ROSEMONT, Ill. – Eleven former Big Ten student-athletes were selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, held on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

This marks the fourth time in the last five years that at least 10 Big Ten players have been selected in the NBA Draft. Since 2013, every NBA Draft except 2024, has included at least eight Big Ten players.

The 10 selections included six players drafted in Tuesday’s first round, marking the third time in the last four years that at least five Big Ten players have been selected in the draft’s opening round.

Big Ten Freshman of the Year Keaton Wagler from Illinois was selected No. 5 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, becoming the second-highest draft pick ever at Illinois and the highest since Deron Williams went No. 3 overall in 2005.

Michigan became the fifth program in NBA Draft history to produce at least three lottery selections in a single draft since the lottery expanded to 14 picks in 2004, as Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Aday Mara were selected No. 9, No. 11, and No. 12, respectively. Michigan matched a program record with three first-round selections in the same draft, equaling the 1990 NBA Draft.

Washington freshman Hannes Steinbach came off the board at No. 14, selected by the Charlotte Hornets, becoming the highest drafted Husky since Markelle Fultz was drafted first overall in 2017.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz No. 16 overall before trading him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Stirtz becomes the 12th Hawkeye taken in the first round, and just the third point guard, joining Ronnie Lester and B.J. Armstrong.

Bruce Thornton, the only four-time captain in Ohio State men’s basketball history, was the first selection of the second round, selected by the New York Knicks before being traded to the Houston Rockets.

Purdue’s Braden Smith, the NCAA’s career assist leader, was selected 38th by the Chicago Bulls and subsequently traded to the Indiana Pacers. Teammate Trey Kaufman-Renn heard his name called at No. 59, as the former Boilermaker was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is the first time two Boilermakers have been taken in the same draft since 2011.

Tyler Bilodeau became the sixth UCLA Bruin taken in the draft since 2022 when his name was called by the Brookly Nets at No. 43.

Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli will join Wagler in Los Angeles, as the former Wildcat was drafted No. 55 overall by the Knicks and traded to the Clippers, marking the second consecutive year a Northwestern player has been selected.

For a complete list of 2026 NBA Draft picks, please 
click here
.

2026 NBA Draft – Big Ten Draft Selections
5. Keaton Wagler, ILL – Los Angeles Clippers
9. Morez Johnson Jr., MICH – Dallas Mavericks
11. Yaxel Lendeborg, MICH – Golden State Warriors
12. Aday Mara, MICH – Oklahoma City Thunder
14. Hannes Steinbach, WASH – Charlotte Hornets
16. Bennett Stirtz, IOWA – Memphis Grizzlies (Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder)
31. Bruce Thornton, OSU – New York Knicks (Traded to Houston Rockets)
38. Braden Smith, PUR – Chicago Bulls (Traded to Indiana Pacers)
43. Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA – Brooklyn Nets
55. Nick Martinelli, NU – New York Knicks (Traded to Los Angeles Clippers)
59. Trey Kaufman-Renn, PUR – Minnesota Timberwolves