. The one game he struggled in, which was a little bit alarming, was against Kentucky. He struggled against their length. In the Big East, he could get by. There wasn’t a lot of size. The motor, the toughness, the skill — he’s more skilled than you think. I just think you find a spot. He started doing more (facing the basket) his last year. You could tell that was something they wanted to work with on him. They started running five out, so he was the trail guy, DHOs (dribble handoffs), stuff like that.
College assistant No. 2 (his team played St. John’s): Maybe 6-8, 6-9? He can pass and he’ll make a rhythm 3. But a hell of a rebounder, tenacious rebounder. Relentless motor. They let him shoot the 3, put it on the floor. Really good passer. You put him in zoom action, he can make reads. Another winner. He’s gotten better as he’s gotten older. And Zuby can switch, too. He’s got feet where he can switch.
Tarris Reed, Jr. | 6-9 3/4 big | 22 years old | Connecticut
College assistant coach No. 5 (his team played UConn): The thing I like about him is how he got better. That’s what I always look at: How have they been trending? He just got better and better and better. And I think he can maybe do a little bit more than he did at UConn, ito stepping out a little bit. And he’s tough. I’m a big fan of his. He seems to be about the right things. Doesn’t seem to be a jerk. I think. Good passer, too. I think he can step out a little bit. I’m not sure he’s quite shooting the 3, but 15 feet and out, I think he’s pretty good.
Eastern Conference executive No. 2: I would have him above Steinbach for sure. That’s probably a hot take.
Eastern Conference executive No. 1: He ended the season on a super high note. Physically dominant in the paint. Played for a hard, demanding coach, and as you see now with Clingan, he can get a lot out of his centers. Good bigs are hard to find. He has NBA center size. Underrated passer. Good screener. When you get late in the round and you’re looking for depth, playoff teams will be looking for a guy like him.
College assistant coach No. 2 (his team played UConn): He’s a monster. But he’s a throwback, though. I guess there’s a place for him, ‘cause I don’t think he shoots it well. But he is a load inside. Great touch, just physical, makes free throws, can finish around the basket. But his biggest thing is he’s mean and physical. I guess they’ll stretch it a little bit shooting. Decent rim protector. I don’t know if he’s great at that, because he’s 6-10. He was their go-to; we’re going to play inside out, get him going. A lot of their offense ran through (Alex) Karaban, but when they needed a bucket, they’d throw it to the big fella.
Jayden Quaintance | 6-9 center | 18 years old | Kentucky
College assistant coach No. 6: Seeing him in high school, his motor’s incredible. Super motor. Great off of ball screens. He can cover ground. You hit him in the short roll, he’s catching that and dunking it. The kid’s so athletic, incredibly athletic. He’s a monster when he plays. My only question mark is with him not playing, what is that? I’ve heard a lot of different things, but it’s just hearsay. At least (Louisville guard) Mikal Brown (who had a back injury throughout the season) played way more games than he did. He played four games.
Eastern Conference executive No. 1: If a team takes him and says you’re a f—–g five man and you’re rolling to the rim and playing defense, he could be impactful right away. If a team takes him and they say you’re a four man, he’s not going to make it. The shot is broken. But physically, he’s a freak. He’s grown up. He used to not look you in the eye when you went to watch him practice. He’s grown a lot. He’s like a Rashaun Holmes. If you’re happy with that, he’ll be OK.
The second-round landscape is uncertain, but there are lots of big men who should get a look. Duke’s Maliq Brown averaged just 4.9 points per game, mainly coming off the bench for the Blue Devils. But the senior was a key defensive piece for Jon Scheyer, and he projects to be able to guard multiple positions in the pros. Cincinnati’s Baba Miller finished his college career with the Bearcats after playing at Florida State and Florida Atlantic, and led the Big 12 in rebounds (10.3) while averaging a double-double (13 points). George Washington University big Rafael Castro started 63 games over two seasons, earning Atlantic 10 all-defensive team honors each year. Virginia senior center Ugonna Onyenso was second in the nation in blocked shots (2.92 per game) and had the third-best standing reach (9-5) at the combine.
Tennessee center Felix Okpara, who has one-through-five switchability on defense, and Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal each had strong showings in Chicago that could lead to second-round calls. Arkansas power forward Trevon Brazile and Arizona’s Tobe Awaka, the Big 12’s Sixth Man of the Year and an outstanding rebounder, are also second-round possibilities.
Baba Miller | 6-10 1/2 center | 22 years old | Cincinnati
Western Conference scout No. 2: He finally woke up. …It was a culture shock when he came to Florida. He finally came out of his shell.
College team executive: People love the size, the passing. The question is the shooting. He’s the height of a five, which I think he can play. But I think people think of him as (having) the skill set of a four. It takes a little bit of an imagination on how you’re going to fit him in. He made progress shooting the ball; it’s just not, like, great. The rebounding and the passing and the progress he made is really impressive. When he showed up at Florida State, he was a very high level prospect, like lottery. Multi-dimensional, huge, kind of handle, pass, interesting prospect. And then he struggled. When you underperform early, it’s hard to get back. But he really a good year at Cincinnati, a very good year.
Maliq Brown | 6-8 big | 22 years old | Duke
Eastern Conference executive No. 5: Impactful defender. A little small but will get drafted. (Picks) 35-45 would be my guess.
Rafael Castro | 6-9 center | 23 years old | George Washington
College head coach No. 5 (his team played GW): His size, his athleticism, all those things will work in his favor. Being honest, I think he has to be prepared to play the long game. If a team wants to invest in him, it’s going to be because of what he can become. He’s probably, what, 23? What he can become in two or three years? I think that’s how teams are going to look at him. … If he’s an undrafted free agent, we’ll sign him to a two-way, put some money in his pocket, and develop him. I think that’s probably the realistic view of what’s going to happen for him. The system that Chris (Caputo, the Revolutionaries’ coach) had him in, he’s going to know the way the game is played now, in terms of being able to do some of those things (facing the basket). He wasn’t a guy that was just around the basket posting up. The development piece of him making plays out of, like, five-out spacing, or being a guy that you can throw it to in the pocket and he can make those plays, I think he’s got to continue to evolve there.
College assistant coach (his team played GW): That’s a run and jump fool. You’re talking about looking the part? He can run and jump with the best of them. They call him slim. He’s a guy that, probably, I would think he would be able to swtich. But he’s a legit lob threat. He went to the right place, the right place, developed and got better.
Ugonna Onyenso | 6-11 center | 21 years old | Virginia
Western Conference executive No. 1: He gets drafted off of his shot blocking. He’s never going to be a scorer. He’s very limited offensively. But he’s big, he’s long, he’s good athletically for his size. And he’s very pronounced as a shot blocker. At a certain point, and because you can put these guys into two-ways now, it’s easy to take a flier on a guy. It doesn’t really affect your roster. He’ll get picked. I just don’t think there’s enough names with this NIL to force him out of the 60. When you look at an organization, it’s not 15 players; it’s 18. With those three (two-way spots) you can be as experimental as you want.
Tobi Lawal | 6-7 1/4 big | 23 years old | Virginia Tech
Western Conference scout No. 1: He had a 46-inch (max) vertical (in Chicago). I went to see him in a tournament, and he couldn’t play; he had his foot in a boot. Only kid I’ve seen that looked athletic in a boot. He just has that body — lean, muscled up. Even when he walked, his knees sort of popped. He just had that look. … Most people, the standing vertical is a foot less (than the max vertical). You just go on two feet and go straight up. Tobi went, straight up — 39 inches. Holy s—. He’s a tweener. He’s got to play power forward, he’s not a small forward, he doesn’t handle it, he doesn’t shoot it that well. But, you know, he’ll get you some tip slams. If he embraced a defensive profile, and runs the floor, and you throw him alley-oops, he could be in the league for a long time.

