2026 NBA Draft: 5 bigs Heat fans should keep tabs on

Miami Heat NBA Draft — (Photo courtesy of Houston Athletics)

Don’t look now, we are just over one month away from the 2026 NCAA Tournament and four months away from the 2026 NBA Draft. The Miami Heat just own one pick, which is projected to be a mid-first rounder. In the third of our three-part series, here are five bigs you should keep tabs on the rest of the season!

With draft season approaching — and fans ramping up their scouting, bracket projections and betting research — platforms like the upstart Ozoon sports betting site are also starting to draw attention across the basketball landscape.

Honorable Mention: Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky

Skinny: Coming off a torn ACL, Quaintance played just four games before being shut down. Anyone who was looking to see how he’d bounce back never really got a real good look. As a freshman at Arizona State in 2024-25, Quaintance, who was just 17-years-old at the time, flashed tantalizing potential defensively. He devours opposing players with his length, timing and athleticism. He’s incredibly raw, but I think he’s going to be a phenomenal defender, at worst, at the next level.

Chris Cenac Jr., Houston

Skinny: For a player who had motor concerns heading into the season, Cenac, the No. 7 ranked recruit in the 2025 recruiting class, hasn’t displayed that all under head coach Kelvin Sampson. Cenac plays with energy and tenacity on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound big has improved as the season’s aged, and his numbers — 9.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in 25.8 minutes — don’t do him enough justice. He’s strong, an excellent rebounder, a good play finisher and should be switchable at the next level. He’ll need to polish his processing and shooting touch. But I love his tools and motor.

Hannes Steinbach, Washington

Skinny: Steinbach isn’t very flashy. But the 6-foot-11, 220-pound big currently leads the Big 10 in rebounding (11.3), corralling nearly 24 percent of misses on the defensive glass with a remarkable 14.5 of misses offensively. Additionally, while he’s not quite a floor spacer, but he’s got excellent hands, is a solid defender (despite not being a great athlete) and is a good screener who helps his guards create separation. He does the “big man things,” who makes winning plays, which is why I’m a fan.

Patrick Ngongba, Duke

Skinny: Ngongba, who played behind Khaman Maluach last year, has blossomed as a sophomore. His numbers don’t immediately pop off the page, averaging 10.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. But he does all the dirty work alongside potential top pick Cam Boozer. I have questions about how his athletic profile will fare at the NBA level. But Ngongba is hyper-efficient around the rim offensively, and is rarely caught out of position on either end. He’s still quite raw, but I’m a buyer in his long-term prospects.

Motiejus Krivas, Arizona

Skinny: Krivas is a mountain. At 7-foot-2, 260-pounds, I’m likely higher on Krivas more than most. The third-year big is a monster shot-blocker, rejecting 3.2 shots per 75 possessions, and is an elite rebounder, corralling 14.6 per 75 (5.1 offensive). Understandably, he’s a little stiff in the hips. But Krivas is a gigantic drop defender who’s active with his hands defensively. Offensively, he’s a throwback big, with excellent footwork and low-post touch. His career 77.4 free-throw percentage suggests there’s room he can grow as a shooter, too, even though he doesn’t expand his range that often.

Flory Bidunga, Kansas

Skinny: At 6-foot-9, 220 pounds, Bidunga, a second-year big, is slightly undersized. But he plays way bigger than he actually is. He’s an incredibly strong athlete who’s a premier lob threat and shot-blockler. Bidunga leads the Big 12 in blocks, rejecting 2.8 per game, averaging 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. His catch radius is absurd, and he’s a player that I think can be a very good two-way big at the next level the more he begins to fill out.