STORRS, Conn. — The 2026 NBA mock drafts are already updating and, predictably, along with Arizona men’s basketball’s 5-0 start, the Wildcats keep rising into them.

After UA knocked off defending national champion Florida in its Nov. 3 season opener, ESPN updated its “draft board” of top NBA prospects to include Koa Peat at No. 8, Dwayne Aristode at No. 32, Brayden Burries at 41, Motiejus Krivas as 49, Ivan Kharchenkov at 53 and Jaden Bradley at 100.

Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) is guarded by UConn guard Malachi Smith in the second half, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Storrs, Conn. 

Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Also, just before the Wildcats won at UConn 71-67 on Wednesday, HoopsHype updated with Burries at 12, Peat at 15 and Aristode at 47.

Then, after that game, UConn coach Dan Hurley rattled off his own Wildcat draft board. All it took was somebody asking about Bradley, whose driving layup with 17 seconds left gave UA a three-point cushion it held on to for the win.

“Just made himself an NBA player,” Hurley said. “He’s got good size. Made a really hard middy (midrange jumper) against Eric (Reibe) the 7-footer. Just a two-way player, one of the best point guards in the country, and he’s going to play in the NBA.”

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Then Hurley ran down the rest of Arizona’s roster and added a surprise that none of the other draft analysts have so far, even though Aussie wing Anthony Dell’Orso had just six points and missed both 3-pointers he tried Wednesday.

“I mean, listen, Krivas is an NBA player. Koa Peat’s an NBA player. Jaden Bradley’s an NBA player. (Brayden) Burries is an NBA player,” Hurley said after Wednesday’s game. “I actually think Dell’Orso is gonna make an NBA team. He’s got size, and he shoots it the way the new NBA plays.

“I know he wasn’t good tonight, but that guy is maybe the best bench player in the country. They’ve got a lot of talent around him. I think these guys are legit contenders, like we are.”

With Peat, a Chandler product who also was recruited by Hurley’s brother, Bobby, for ASU, Dan Hurley already had a high regard before Wednesday’s game. He indicated he told Peat that directly in a brief conversation after it was over.

“Just amazing respect for the family, the pedigree,” Hurley said. Bobby “knows the family, and he just talks about the classiness of the family, the pedigree of the family, all the crazy level athletes amongst the siblings.

“And I like the way he carries himself on the court. He plays like a 10-year NBA vet. He knows his identity. He’s all over the glass. He’s just a classy, classy player. He’s going to be a great NBA player.”

But while Peat and Krivas were considered strong NBA prospects before they ever put on Wildcat jerseys, Bradley continues to help himself while leading the Wildcats in their three wins over ranked teams — against Florida, UCLA and UConn.

In those three games, Bradley has been efficient and disruptive on both ends, averaging 20.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 56.8% from the field and making 2 of 4 3s he’s taken.

UConn guard Solo Ball (1) shoots over Arizona guard Anthony Dell’Orso (3) in the first half, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Storrs, Conn.

Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Bradley has also gotten to the line 21 times over those three games, hitting 19 free throws, for an absurd 90.5% free-throw percentage.

And, not surprisingly, he’s averaged a tireless 35.2 minutes over those three games, too.

Overall, in UA’s five games, Bradley is rated the No. 29 most efficient player on EvanMiya’s analytic site and by far the most efficient of the Wildcats.

It’s a new level of attention.

Although Bradley was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, he lost his starting role late in his freshman season at Alabama in 2022-23, was overshadowed by Kylan Boswell and Caleb Love over the last two seasons at UA and withdrew from the NBA Draft’s early entry lists in 2023 and 2024, when there were no suggestions he might get drafted.

Before this season, Bradley wasn’t among the 20 players named to the Bob Cousy point guard watch list, is still only No. 100 on that ESPN draft board and pretty much refuses to publicize himself even with how the last few weeks have gone.

So UA coach Tommy Lloyd tried to again after the UConn game, when he and Bradley made an appearance in the postgame interview area at Gampel Pavilion.

“Proud of this guy here next to me, just so steady,” Lloyd said. “And you know all the things he’s going to say in this deal — he’s going to give all his credit to his teammates, which is what a great point guard does. But I’m really proud of him. Just the player he’s developed into being.

“JB had big dreams as a basketball player. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time. But I’m telling you what, it’s really impressive what he’s done here this past month. I mean, he’s literally a rock star.”

Also, maybe a legit NBA prospect, along with many of his Arizona teammates.

Up next

What: No. 4 Arizona (5-0) vs. Denver (1-3)

When: 8:30 p.m. Monday

Where: McKale Center

Watch: CBS Sports Network

Listen: 1290-AM

Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe

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