We are officially less than one month away from Selection Sunday, and just over one month away from the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The most fun part of the college basketball season — and one of the most important datapoints for potential draft prospects, should their team be fortunate enough to make it — is right around the corner!
The Miami Heat own just one pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, slated to smack dab in the middle of the first round. Who do pundits have the team selecting as the NCAA Tournament nears?! Let’s examine!
CBS Sports (Adam Finkelstein): Brayden Burries (No. 16)
“Miami faces perimeter turnover. Burries fits the Heat culture and offers positional flexibility and shooting.”
Where Matt Hanifan currently has him ranked on his way-too-early big board: 15
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Bleacher Report (Jonathan Wasserman): Chris Cenac, F/C, Houston (No. 16)
“His production is going to fluctuate throughout the season based on Houston’s depth and the freshman’s role. But his tools and skill set will continue to stand out, with Cenac showing clear three-point range, rebounding instincts and athleticism for finishing at the rim.
“Assuming he continues to build on his shooting over the next few years, his archetype seems very translatable to a supporting role, being a 6’11” big who can stretch the floor and provide easy buckets and interior activity.”
Where Matt currently has him ranked on his way-too-early big board: 11
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No Ceilings (Nick Agar-Johnson): Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas (No. 15)
“The Miami Heat benefit here from Darius Acuff sliding out of the lottery, in no small part due to the extraordinary point guard depth in this class. Acuff has answered every reasonable question that could have been asked about his proficiency as a shooter and as a playmaker. He still has work to do on the defensive end, but he has the athletic tools to be honed into a solid player on that end of the floor under Erik Spoelstra and the rest of the Heat’s coaching staff.”
Where Matt currently has him ranked on his way-too-early big board: 6
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SB Nation (Ricky O’Donnell): Koa Peat, F, Arizona (No. 15)
“Peat can’t shoot from the outside at all, but he’s immediately been a winning role player on an elite veteran team from the moment he stepped on campus. His powerful frame, playmaking, and play-finishing is an enticing combo if his shot can develop enough to not completely kill a team’s spacing.”
Where Matt currently has him ranked on his way-too-early big board: 14
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Fadeaway World (Fran Leiva): Darius Acuff (No. 15)
“Darius Acuff is loud on paper: 20.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 41.1% from three while taking real guard shots. That’s not ‘college open looks’ production. That’s a profile that usually translates, because it’s built on shot-making plus creation, not just athleticism.
“The question is how much rim pressure he creates when the lane shrinks in the NBA, and whether he can defend playoff guards without being hunted. But if he’s really a near-50/40 guard who can pass, the Heat will live with the growing pains. This is the kind of pick that lets them stay competitive now while still building the next lead-guard chapter.”
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I checked a couple of 2026 Mock Drafts. The following were listed as possible draft picks from 12-30. Several of them look interesting with potential high upsides. The Heat should not have a problem finding a player who can be inserted in the rotation with Bam and Ware. There are several PFs and combo PF/Cs who may be available when Miami’s pick comes up.
Chris Cenac
6’11”, 240, PF/C, Houston, Fr.
2025–26 Stats: 23 GP, 9.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 50.5 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 63.3 FT%
Yaxel Lendeborg6’10”, 240, PF/C, Michigan, Sr.
Stats (23 GP): 14.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 50.5 FG%, 29.9 3P%, 84.5 FT%
Hannes Steinbach6’10”, 240, PF, Washington Fr.
Stats (21 GP): 17.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 54.2 FG%, 35.1 3P%, 75.9 FT%
Koa Peat6’8”, 235, PF, Arizona, Fr.
Stats (24 GP): 14.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 54.2 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 61.0 FT%
Patrick Ngongba II
6′ 11″, 250 lbs C, Duke, Soph
Stats (24 GP): 10.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 68.3 FG%, 26.9 3P%
Jayden Quaintance 6’10”, 250, PF/C Kentucky, So.
Stats (4 GP): 5.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 57.1 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 30.8 FT%
Motiejus Krivas
7’2″ 260, Arizona
PTS 11.1, REB 8.7, AST 1.1, FG%, 59.4, 3P% 33.3
Henri Veesaar 7’0”, 225, C, North Carolina, Jr.
Stats (23 GP): 16.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 BPG, 0.6 SPG, 62.6 FG%, 46.0 3P%, 62.1 FT%
JT Toppin6’8”, 225, PF/C, Texas Tech, Jr.
Stats (22 GP): 21.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 55.1 FG%, 27.5 3P%, 54.3 FT%
Allen Graves6’9”, 225, SF/PF, Santa Clara, Fr.
Stats (26 GP): 11.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 BPG, 2.1 SPG, 51.4 FG%, 39.3 3P%, 69.6 FT%
Miikka Muurinen6’11”, 210, PF/C, Finland, Intl. (Partizan Belgrade)
Stats: 4.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG
I’ve never seen him play, but Chris Cenac is the right size player and plays for a very good program. Sounds a little like a slightly shorter version of Ware.