26 For 26: Potential 2026 NBA Draft Prospects I’m Monitoring In NCAA Tournament

While we are approaching the end of the 2024-25 NBA season: March Madness is here! We’re in the most exciting time of the basketball calendar. The Miami Heat have two picks — one in each round — which means it’s time for our annual 26-for-26 (after doing our 25-for-25 last year!). Let’s dive into it!

(Note: Not every player on this list will declare ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft … we’re just identifying who may. Every player has their own reasons why they will, or will not declare!)

13 Potential First Round Prospects In The NCAA Tournament To Monitor For The 2026 NBA Draft:

Among those out of the Heat’s range:

• AJ Dybantsa
• Darryn Peterson
• Cameron Boozer
• Caleb Wilson
• Darius Acuff
• Kingston Flemings

OK, let’s dive into it!

Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa

Skinny: Ben McCollum’s scheme is very point guard-friendly. But Stirtz essentially took the same roster from D-II (two years ago) and willed Iowa to 20-plus wins. He’s averaging 20.0 points and 4.5 assists with absurd usage. He’s exceptional in ball-screens, is a very good shooter in tight spaces and doesn’t get sped up with the rock in his hands. Stirtz is one of the more intriguing names that teams could fall in love with at the back-end of the first if they need shot creation.

Brayden Burries, G, Arizona

Skinny: I’m dangerously close to moving Burries into my top-8. Contrary to some people’s belief, I think he’s clearly Arizona’s best prospect. There’s nothing he can’t do well on a basketball court. Finish? Got it. Shoot? Got it? Play off-ball off a cutter and secondary creator? Got it. Playmake? Got it. Defend at the point-of-attack? Got it. Rebound? He’s one of the best guard rebounders in the country, so he’s got it. I love Burries.

Braylon Mullins, G, UConn

Skinny: I truly wonder if Mullins will return to school or not; personally, in his best interest, he may be best served as a 2027 player rather than a 2026 one. He was lauded as one of the best freshman shooters entering this season. But he really struggled from 3-point range to close the season, going 11 for his last 47. I think he’ll be a good shooter at the next level, but I’m much lower on his current projection than the consensus.

Chris Cenac Jr., F/C, Houston

Skinny: No player has slayed their motor concerns more than Cenac, who’s a 12 out of 10 every time you turn on the tape. He’s going to have to improve his shooting touch, but I love his rebounding and versatility defensively. Kelvin Sampson has done a phenomenal job developing Cenac, and I think the sky is the limit for him.

Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech

Skinny: We’ll see whether or not Anderson (hand) can suit up; Texas Tech is already beat up with the loss of JT Toppin, who tore his ACL in mid-February. But if he can go, a lot will he placed on the 6-foot-2 guard’s shoulders.

Koa Peat, F, Arizona

Skinny: Peat is one of my most confusing evaluations. As I mentioned before, he’s a very good athlete and as strong as an ox. But I can’t get over Peat’s poor floor spacing; he’s not comfortable outside of 10 feet, which makes his projection slightly tougher, barring a steep developmental curve.

Labaron Philon, G, Alabama

Skinny: Philon’s skinny, but he was one of the SEC’s top scorers this season, averaging 21.7 points on 50.9/40.2/78.7 shooting splits. Philon’s a better passer than his numbers indicate. He’ll have even more responsibility as a result of Aden Halloway’s recent interest.

Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville

Skinny: Brown (back) is another unknown ahead of the tournament, having missed Louisville’s last four games. He had a much stronger end pre-injury, averaging 26.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists on 49.1 percent shooting from deep. At the very least, Brown’s quick, got great size, is a very good ballhandler and passer, even though he does settle for jumpers more than I would like him to.

Morez Johnson Jr., F/C, Michigan

Skinny: Johnson has flown up boards — mine included — as the season’s gone on. He’s an animal on defense, where he’s incredibly switchable with good length, coordination, flexibility and instincts. Johnson’s a very good athlete, especially around the rim, and has even flashed some shooting potential (long term).

Thomas Haugh, F, Florida

Skinny: Haugh took a huge leap as a junior, becoming a staple in Todd Golden’s high-tempo, high-octane offense this year. The athletic wing was Florida’s top scorer, but he was also one of their most versatile defenders. Haugh is also a phenomenal offensive rebounder and has a nose for the basketball. The junior will be one of the best connectors and most physical wings available in the middle of the first round.

Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan

Skinny: Lendeborg will be one of the oldest prospects in this class. But he’s continued to get better, even though I still have questions about his shooting upside at the next level. Still, he’s been one of the most impactful players in the country at both ends, where he’s excelled in his role in his first-and-only season at Michigan.

Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas

Skinny: Bidunga is another incredibly explosive leaper. He’s slightly undersized at 6-foot-9, but the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is an exceptional shot-blocker and lob finisher. His hands are elite, and his catch radius is insane for his size.

Billy Richmond, G/F, Arkansas

Skinny: Richmond is a freak athletically with legitimate All-Defense potential. His length, instincts and core strength are a serious problem (complimentary) at the point-of-attack, and he’s a highlight reel around the rim. He’s truly a jump shot away.

13 Potential Second Round Prospects For 2026 NBA Draft:

Alex Condon, F/C, Florida

Skinny: I worry about Condon’s shooting and ability to handle physicality at the next level, but he’s made stark improvements as a slasher and finisher around the rim this year. It was a pleasant surprise for me.

Amari Allen, F, Alabama

Skinny: Allen wasn’t on my radar until later in the season. But he was sneakily one of the best freshmen outside of the top few names. He’s a little skinny right now, and I’m curious to see how he’d adjust to a smaller role. Allen ended the season poorly from 3-point range, but he has legitimate 3-and-D potential with a high motor and a solid physical frame.

Isaiah Evans, G, Duke

Skinny: Evans has shown improvements as a ball-handler and defender. But he’s going to be one of the best pure shooters in this class. He can let it fly off movement and or in stand-still situations — and doesn’t need a ton of airspace to do so.

Jaden Bradley, G, Arizona

Skinny: I’m still confused as to why Bradley won Big 12 Player of the Year (I would’ve voted Burries or Dybantsa), but Bradley was awesome this year. Similar to Pelle Larsson at Arizona, Bradley is the best glue guy in the country, averaging 13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 46.1/40.4/80.4 shooting splits. He’s a winning player in every sense of the word.

Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State

Skinny: Jefferson’s shooting regressed pretty significantly in Big 12 play, which is worrisome. But the 6-foot-8 wing is incredibly smart and instinctual. He plays like a 10-year vet.

Milan Momcilovic, F, Iowa State

Skinny: Momcilovic is a stone-cold sniper; he leads the country in 3-point percentage (49.6) on an absurd 7.5 attempts per game. He’s a one-trick pony, but he does that trick better than practically everyone in his class. And there’s value for players like him in the NBA.

Mo Krivas, C, Arizona

Skinny: Krivas is a mountain at 7-foot-2, 260 pounds. His rebounding isn’t great for his size, but he’s an exceptional rim protector who will deter anything in drop, which he plays exclusively. He also has good low-post touch, sound good work and sme underrated passing chops.

Otega Oweh, G, Kentucky

Skinny: Oweh is a very good defensive playmaker. He’s disruptive at the point-of-attack and projects to be a player who can defend at least 2-3 positions at the next level. However, he’s still improving as an offensive player. I have genuine questions about his on-ball decision-making and his shooting upside at the next level. But he does have some two-way potential

Ryan Conwell, G, Louisville

Skinny: With Mikel Brown’s injury, Conwell is expected to assume primary ballhandler responsibilities for Louisiville. He’s a pure bucket getter, and South Florida’s physical defense will be a very good test for him. At the next level, I’m not sure he provides a lot of impact outside of scoring. But he’s not a bad second round option if you’re looking for scoring.

Rueben Chinyelu, C, Florida

Skinny: Chinyelu, who’s 6-foot-11 with a monstrous 7-foot-8 wingspan, is an animal on the glass; he leads the nation in rebound percentage, averaging an SEC-most 11.5 boards in 24.8 minutes per game. He’s also doing that while being the backbone of a switch-heavy scheme defensively. Chinyelu isn’t explosive and has some legitimate flaws offensively, but his rebounding alone makes him an enticing mid-second-round option.

Trevon Brazile, F, Arkansas

Skinny: I can’t say I’ve been very high on Brazile for most of his collegiate career. To me, he’s closer to a UDFA than not. But in a larger role, his impact on both ends has been quite noticeable this year. He’s still pretty skinny, but I think he can crack a team’s rotation in the perfect world.

Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s

Skinny: Ejiofor is a Miami Heat player. He can do a little bit of everything (except shoot). But he plays with an edge and a fire that I love. He’s also very strong, using his 6-foot-9, 240-pound frame to power through defenders around the rim. He’s a monster shot blocker for one of the nation’s top defenses and is a pretty good offensive rebounder. This dude is #HEATCulture™.

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