On a night when 11 NBA games were played, Louisville freshman Obinna Ekezie Jr.’s debut became an afterthought for many. The 7’2” freshman big man finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks while shooting 4-for-6 from three-point range. Ekezie Jr. comes into the 2027 draft cycle after reclassifying from the 2027 high school class to the 2026 class. It was unclear how impactful he could be from day one, and he was widely considered one of the biggest wild cards in the 2027 NBA Draft class, but he’s got our full attention now. In the paint, he was an imposing shot blocker, denying Tyran Stokes, one of the top players in the 2027 draft class, several times and showing a strong combination of skill and timing as a rim protector. He’s super mobile for a big, and it helped him patrol the paint and alter shots all game against Kansas Wednesday night. He also held his own pretty well for such a young player when put into ball screen actions. Offensively, Ekezie Jr. was looked at as a solid play-finishing big who can set solid screens and be a good roller, with his outside shot being a swing skill. But after one game, that swing skill looks more like a polished skill than anything. All game, he punished Kansas in the pick-and-pop, while showing a ton of confidence in his outside shooting stroke. It is just one preseason game. But the flashes of being a defensive anchor and floor-spacing threat will always have scouts circling a player's name, especially when he's still so young. Ekezie Jr. won't turn 19 until May. Louisville was already going to be a program with a ton of eyes on it this season, and Ekezie Jr., between 5 blocks and 4 threes, gave evaluators 9 more reasons to tune in to Cardinals basketball. Below is tape of one of his five blocks and three of his four made threes⬇️

Cole Cloer was a redshirt freshman at NC State last season who flew under a lot of people’s radars before becoming a great addition for Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He’s a big 6’8 wing who is a high-level floor spacer and a potential first-round sleeper in the 2027 NBA Draft cycle. In Cloer’s exhibition debut against Ole Miss, he dropped 18 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and shot 5/9 from the field and 4/8 from three. He also played the second most minutes, only behind sophomore forward Amari Allen. Offensively, the skill that draws many in is his shooting, as he has a pretty release and is a capable shooter on the move, off the dribble, or as a spot-up guy off the catch. Beyond the interest his perimeter scoring and size are going to generate, he also showed a ton of intriguing stuff as a ball handler and playmaker. Cloer’s processing ability on the ball was really strong, and he showed off a trait every great shooter needs to have on the ball, which is when there’s nothing doing, swing the ball and relocate. He used shot fakes to draw the defense and kick it to his teammates, and did a great job attacking mismatches and drawing fouls. He also was great at driving the ball and hitting Bama shooters right in the pocket so they could lace a three. The NBA loves wings that can shoot and have size, but when you mix in ball skills potential, that’s where prospects can really solidify themselves as first-round talents. Cloer looked like exactly that against Ole Miss. Something fans didn’t get a major taste of but is also part of his game is that Cloer can be an explosive athlete in the open floor. If that part translates from high school to college, he’s checking more boxes than most wings in this 2027 cycle. Defensively, Cloer’s length provides upside for him to develop into a problem on that end of the court too. He did a good job staying connected to his man off the ball while maintaining a distance that allowed him to help his teammates out. Cloer doesn’t project to be some massive stopper or stock machine, but if he can add some more muscle to his frame and improve his foot speed, he has all the tools to be a solid defensive player in the pros. NBA teams are always going to want players with positional size, an outside shooting touch, and playmaking chops in the first round of drafts. Cole Cloer checks all those boxes and is set to play his first college season with a program that has been a factor for NBA talent in recent years. Bama plays Auburn tonight at 8 pm EST

Didn’t think we’d be back here so soon, but Draftstack may have a year packed with Duke content. The Blue Devils hosted No. 8 Tennessee on Tuesday night and blew them out by 39, winning 103–64 and bringing in walk-ons with just under four minutes remaining. It wasn’t just one player who stood out, so this post highlights several players on this Duke roster because this group truly has the potential to ruin college basketball this season. Starting with Deron Rippey Jr., who cut his hair and somehow leveled up even more after a strong debut game against Belmont. Rippey Jr. put up 21 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 made three-pointers while shooting 9/12 from the field off Duke’s bench. Rippey Jr. showed off the ability to make threes off the catch, use his shiftiness and tight handle to expose defenders in isolation, finish through contact at the rim, and turn defense to offense with his active hands and defensive playmaking. Similar to his debut, Rippey’s biggest standout was the constant energy and effort he brought to both sides of the ball. Flat-out infectious. Next up was Dame Sarr, who really popped from the opening tip. Sarr finished with 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal while shooting 6/9 from the field and 1/3 from three. He did an excellent job finishing at the rim, whether it was cutting, finishing lobs in the open floor, or taking it himself on the fast break. What really stood out was his improved ball skills, with a better handle and passing chops, and his outside shot continued to look more confident. Both were areas for improvement this summer, and if they keep trending up, he may have lottery-pick upside. Patrick Ngongba II enters his third season after a breakout sophomore campaign and is looking to establish himself as a top-tier center prospect in the 2027 cycle. He finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks while shooting 4/6 from the field and 1/1 from three. Ngongba II has been deemed a high-feel big with traditional rim-protecting skills, plus a solid touch around the rim and the upside to keep expanding his game outside the paint. All of those things looked true Tuesday. Ngongba II already had a ton of fans in the scouting space, particularly among the analytic community, and if he keeps having games like this, he may have fans in every part of the draft community. You know a Duke team is stacked when Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje’s performance was a footnote, despite him being the best prospect in all of college basketball this season. The projected No. 1 pick in the 2028 class finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks, while shooting 5/7 from the field and 1/3 from three-point range. Cayden Boozer and John Blackwell also deserve shoutouts. Boozer was facilitating the stacked Duke offense, finishing with 2 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal. Blackwell showed exactly why Duke wanted him. He’s a bucket. He finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, while shooting 6/8 from the field and 4/6 from three. On top of all those performances, don't forget Sebastian Wilkins, Bryson Howard, and Cameron Williams, who could also be 2027 NBA Draft prospects. If Tuesday was any indication, Duke is going to be a problem and may be ready to put on a season college basketball has never seen before.

The 2027 NBA Draft cycle has already been talked about as a cycle where a lot of evaluators are suggesting there may be a lack of superstar upside at the top. Bruce Branch III may have heard that chatter, because in his BYU debut on Friday, he looked like everything an NBA team would want in a modern wing prospect. ​ The 6’7” wing put up an impressive 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 TOs, and 1 steal, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from three in a win over Nebraska. He even finished the game sealing the lob and hit a clutch fading three to put the Cougars up seven with under 2 minutes left in the game. ​ Offensively, Branch III really stood out for his ability to play in the flow of BYU’s offense. He didn’t force shots or try to make crazy plays; he was calm and let the game come to him both on and off the ball. ​ His playmaking and overall comfortability as an initiator stood out. He did a good job setting up his teammates, keeping a tight handle on the rock and making the extra pass when he could. Branch III shot looked as advertised, and at no moment did he ever look not ready to let the outside jumper fly. ​ Downhill, he did a good job attacking mismatches when they were there and showed off the ability to draw fouls when getting downhill, but for him to be a force downhill, his strength needs to improve. ​ Defensively, things were pretty sound. Off the ball, he did a good job using his length to help cover a ton of ground and take pressure off his teammates. On the ball, he did a good job staying in front of his man for the most part and navigated screens well. ​ What was an underrated part of his performance against Nebraska was his activity on the glass. Whether it was the defensive glass or offensive glass, Branch III was hunting for boards and trying to either close out a possession or extend it for his team. ​ In his debut, Bruce Branch III showed real two-way upside, shot-making, great ball skills on the wing, and ability to score at all three levels. If that is the way he plays all season, It’s hard not to see him finishing as the No. 1 player on the majority of evaluators' boards, because of the way the NBA continues to value shooting, playmaking, and two-way upside on the wing.

Houston, we got a problem, and his name is Arafan Diane. The 7-foot giant arrived at Kelvin Sampson’s program as an imposing, raw big prospect who enters this draft cycle as one of the players with the biggest boom-or-bust potential. If he can mostly put it together in his freshman season, he could be a lock for the top 5 come June. If he falls behind, he could be returning for a second year with the Cougars. His debut made the former seem more likely, as Diane finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds (4 OREB), 1 assist, 1 steal, and 4/7 from the field, 3/3 from the foul line in 20 minutes. The stat line in his exhibition debut against Montana Tech isn’t the only reason his stock is skyrocketing, as it was also reported that he’s dropped 26 pounds, going from 306lbs to 280lbs since getting to Houston.  And oh boy, that weight loss was pretty evident in his debut. Offensively, Diane showed good scoring touch, something he was often regarded for in high school, as he’s comfortable around the rim and has a hook shot he likes to get to a fair bit. Diane's size gives him the ability to exploit a ton of different bigs on the inside, and because of his touch, oftentimes all he needs is a quick catch and finish to score on the inside. Because of his size, he’s prone to getting inside position, which makes him a real threat on the offensive boards. However, he can be a little complacent at times when battling for position, so that could be deemed a minor area for improvement. As a screener, his mechanics still need work, and as a roller, it would be ideal for Diane to be quicker when rolling to the rim, but at his size that also may not be super realistic. Diane isn’t a stretch big by any means, but does like a pick-and-pop middy or three at times. He was too raw to call this a true swing skill, but he did take a pop middy against Montana Tech, and his willingness to shoot, paired with his touch, leaves intrigue.  A swing skill for him is his passing, as he is comfortable making quick decisions out of double teams and has a good feel as a passer. There should be optimism that, with some development, he could one day become a real short-roll passer. The defensive side of the ball is where Diane’s weight loss was most evident. He’s always been rather nimble on his feet, but his quickness was completely different. Diane was switching in ball screens so much easier, keeping up with perimeter players, rotating, and recovering. He’ll always be able to manipulate smaller players with his length and size on the perimeter, but with improved lateral quickness and overall foot speed, he could be even more dangerous in the long term. As a rim protector, he still needs work, but Diane’s size will always make him a tougher player to score against around the hoop. Arafan Diane is still raw, but you can see the potential. Obviously, the tests will get harder, but when they do, he’ll be more experienced and will have more time with the Houston staff under his belt. As we inch closer to the College Basketball season, just remember to keep tabs on Arafan Diane.

Draftstacks’s Spencer Christenson (@Spencer_C3Hoops) dives into Yann Kamagate's profile, timeline, breakout, recruitment, and project to determine his floor and ceiling. A look into Yann Kamagate's franchise-altering potential in the replies below! ⬇️

Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje continues to steal headlines from Duke’s exhibition win over Belmont, and rightfully so. But Deron Rippey Jr.'s great performance off the bench can’t fly too far under the radar. Rippey Jr. finished the night with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 22 minutes of action. His biggest draw as a high school prospect was his defensive energy and athleticism, and both of those traits shone through all night. Rippey Jr. picked up opposing ball handlers the second they crossed halfcourt, consistently getting in their grills and making life uncomfortable for them. He was physical on the ball, using his body and foot speed to shut down driving lanes while battling hard through screens. He set the tone defensively the second he checked in, and as a freshman guard trying to earn playing time on a stacked Blue Devils team, that was a strong impression to leave.  In transition, Rippey Jr. used his speed to get downhill and create for himself at the rim or make a quick read to set up his teammate in the dunker spot. His explosiveness allows him to put constant pressure on the rim, and at any point he can change gears and attack his man off the dribble, which was evident in his debut. Rippey Jr. also isn’t a stranger to contact and is a physical finisher despite being listed at 6’3” on Duke’s website. While he did turn it over three times, Rippey Jr. still showed the ability to make quick reads and run an offense as the lead ball carrier. His handle is tight, and his ability to understand and process the game quickly will let Jon Scheyer trust him as a primary ball handler. The outside jumper remains a swing skill for Rippey Jr., but it was an encouraging start, with him shooting 1-of-1 from deep on a transition three attempt. If he can become a respectable three-point shooter, his ability to attack defenders downhill off the dribble will only open up more. Rippey Jr.’s draft range is still difficult to project, and he may be more of a 2-3 year college player rather than a one-and-done prospect. However, what he showed in his Blue Devils preseason debut was an encouraging start, and if he can keep it up while improving his outside stroke, he could have a real shot at being drafted this year.

Did Dan Hurley do it again? Did he find another monster five-man to block shots and have his guards throw money lobs to? It sure appears that way after one preseason game, as Na’jai Hines delivered an explosive performance against Syracuse. ​ The Seton Hall transfer dropped 17 points, snatched 8 rebounds, 3 of which came on the offensive glass, and had 2 blocks while shooting 5/7 from the field and converting at the free-throw line on a 7/8 clip. ​ Hines comes to UConn after playing his freshman year at Seton Hall, where the four-star recruit led the Big East in blocks per game with 2.2. At Seton Hall, there were questions about his conditioning level as a 6’11”, 275-plus-pounder, but in his Huskies debut he was getting up and down the court much better and never really looked gassed. ​ Along with improved conditioning, what really stood out about Hines' performance against the Orange was the consistent advantages he was creating as a screen setter. Whether it was on the ball in a pick-and-roll setting where he was creating separation for a ball handler to attack or for him to catch a lob or finish a play, or off the ball helping free up shooters, his size and good screen mechanics were giving UConn advantages all over the court offensively. ​ Scoring-wise, Hines' activity on the offensive glass was great, but that should’ve been expected after he finished last season in the 99th percentile in net points from offensive rebounds. ​ With Hines looking slimmer, his agility and quickness when going to the rim shone so much more when he was in the pick-and-roll. As someone who already knows how to create angles and has strong footwork that stems from a background as a high tight end, Hines's physical improvements are only going to make him a better post player. Hines isn’t going to be some flashy stretch big or hub offensively, but he was able to do exactly what UConn needed from their five-spot offensively as a screener and finisher. ​ Defensively, it was no different than watching him at Seton Hall last season. Hines throughout the entire game was altering and blocking shots while being a beast on the glass. The defense has always been his calling card, and when you pair that with an improving offensive game, Hines being a first-round pick in this 2027 class feels like a real possibility. ​ Dan Hurley has had some special bigs in his time at UConn, and Hines just looks like the latest. It took Donovan Clingan two years with the Huskies to be a first-round pick. It took Tarris Reed four total college years and two years under Hurley to be a first-round pick. With Hines, we’ll have to wait and see—maybe it’ll only take one year under Dan the Man.

Miikka Muurinen is one of the strangest prospects in the 2027 draft cycle. Check out Bryson Akins (@BrysonAkinsNBA) debut piece for Draftstack, a film Deepdive on the freshman, at the link in the replies below! ⬇️

Meet the Italian Wemby. Okay, maybe that’s too far, but meet Luigi Suigo, a 7’3” big man prospect with exceptional feel, an outside jumper, and stifling size on the inside. Suigo was projected as an early second-round pick and even a late first-round pick by some going into the 2026 NBA Draft, before he withdrew to attend Villanova this upcoming college season. Suigo averaged 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 1 block in 18.1 minutes per game across 32 appearances for Mega (a well-known Serbian club) last season. Offensively, Suigo can offer a lot. Because of his size, he’s a natural play finisher and is great in the pick-and-roll with the ability to finish with a variety of hooks, dunks, and layups. His size also makes him a beast on the offensive glass who can generate a ton of easy scoring chances for himself on putbacks or use his playmaking instincts to kick back out to the perimeter or hit a teammate on a cut. That’s where Suigo starts to separate himself from other giants—his feel is exceptional. Yes, 0.8 assists per game doesn’t scream offensive-hub potential at the pro level, but he does have it. Even at a young age, he showed that he could process the game at a high level in a professional league. Suigo is good at keeping the offense moving and rarely gets overwhelmed when the ball is in his hands. Even if Suigo’s playmaking potential plateaus and he never becomes a Domantas Sabonis or Nikola Jokic offensive hub type of big, his decision-making paired with outside shooting potential could still make him an elite big. Suigo shot only 26.7 percent from three last season at BC Mega Basket, but was a confident shooter, taking nearly 2 threes per game. Despite the percentage being sub-30, defenses still have to respect him as a shooter, and that works in his favor as a screener, as defenses are left guessing whether he’ll roll or pop. Defensively, Suigo is far from a finished project, but he projects as a potential viable rim protector down the road. His size alters the path of opposing players on drives. His 9’6” standing reach allows him to recover when he gets beaten and isn’t too bad in pick-and-roll coverage. With prospects, there are always going to be concerns about their lateral quickness, particularly when put into ball screen actions, but Suigo competes hard defensively, and if he can get a little quicker laterally, that part of his game will be hard to characterize as a weakness. Suigo is going to catch the eyes of many to start this draft cycle because of his size and ability to do traditional big man things. He can hook evaluators if he keeps improving as a floor spacer, passer, and defender, because those tools at his size—well, we’ve all seen how Aday Mara has looked in his first taste of NBA preseason action.

We haven’t seen a generational tank off since the 2022-23 season in the NBA, when Victor Wembanyama was the prize at the No. 1 spot in the draft. But that will change in the 2027-28 season, as Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje is going to have the NBA front office scrambling to try and land his services. Boumtje Boumtje made his Blue Devils debut last Thursday and showed why NBA teams will be hesitant to trade their 2028 first-round picks. The 7’2” and 250-pound big man finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals while shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from three-point range. He showed impressive ball-handling and fluidity for a player his size, often initiating the offense for Duke and creating his own shot off the dribble. His face-up game shined all night. Whenever he wanted to put his head down and attack the rim, it felt like an easy two for JBB. His outside jumper remains one of the most intriguing parts of his game. At his size, he can already see and shoot over defenders. But what separates him from your average big prospect is that his shooting isn’t a potential thing; it’s already an established skill that makes him unguardable.    He also has a good feel as a passer. While playmaking hasn't been a primary part of his game so far, Boumtje Boumtje reads the floor well for a 17-year-old, giving him room to develop further in that area Beyond the flashy stuff, JBB is also good at the traditional big-man things, on top of having guard-like skills with the ball. He has a soft touch around the rim and is a real threat in the pick-and-roll. He knows how to get into position and can finish through contact or multiple defenders if he has to. Boumtje Boumtje also has enough vertical pop to flat-out rise up over a defender and dunk right on them when posting up or trying to score on the inside, which he showed off against Belmont. Boumtje Boumtje is also very quick and can run the open floor with strength, size, and speed in the way that Giannis Antetokounmpo does. Defensively, JBB also showed evaluators how legit a rim protector he is. He alters and blocks shots while showing the discipline to avoid foul trouble. He’s got great hands and the timing to stuff opponents trying to attack him at the rim. If he gets stronger, he could become a real defensive anchor in the NBA. On the perimeter, he’s also mobile enough that many evaluators are buying into him long-term as a versatile switchable defender. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje is already showing the combination of size, skill, fluidity, and two-way potential that NBA teams covet in a franchise player, and he’s only 17. JBB hasn't even scratched the surface of what he could become, yet he delivered a dominant performance in his debut in effortless fashion. With two years of development under Jon Scheyer at Duke, Boumtje Boumtje could become an absolute game wrecker for opposing teams and the top priority for rebuilding NBA front offices heading into the 2027-28 season.

Since the start of the international basketball season, few players have changed the narrative around them as draft prospects as much as Dash Daniels, the younger brother of Hawks wing Dyson Daniels. Like his brother, Dash has been praised for his defensive activity, turnover generation, length, and ability to turn the faucet off on opposing players. Coming into this season, South East Melbourne Phoenix guard Daniels had a ton of questions about his offensive game, but he silenced a lot of his doubters after an incredibly hot start. ​ Daniels is averaging 13.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from three through 6 games. ​ Daniels' biggest offensive improvement through the early stages of this new NBL season has been his confidence. Offensively, there’s no longer second-guessing or uncertainty about what to do when he’s playing with the ball in his hands. Daniels has been decisive offensively, and it’s led to some big games early in this new campaign. When he sees an opening to attack a defender off the dribble and get to the rim, he takes it. When there is a window to let an open three-ball fly, he pulls it. That may not sound like anything groundbreaking, but for Daniels being assertive offensively was something he struggled with last season. ​ Even before his jump shot improved, Daniels was a skilled driver and had a solid handle on the ball, but the few times he actually tried to get downhill and attack made a lot of scouts question if he ever would be a real impact player offensively. Now, with more confidence in his game and an improving outside jump shot, the phrase two-way potential is becoming more synonymous with Daniels' profile as a prospect. ​ Defensively, Daniels has continued to flash what initially made him pop off the page as a prospect. He’s still been very active in passing lanes. Off the ball, he is still staying attached to cutters well, providing the length to make the lives of his teammates easier defensively, and from the point of attack he is still able to get in his stance and shut initiators down. ​ The other part of Daniels' game that has really stood out early in this new cycle has been the way he’s hitting the glass. He’s already had multiple 7-plus rebound games and even a 12-rebound performance. He’s been extremely active on the offensive glass and has become a really impressive second-chance finisher. As his game continues to evolve, if he continues to be aggressive, particularly in creating second-chance points on the offensive glass, it just adds another winning trait that scouts will buy that he can carry over to the NBA. It’s still extremely early, as the NBA season hasn’t even started yet. But the way Daniels has looked offensively and the assertiveness he’s bringing to all parts of the game is changing how evaluators view his outlook as a top international prospect in this 2027 NBA Draft class.

Ivan Kharchenkov was a bit of a surprise player during his freshman season at Arizona, breaking onto the scene as an active, aggressive defender with a tremendous motor that projects to fit into winning basketball at the next level. Many evaluators have Kharchenkov as a fringe lottery pick but believe he could end up higher if he continues to add to his offensive bag and can be an improved three-point shooter. Last season, Kharchenkov averaged 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 stocks per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from three. Offensively, Kharchenkov doesn’t overcomplicate things. He is a smart off-ball mover who is a high-level cutter, especially back door.  Kharchenkov is great in transition and is a smart decision-maker in the open floor. His shooting remains his big swing skill, but if he can progress forward as a better shooter, his offensive profile is perfectly suited for the modern NBA. Kharchenkov is constantly moving off the ball, looking for ways to create space and become the open man for his teammates to hit on the perimeter. On the ball, Kharchenkov is growing. With the ball, he has the athleticism and strength needed to bully defenders on his way to the rim. He already has a solid handle for a 6-foot-7 wing and is a solid operator in the pick-and-roll with a natural feel as a playmaker. He also provides a ton of upside as a connective passer who knows when to make that extra pass and is a timely passer. Shot creation, along with his outside shooting, remain the two areas of Kharchenkov’s offensive game that scouts want to see progress. With a bigger role at AZ this season, the ball is bound to be in his hands more, so it’ll be fun to see how he progresses with more usage.  Defensively, Kharchenkov is exactly what you want in a modern wing. He’s tough, physical, fights hard through screens and contact, has a great frame, can switch up and down the lineup, and has great instincts. He’s also very disciplined on the ball, averaging under two fouls per game in over 28 minutes per game for the Wildcats last season. Overall, Kharchenkov has the makeup of an ideal role-playing modern NBA wing, the question is now: is there another level he can reach with more on-ball reps? The highlights below are from an exhibition game this summer between Arizona and Lithuania where Kharchenkov went off for 30 points. In the win, he flashed some of what he may be looking to show all season in a larger role at AZ this season.

Caleb Holt enters the 2026 college basketball season as one of the freshmen best positioned to compete for a national championship. After an incredible season last year for Arizona led by two freshmen, Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, Holt now arrives looking to deliver even better results. At 6’5”, Holt is a two-way guard who plays with a ton of hustle and intensity and is always looking to make the winning play before padding his own stats. ​You don’t typically start with a guard prospect, but Holt’s most intriguing trait is his rebounding. During AZ’s international tour this summer, Holt averaged 9.3 rebounds per game and consistently closed out possessions on the defensive glass and created second chances on the offensive boards. He has a ton of vertical pop that helps him get high up and snatch rebounds with his impressive wingspan. Holt also has a near NBA-ready body that allows him to outmuscle and box out opposing players really well. He has a tremendous motor, and when paired with his physical tools, it can make him a force on the glass both ways. His ability to close out possessions on the defensive glass helps him offensively, as Holt is great at starting the break himself or moving the ball up the court quickly. It’s so fun to watch him pull down a defensive rebound and immediately push the break, looking to score at the rim. Holt has a quick first step and is very coordinated when attacking the rim, often hop-stepping his way through defenders on his way to finishing at the basket. He is a great vertical athlete and finishes well above the rim. Beyond finishing, his offensive game is still evolving. Holt struggled with efficiency during the international tour, but many evaluators didn’t think his shot selection was bad; he was just struggling to get shots to drop. He has solid jump shot mechanics and is capable of being a catch-and-shoot shooter and pull-up shooter in the mid-range. This part of his game, along with general self-creation ability, is still an area for improvement. If it wasn’t, he’d probably be a lock for the top three on most people's boards because of all the other winning traits he has. Playmaking-wise, there is still work to be done, but Holt more often than not makes the right read, especially in drive-and-kick scenarios. Tightening his handle and becoming someone who teams feel like can be a lead handler at the NBA level would do wonders for his stock. Holt is also a very physical player, which helps him play through contact both as a driver and as a defender. Defensively, Holt is always willing to put his body on the line, which only helps his projection because he is already super talented and has ideal physical tools. He is very active as a defender, both in passing lanes as a playmaker and as a help defender. Things rarely slip by him on that end as his head seems to always be on a swivel. When it comes to pro comps for Holt, some of the common ones are Jrue Holiday, Josh Hart and a bigger Cason Wallace. That should tell you all you need to know about what Holt projects to be as a prospect—a winner. If the Wildcats can replicate any of the magic they had last season, Holt will play a big part in it.

Aesthetically, there is probably no more pleasing player archetype than the shot-making, bucket-getting guard. While this style of player has become less common in the NBA, Missouri commit and 2026 freshman guard Jason Crowe Jr. could reverse that trend. Crowe Jr. is the second-highest-ranked recruit Mizzou has ever landed, behind Michael Porter Jr. and is expected to be the focal point of their offense this season. Crowe Jr. is coming off a legendary senior season where he averaged 43.6 points per game. The lefty bucket-getter's scoring remained elite even against tougher competition, leading all players on the Nike EYBL circuit with 23.6 points per game. He’s so confident in his scoring ability and is built to make and take big-time shots. His scoring bag is deep, and he projects to be one of the SEC’s most potent three-level scorers during his freshman season. He’s at his best when pushing the pace, but he balances that with good control and a tight enough handle to avoid being a turnover machine. He loves getting to the hoop after exposing defenders in isolation, as Crowe Jr.’s handle provides the pathway to breaking down opposing guards on the perimeter. He finishes well at the rim, but there is questions about how transferable his success as a finisher will be to the college game. He has a strong pull-up mid-range game and is a great inside-the-arc shot creator. From the perimeter, he can catch-and-shoot and needs only a small window to get his shot off cleanly, often using on-ball screens to create space, and he can be a flamethrower from well beyond the arc. His three-point improvement over the past couple of high school years is why he could break the mold and have a different NBA path than your average high-volume scoring guard in the league. If he can maintain high-volume three-point shooting and efficiency, Crowe Jr. could be fighting for one of the top guard spots in the 2027 NBA Draft class. Because of the role Crowe Jr. played in high school, he's often not viewed as a high-end playmaking prospect, but when he’s asked to create for his teammates, he’s more than capable. If he can show scouts he can balance his score-first mentality with the playmaking that traditional lead guards are tasked with, his outlook as a prospect can shift from just another scorer to a full-blown, high-potential lead guard. Defensively, he is very willing to defend and put in effort on that side of the ball. He has good lateral quickness and could develop into a solid defender for a player who shoulders as big a load as he does on the offensive end. Crowe Jr. is a unique guard talent with an incredibly high ceiling and a ton of scoring ability going into his freshman year. If he can show there’s more to his game than just scoring, while continuing to shoot the three-ball well, he could be one of the most interesting guard prospects in the 2027 NBA Draft class.

David Mirkovic's projection as an NBA player feels very easy. If there are two things the modern NBA has taught us teams value, it’s rebounding and floor spacing. The Illinois forward provided both in his freshman year and is only expected to provide more in his sophomore season. Last season, Mirkovic averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, while shooting 48.4 percent from the field. Starting with his offensive game, the biggest draw to Mirkovic is that, at 6-foot-9, he can really stroke the outside jumper. Last season, he shot 37.5 percent from deep on 4.1 attempts per game. He’s best as a trail three-point shooter or in the pick-and-pop, but also has shown the ability to dribble and pull up from three and step into outside jumpers when the defense isn’t respecting him as a shooter.  Mirkovic is also a capable ball handler and is solid at operating the pick-and-roll, showing off the ability to make quick decisions as a playmaker last season. His handle could use some tightening, and so could his general passing, but the upside as a third or even secondary creator is there. When it comes to scoring at the rim, he has good footwork on the inside and plays with a jerky type of finesse that can throw off opposing forwards when he’s attacking the rim. He has a solid touch, and if he can become a little more efficient as a play finisher at the rim, his offensive bag will be more sound.  On the glass, Mirkovic is a monster. He has the ideal combination of positioning, strength, and motor that makes him a rebounding machine and someone who, when he’s on the court, a coach can feel comfortable that possessions will be getting closed out defensively. Another layer to his offense is a byproduct of his rebounding, as Mirkovic crashing the offensive glass has made him that floor-spacing, possession-extending archetype. Whether it’s him scoring a putback or a kickout to his teammate for three, his ability to consistently create second chances is something NBA scouts are going to continue to fall in love with. Defensively, he isn’t someone who projects as a multi-position guy or an elite stopper, but he’s a really good team defender that brings a ton of hustle to that side of the ball. His so-so athleticism can see him get burned at times, but he’s a solid weak-side rim protector and has a good understanding of rotations and anticipates things well. Overall, Mirkovic is a high-motor floor spacer, and in the modern NBA, teams are always going to draft guys with those skills. His energy fits winning basketball, and with an improved inside scoring bag and handle, he could even be someone who gets a lottery grade from some scouts.