The 2026 NBA Draft is in the books, which means it’s time to move on to the 2027 class. And while the 2026 class was loaded with talent at the top that scouts identified years in advance, the 2027 iteration has anything but that degree of elite talent and certainty.
Outside of Tyran Stokes at No. 1, I cannot state with certainty that any player listed here will 100 percent be a lottery pick. Everyone is flawed. And other than Stokes (along with possibly Stefan Joksimović), I would not have any of these players ranked in my top of the 2026 class. That’s the difference in quality between these two groups right now.
The good news is that there is an awful lot of time between now and then for these players to develop. A large amount of talent could emerge over that window. Teenagers tend to get better rapidly.
But this class is not generating much enthusiasm among NBA scouts. As you’ll see below, I’ve gone a bit off the beaten path with some of my bets from the 2026 recruiting class. I have only 12 players listed from that high school class, with only eight being ranked in the consensus top 15, per 247Sports. Of those 12, only three are surefire one-and-done players. On the other side, a slew of talented players passed up the 2026 draft to return to college basketball. I’d guess that, by the end of the process, this class will look similar to 2026 once you get beyond the top 15 or so. But there is not a high level of top-end talent right now.
NBA Draft 2026: Winners and Losers from Round 1
Zach Harper and CJ Moore
Here is my first crack at a 2027 NBA mock draft. Given the uncertainty of the class, it’s going to make me look extremely stupid in 12 months. (Listed ages are as of the 2027 draft date.)
1. Tyran Stokes | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Kansas
Stokes is undeniably seen as the most talented player in the class. He has great size for a wing at 6 feet 7 with a 7-foot wingspan. He’s explosive, plays with force and can get downhill both in transition and in the half court. He’s also more skilled than you expect when you first watch him, with the ability to make high-level passing reads. His jumper has improved over time, too.
Stokes can impose his will on the game with his strength and athleticism. He’s a killer rebounder and a big-time playmaker on defense. He showcases all the attributes of a winning player outside of his wild decision-making, which can get his teams into trouble. He’s long been a turnover-prone player, and at times he can gamble too much on defense to try to get out on the break.
If it all comes together for Stokes next season at Kansas, he could run away as the top pick. He’s that talented. But this is not certain. He needs to get his wilder tendencies under control.
2. Stefan Joksimović | 6-7 guard | 18 years old | Baskonia
Joksimović was named MVP at Basketball Without Borders Europe in August 2025 and at Adidas Eurocamp 2026 in June, wowing scouts with his ability to handle the ball at 6 feet 7 — his height without shoes. He looks like a potential primary playmaker out of ball screens, playing at tremendous pace and changing speeds with nasty hesitations.
His lefty shooting stroke is soft from all three levels, and he can rise to finish above the rim when he gets some runway. When you watch him, you can see a player with innate creativity in how he attacks defenses. That extends to his passing ability, where he can hit skip passes from any angle while diagnosing the third level of the defense. This ranking might be high for some, but Joksimović looks more advanced with the ball in his hands than anyone in the 2026 American high school recruiting class.
3. Jordan Smith Jr. | 6-2 guard | 19 years old | Arkansas
Smith is probably my favorite player in the 2027 draft class. You want someone who is a winner? That’s Smith, who does whatever the team requires of him. He’s an elite competitor who gets downhill as a driver out of ball screens and isolation with force, attacking the rim regularly. He’s a sharp passer and playmaker for his teammates, but he does his best work on defense. With long arms and a 200-pound frame, Smith makes life miserable for the opposition on the other end and has switchability to play up the lineup because of his strength and motor.
The big question here will be the jumper, as he’s a relatively undersized guard who doesn’t have the best track record from 3 or from the foul line. But in a draft lacking star upside, Smith is almost guaranteed to help an NBA team with his impact on and off the ball.
4. Caleb Holt | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Arizona
It’s hard to find someone who is truly in love with Holt’s game and thinks of him as a future All-Star at this point in his development. Yet he’s as strong a bet as you’ll find in this recruiting class to carve out a great NBA career. He plays with a terrific motor and impacts the game on both ends at 6 feet 5 with long arms. He finishes well at the rim as a straight-line driver, and his shooting stroke has improved so much over the last six months that I think he’ll knock down shots this season at Arizona.
He passes and is unselfish. On defense, Holt makes life miserable for opposing players. He needs to get more comfortable on the ball to reach a significant ceiling, but Holt has a chance to be an impact NBA player.
Braylon Mullins hit the biggest shot of the NCAA Tournament and returned to UConn for his sophomore season. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
5. Braylon Mullins | 6-5 guard | 20 years old | Connecticut
This year’s most surprising player to turn down the NBA, Mullins will enter the 2026-27 season with a bevy of expectations after drilling the shot to take UConn to the Final Four and averaging 12 points per game. Mullins is a big-time shooter who got cold for too many stretches last season, making only 33.5 percent of his 3s. But NBA teams still believe in Mullins as a big-time potential floor-spacer who could bring more than that to the equation — and you can see that touch displayed in his 89 percent mark from the foul line. He flies off actions and fires with a quick release.
Teams want to see him fill out his frame, get stronger and be more physical on defense. He has good hands but struggled to hold his line on the ball at times last season.
6. Hugo Yimga-Moukouri | 6-8 wing | 18 years old | Nanterre
Yimga-Moukouri is coming off a tremendous season in France while playing for Nanterre, where he averaged nine points per game as a 17-year-old in the top league while shooting 49 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3 and 85 percent from the line. He’s a powerful athlete at 220 pounds already and is terrific in transition. He has a clean-looking 3-point jumper, even if it takes him time to load into it and get it off, but he takes 3s off of the hop and can make them over tight closeouts. He needs to become more fluid, but it’s a phenomenal starting place given his age.
Yimga-Moukouri also guards and plays with a high energy level on defense, making him a strong bet to become a solid NBA role player. He needs to keep taking strides with his ball skills, but there is a lot to be pumped about.
7. Thomas Haugh | 6-9 wing/forward | 24 years old | Florida
Haugh stunned the college basketball and NBA world, turning down the opportunity to be a top-20 pick in the 2026 draft to return to Florida on what sources say is a lucrative NIL arrangement. The second-team All-American averaged 17 points, six rebounds and two assists this past season as a massive 6-foot-9 wing/forward. He’s a terrific straight-line athlete who plays incredibly hard. He just makes things happen while moving well without the ball.
The next steps will be continued improvement with his mobility on defense and ironing out his jumper consistency. But it’s hard to find big wings with this level of athleticism, production and motor. Expect him to be right back in the lottery conversation in 2027.
8. Anthony Thompson | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Ohio State
Thompson is a fascinating player who will be extremely interesting to watch at Ohio State this season. He has the dimensions that NBA teams are looking for at 6 feet 7 or so without shoes and a wingspan around 7-3. He’s also a shooter, having averaged over 20 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line last year on the Adidas circuit.
However, Thompson is not all that physical yet and needs to become more adept at playing with the ball in his hands and driving to the rim. I haven’t seen a ton of high-level passing reads yet, and while he can be a terrific playmaker on defense, his motor doesn’t always seem to rev to its highest potential. Thompson has the tools to challenge for a top-three slot in this draft class. It’s up to him to make that a reality.
9. Motiejus Krivas | 7-2 center | 22 years old | Arizona
Krivas would have been a top-20 prospect for me if he had entered this year’s draft. He was the best rim protector in college basketball last season, and I thought he should have been the national defensive player of the year, even over Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu. He made it essentially impossible to score on Arizona on the interior.
However, Krivas decided pretty early on in the process to return to Arizona rather than test his draft stock. He averaged 10 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes per game last year and has touch with both hands around the rim; in addition, his burgeoning jump shot helped him drill 78 percent of his free throws and even make four 3s last season. If his jumper turns into a more regular weapon this year, don’t be surprised to see him skyrocket up boards, even though he’ll be 22 years old on draft day.
10. Amari Allen | 6-5 wing | 21 years old | Alabama
Allen was one of my favorite players to return to college this season, and he would have gotten a first-round grade from me if he’d stayed in the 2026 draft. He’s a do-it-all wing who rebounds well, can pass and is a burgeoning scorer. Allen is good in transition, can get downhill as a driver and plays with physicality. He’s a sharp ball-mover who makes quick decisions and is good on defense while playing with an edge.
The expectation is that he’ll play more on the ball this season at Alabama, too, which is a great opportunity to lead one of the best offenses in the country.
11. Malachi Moreno | 6-11 big | 20 years old | Kentucky
Moreno declared for the 2026 draft but returned to Kentucky after an interesting freshman season. On the plus side, Moreno is a good shot-blocker and has potential to be a solid rim protector at 6 feet 11 with a 9-foot-3.5 standing reach. Offensively, he’s an excellent passer who averaged 1.8 assists per game and can act as something of a hub at the top of the key because of his comfort with the ball. Moreno needs to get stronger and more willing to play with physicality on the interior.
Malachi Moreno has the skills of a modern NBA big but needs to get stronger. (Steve Roberts / Imagn Images)
He has an immense amount of potential to be the kind of big teams are looking for in the Isaiah Hartenstein mold, but he has work to do to round out his game.
12. Trey McKenney | 6-3 guard | 20 years old | Michigan
McKenney is a serious breakout candidate as a sophomore in 2027. He was the sixth man on Michigan’s title team, averaging 10 points per game while drilling 46 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3 and nearly 90 percent from the line. McKenney is a big-time shooter who can also attack closeouts and make sharp decisions off drives.
He’s a stout 6 feet 3 with long arms and can hold his line on defense in a variety of on-ball roles because of his 225-pound frame. Essentially, the bet here is that he can be a big-time two-way guard. He needs to take advantage of what will likely be a larger role at Michigan this season under interim coach Mike Boynton.
13. David Mirković | 6-9 forward | 20 years old | Illinois
Mirković was one of my favorite players in the country last season and one of the best freshmen who did not declare for the draft. I’m expecting the Illini to run even more of their offense through the multi-skilled four-man who has tremendous dribble, pass and shoot skills at his size. He averaged over 13 points and eight rebounds per game while also dishing out 2.6 assists. He drilled 38 percent of his four 3-point attempts per game, too, and I think he has room for growth as he gets more comfortable with the speed of the game.
Mirković’s athleticism and defensive play will certainly create concern among NBA teams, but I think he’s too talented not to make it at some point. I’m expecting a first-team All-Big Ten season for the Montenegrin forward.
14. Ivan Kharchenkov | 6-5 wing | 20 years old | Arizona
Kharchenkov is one of my favorite players in the class. He was the key perimeter defender for the Wildcats last season, consistently taking on the toughest assignments because of his effort, quickness and strength on the perimeter. His motor runs for the entire game. He also averaged 10 points, four rebounds and two assists per game as a freshman starter for a Final Four team, while shooting 49 percent from the field and finding driving lanes in straight lines off closeouts and cuts.
Like several of the wings in this mock, Kharchenkov’s selection will depend on his jumper, although he did make 32 percent from 3 on three attempts per game last year and clearly has some potential in that respect.
15. Brandon McCoy | 6-4 wing | 19 years old | Michigan
I didn’t love McCoy early in his high school career because I wasn’t sure how his skills would translate to higher levels of competition. But he’s undeniable because of his motor and desire to impose his will on the game. McCoy plays incredibly hard all the time as a powerful, athletic guard who defends multiple positions, constantly tries to get out in transition and looks to create downhill rim opportunities. He rebounds extremely well for his size, is constantly a threat to force turnovers on defense and makes winning plays.
McCoy needs to improve as a shooter over the next 12 months, but there is an impact player here if the jumper even becomes passable.
16. Bruce Branch | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | BYU
Branch will be one of a host of players replacing AJ Dybantsa this season at BYU, and the theory for him is to act as a stylistically similar big guard who can dribble, pass and shoot at 6 feet 7. He’s probably more developed as a shooter than Dybantsa was, but that’s where the comparison ends.
Branch will need to work hard over the summer to fill out his frame to better absorb contact on his drives, as he can get loose with the ball as a wing who reclassified up into the 2026 recruiting class. He’s effective in the midrange, though, and shows some passing ability.
Branch won’t turn 18 until right before his first game with the Cougars. The talent is there for him to be a one-and-done, but it’s also possible that he needs a two-year window.
17. Tyler Tanner | 5-11 guard | 21 years old | Vanderbilt
Tanner should be a preseason first-team All-American coming off of his monstrous season at Vandy, when he averaged nearly 20 points, four rebounds and five assists with 2.4 steals per game. Those look like numbers that should have seen him stick with the draft this year, especially given that he shot 48.5 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from 3 and 85.8 percent from the line.
However, Tanner is just 5 feet 11 and only 166 pounds. He likely would have been taken in the second round had he stayed in this strong draft, because it is exceptionally difficult to survive at that size. But if anyone is going to do it, it could be him. He has to get much stronger. He’s an improving shooter off the catch, but he needs to become a lethal pull-up threat to stick in the NBA. But Tanner is my favorite player to watch in the country, and I think he’s going to have a killer year that will put him in position to be a first-round pick.
18. Quentin Coleman | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Illinois
It surprised me that it took so long for Coleman to spike up the recruiting rankings. He was largely considered a solid four-star, top-100 prospect in his class up until the last three months, when he rose into the consensus top-20.
Coleman is a great shooter from distance who won all-tournament honors at the Under-18 FIBA AmeriCup tournament in Mexico. He plays hard, crashing the glass with impunity. His frame is also filling out, allowing him to absorb contact better on his drives. He knocks down shots off the catch and off pull-up situations and has shown he can play both on and off the ball. He’ll be a tremendous fit in Illinois’ scheme next season, partially replacing what Keaton Wagler brought to the fold.
19. Jason Crowe Jr. | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Missouri
Crowe is a polarizing prospect for NBA scouts. Some love his ability to get buckets as the all-time leading scorer in California high school history. Others are worried that he’s too much of a volume-over-efficiency scorer who doesn’t consistently make plays for his teammates. Regardless, Crowe has serious on-ball equity in a class that lacks that upside. He can already fire from well beyond the NBA 3-point line with a lefty stroke, and his technical craft with the ball is sublime. He’s not overly explosive, but he’s all sorts of shifty and has counters for days that play off that deep shooting range.
He’ll be Missouri’s best player this season and will have a chance at one-and-done status, but scouts will be looking for improvement as a passer and decision-maker this year.
20. Austin Goosby | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Texas
Goosby is an extremely toolsy wing at 6 feet 5 with good length and all sorts of athleticism. The brother of Texas left tackle and potential first-round NFL Draft pick Trevor Goosby, Austin might actually be the family member with the most upside, even as Trevor protects Arch Manning’s blind side from oncoming rushers.
His feel for the game is superb, and he’s a natural playmaker and passer at his size. Defensively, he plays hard and doesn’t take bumps well, but he has the frame and the genes to project more there. His jumper needs to improve, but I’m a big believer in betting on natural feel for the game. Goosby is a terrific athlete who thinks the game quickly on the court. I’m betting he is an immediate starter at Texas who combines with Isaiah Johnson, Mikey Lewis, David Punch and Matas Vokietaitis to have a huge season. I would have the Longhorns in my preseason top five.
21. Tounde Yessoufou | 6-4 wing | 20 years old | St. John’s
Yessoufou was remarkably productive and expected to be a one-and-done this past season after averaging 18 points per game at Baylor. However, the feedback from NBA teams was not good enough, and he returned to school while transferring to St. John’s. Yessoufou will be among the highest-paid players in the country as an attacking wing and downhill driver. However, he needs to get better as a shooter and defender. Yessoufou plays with an insatiable motor that will help him, but he needs to get better at sliding his feet and staying in front of his man. The good news is that he could not have gone to a better teacher of defensive fundamentals than Rick Pitino.
Rueben Chinyelu was the defensive player of the year in college basketball last season. (Morgan Tencza / Imagn Images)
22. Rueben Chinyelu | 6-10 big | 22 years old | Florida
Chinyelu is a tailor-made NBA backup center with potential for more. He has exceptional length and an incredibly strong frame that has filled out over the last two years. He won the National Defensive Player of the Year award last season and can play in a variety of ball-screen coverages. He can switch onto guard and wings, play at the level or even play in drop coverage while protecting the rim. He destroys the glass, averaging over 11 rebounds per game last season, and finishes efficiently at the basket. He has even started to flash the ability to make a midrange jumper and made nearly 70 percent of his free throws. He’ll be ready to go from the jump in the NBA.
23. Patrick Ngongba II | 6-11 center | 21 years old | Duke
Ngongba was another potential first-rounder who decided to return to school. There is every reason but one to be excited about Ngongba’s potential, but it is a significant issue. The 6-foot-11 big man averaged 10 points and six rebounds while playing next to Cameron Boozer on the interior last year and showcased a ton of passing potential out on the perimeter. Ngongba has dealt with several foot injuries, and teams will want to learn more about those before investing in him. The best thing Ngongba could do this coming season is get through it fully healthy.
24. Billy Richmond III | 6-6 wing | 21 years old | Arkansas
Richmond is an elite athlete who flies up and down the court in transition and can guard his man. Think of him as a Derrick Jones Jr. type who has a chance to win a dunk contest at some point, but who also has way more to his game. He’s started to pass the ball well and generally makes good, unselfish, team-based decisions. The key for Richmond will be the jumper. He hit only 25.9 percent from 3 this season, but during his pre-draft process he started to make some significant adjustments to his mechanics. That’s the clear swing skill here. If Richmond drills 35 percent from 3 on reasonable volume next year, he’ll be a top-25 pick. If he doesn’t, he’ll be in limbo yet again.
25. Shelton Henderson | 6-5 wing | 20 years old | Miami (Fla.)
Henderson had a great freshman season for Miami, averaging 14 points, five rebounds and two assists. At 6 feet 6, 240 pounds, Henderson is a power athlete who plays with force both as a cutter and as a downhill driver. Defensively, he gives a ton of effort and is always willing to make a play to help his team on that end. As with many young players, it’s all going to come down to the shot for Henderson. If he proves that he can shoot, he will stick in the NBA. But he only hit 25.5 percent from 3 last season on 1.5 attempts per game.
26. Matt Able | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | North Carolina
Able considered staying in the 2026 draft but transferred to North Carolina to play for Michael Malone in his first year as a college coach. A big-time shooter and scorer, Able can provide the scoring punch the Tar Heels need both as a shooter and as a driver attacking closeouts. He also improved a lot on defense this season, showcasing the ability to make high-level plays with his hands and disrupt the action.
27. Dame Sarr | 6-8 wing | 20 years old | Duke
Sarr is a big-time defender who was rightfully named to the ACC All-Defense team because of his ability to guard on the ball and fly around in scramble situations off it. He can make spot-up 3s from the corner and showcased more ball skill than you saw last season while in Europe playing for Barcelona. He could be a significant NBA defensive stopper with size and length, something that is extremely difficult to find. His offense needs to take a leap, after he averaged just six points per game, but he’s a good bet to play in the NBA even if it doesn’t.
28. Dylan Mingo | 6-5 guard | 18 years old | Baylor
Mingo has long been seen as a potential one-and-done. He committed to North Carolina before Hubert Davis was fired and then joined his brother, Kayden, at Baylor. Dylan is a big combo guard who impacts the game on multiple fronts because of his strength and athleticism. He can handle the ball and attack downhill, getting to the rim with ease. Defensively, he’s tough at the point of attack with terrific hands. Neither Mingo brother shoots that well, and I’m worried about their fit on the court at Baylor.
29. Colben Landrew | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut
I love Landrew’s game, and if I thought he had a clear path toward starting at Connecticut next season, I might have him in my top 20. He’s a former football player who looks the part at about 230 pounds, and he’s 6 feet 6 with long arms, a great motor and a superb jumper. He has a smooth shooting stroke from distance and plays on-balance in a way that is going to endear him to Danny Hurley, and he can drive against smaller competition by using his size to his advantage. Defensively, he’s tough and physical, holds his line well against drives and has great hands. It’s a very simple role-player transition to both college and potentially the NBA. It might be two years instead of one, given that he is probably stuck behind Mullins, Solo Ball, Jayden Ross and Nik Khamenia.
30. Miles Sadler | 5-11 guard | 19 years old | West Virginia
I typically don’t like small guards as an evaluator. It’s exceptionally difficult to be Sadler’s size and play in the NBA. But I think Sadler will be one of the five best freshmen in college basketball next season.
There’s not a better pick-and-roll playmaker in the high school class. He buzzes around the court and consistently gets penetration into the interior with quickness and a craft for getting opposing players on his back. He has a wonderful floater game, he’s timely with how he finishes for his size and he can pull up and score. He’s also a sharp decision-maker and tough on-ball defender. I didn’t see a better competitor or tougher player in high school last season, and I think he’s going to will West Virginia to wins next year. He might be a one-and-done because of how small he is. But there aren’t five players I would rather have in the 2026 recruiting class. For that reason, I had to rank him No. 30.
Other Names to Watch
Cameron Williams, 6-11 big, Duke: Williams is considered a top-five recruit in the 2026 class. He has a lot of athletic tools and upside. However, I don’t think he’s as ready to play from a physicality and skill perspective as many of the guys above him, plus he’s entering a loaded Duke frontcourt that features Ngongba, Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski and potential 2028 No. 1 pick Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje. If it comes together more quickly than I expect, though, he could easily be here.
Alijah Arenas, 6-6 wing, USC: I’m selling the entire USC team next season, even though the Trojans are loaded with individual talent, because I don’t think the pieces fit in a way that makes sense. Arenas has a ton of gifts and could easily outperform this because of how flexible and fluid he is as a creator, but he was wildly inefficient this season and might not be a good enough shooter to play the style he wants to. He made just 34 percent from the field and 21 percent from 3 this past season. If the shooting comes, everything will happen in a hurry for him. But I want to see how the Trojans situation works out, because I see a roster with a ton of bigs taking up space on the interior, no effective lead-guard play and not many connective-tissue players.
Baba Oladotun, 6-10 wing, Maryland: He reclassified into the 2026 class as a big wing with some dribble, pass and shooting skills. I don’t think his frame is anywhere near ready yet. He’s very thin and struggled to absorb contact against high-level high school competition, even if you can see the long-term potential.
Luigi Suigo, 7-4 big, Villanova: I didn’t understand the push for him in this year’s draft. He’s certainly massive and has some passing ability, but the idea here is a super-giant perimeter five man who isn’t good enough as a shooter yet. He’s skilled, but I guess that this will take some time.
Nik Khamenia, 6-7 wing, Connecticut: Khamenia can shoot and pass, and I liked the way he defended this past season for Duke. We need to see it all more consistently in his sophomore season after he transferred. He’s a great fit at UConn, and I almost ranked him above.
Dash Daniels, 6-5 wing, South East Melbourne Phoenix: Daniels is expected to move across town to play for South East Melbourne from Melbourne United this season. He’s an awesome defender already, much like his brother Dyson, but he needs to add to his offensive game.
Neo Avdalas, 6-7 wing, North Carolina: Avdalas was the player I was closest to ranking outside of the top 30. I think his upside is high in a well-spaced North Carolina ecosystem led by Malone. He’s a gifted player with the ball in his hands and can pass. He needs to find answers as a scorer.
Sayon Keita, 7-0 big and Alexandros Samodurov, 6-11 big, North Carolina: Keita is a multi-year project as he fills out his frame. He has a ton of defensive tools in terms of mobility and length, but he’s not strong enough. Samodurov is skilled, but I want to see how his game translates to college basketball.
Alex Condon, 6-11 big, Florida: The pitch here is very easy. Condon is a skilled senior at his size who has great hands, great feet, a burgeoning perimeter game and who can pass. He’s undersized for the NBA center position with an 8-foot-11.5 standing reach and isn’t that good on defense. He’ll play in the NBA, though.
Flory Bidunga, 6-8 big, Louisville: Bidunga is an elite college defender who plays with an exceptional motor, but he’s undersized for the NBA and doesn’t have enough offensive skill yet to counteract it.
Kayden Mingo, 6-3 guard, Baylor: I thought Mingo was terrific last season at Penn State and was among the most undervalued players in the transfer portal. He does everything but shoot well. If the shot comes along, he has a great chance to be a first-rounder.
Juke Harris, 6-7 wing, Tennessee: Harris was an NBA Draft Combine invitee who withdrew before the event started. He was a monster scorer this year at Wake Forest, and the key for him at Tennessee will be to round out the rest of his game, including his defensive play and passing vision.
Abdou Toure, 6-6 wing, Arkansas: I liked what I saw from Toure at Hoop Summit this year as an athletic, high-motor wing. He’ll fit in nicely at Arkansas, which should be the most athletic team in the country. His jumper looks improved, but he needs to improve his ball skills and iron out his consistency with the jumper.
Klark Riethauser, 6-8 wing, Chalon: Riethauser certainly has his fans in Europe because of his long-term upside, but he’s very skinny after a late growth spurt and needs to keep ironing out his overall skill level and ability to absorb contact.
Matas Vokietaitis, 7-0 big, Texas: One of my favorite bigs to watch. He’s a brick house on the interior who is essentially impossible to move, and he destroys the glass and finishes well on the interior. He needs to improve his issues with fouling so that he can stay on the court, but it wouldn’t stun me if he’s a first-rounder.
Milan Momcilovic, 6-8 wing, Kentucky: The best shooter in college basketball, Momcilovic is almost certainly going to play in the NBA because of that skill. But he needs to improve his lateral movement to defend at the next level.
Miikka Muurinen, 6-11 big, Arkansas: He’s just not for me. Muurinen is a big-time athlete who can theoretically shoot, but he doesn’t pass, doesn’t play defense and did not play well this season for Partizan in the Adriatic League.
Jeremy Fears Jr., 6-0 guard, Michigan State: Fears was one of the best leaders and playmakers in the country this season and almost ended up staying in the draft. If he finds an answer for how to consistently score in the NBA, he’ll get picked next year.
