{"id":704106,"date":"2026-04-07T22:26:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T22:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/704106\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T22:26:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T22:26:26","slug":"2026-nba-mock-draft-risers-and-fallers-how-the-ncaa-tournament-changed-everything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/704106\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NBA Mock Draft Risers and Fallers: How the NCAA Tournament Changed Everything"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Now that the Michigan Wolverines have cut down the nets on their first men&#8217;s national championship in 26 years, it&#8217;s time to project which college stars will take their talents to the next level.<\/p>\n<p>So RotoWire.com, where you will find the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/promos\/nba\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best NBA betting promos<\/a>, compiled a 2026 NBA Draft stock report, post-March Madness edition, with Michigan&#8217;s stars like Aday Mara and Elliot Cadeau&#8217;s NBA Draft stock seeing big jumps after the Wolverines&#8217; six-game romp in the Big Dance.<\/p>\n<p>     All 50     Risers     Fallers   <\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>Braylon MullinsUConnG<\/p>\n<p>Title game: 11 pts 4\/17 FG \u2022 Two clutch 3s late \u2022 Buzzer beater vs Duke \u2022 Return to school debate<\/p>\n<p>+38#60 \u2192 #22<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Shot 4-for-17 in the championship loss but hit two late 3s that briefly kept UConn alive. The Elite Eight buzzer-beater and Final Four dagger 3 are the legacy. Scouts split: locked first round on eye test and clutch gene, but the shooting slump and freshman age make a return to school a real option.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#60 \u2014 fringe undrafted<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#22 \u2014 late first round, biggest riser in class<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>The shot. Range, clutch gene, poise on the biggest stage. Part of UConn&#8217;s 3-Final-Fours-in-4-years run.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Streaky shooter. Needs to add strength. One iconic moment doesn&#8217;t erase a modest regular-season profile.<\/p>\n<p>2<\/p>\n<p>Aday MaraMichiganC<\/p>\n<p>Title game: alley-oop dunk key play \u2022 Tourney: 26-pt career high vs Arizona \u2022 National champion<\/p>\n<p>+22#31 \u2192 #9<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Career-high 26 pts vs Arizona, alley-oop dunk in the title game. Post-championship mocks now have him top-10 \u2014 Yahoo\/SB Nation lists him at #9. The 7&#8217;3&#8243; center went from UCLA bench piece to a genuine franchise-center bet.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#31 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#27 \u2014 late first round, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Generational size. Consistent double-digit scoring. Elite rim protection. Surprising passing and post touch.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Mobility vs NBA speed. Poor free-throw shooter. Defending in space unproven.<\/p>\n<p>3<\/p>\n<p>Trevon BrazileArkansasF<\/p>\n<p>Arkansas senior \u2022 S16 exit \u2022 14.9 ppg \/ 8.4 rpg<\/p>\n<p>+21#54 \u2192 #33<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Long, versatile Arkansas forward who gives teams defensive upside and some shooting range.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#54 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#55 \u2014 second round, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Long, versatile forward. Defensive upside and some shooting range. Part of Arkansas&#8217; S16 run.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Inconsistent offensively. S16 exit limited impact.<\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<p>Milos UzanHoustonG<\/p>\n<p>Houston senior \u2022 S16 exit \u2022 12.1 ppg \/ 4.4 ast<\/p>\n<p>+20#61 \u2192 #41<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Steady point guard who has been part of Houston&#8217;s system for years. High-IQ floor general.<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>High-IQ floor general. Part of Houston&#8217;s S16 run. System player with translatable feel.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Not a dynamic scorer. Age as a senior.<\/p>\n<p>5<\/p>\n<p>Milan MomcilovicIowa StateF<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;8&#8243; elite shooter \u2022 Lightning-quick release \u2022 S16 exit<\/p>\n<p>+19#55 \u2192 #36<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Few better shooters at the college level at his size. The lightning-quick release is an NBA-translatable skill.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#55 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Few better shooters at college level. 6&#8217;8&#8243; size and lightning release.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>One-dimensional shooter archetype. Iowa State S16 exit limited his stage.<\/p>\n<p>6<\/p>\n<p>Motiejus KrivasArizonaC<\/p>\n<p>FF: quiet game vs Michigan \u2022 Final Four run ends<\/p>\n<p>+15#37 \u2192 #22<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>A surprise first-round inclusion post-championship: Yahoo&#8217;s post-tournament mock has him at #23. His rim protection, rebounding, and flashes of shooting touch at 7&#8217;2&#8243; made enough of an impression despite Arizona&#8217;s blowout loss to Michigan.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#37 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#41 \u2014 second round, slipped slightly<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Stretch big who can shoot from deep. Part of Arizona&#8217;s Final Four run.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Athleticism questions. Role player ceiling. May have been overrated pre-tourney.<\/p>\n<p>7<\/p>\n<p>Tarris Reed Jr.UConnC<\/p>\n<p>Title game: 13 pts 14 reb double-double \u2022 4 tourney double-doubles total<\/p>\n<p>+13#42 \u2192 #29<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>A 13-point, 14-rebound double-double in the national championship game \u2014 his fourth double-double of the tournament. One of the most productive bigs in March Madness history this year. Despite being a senior, his interior skill set is keeping him in late first-round conversations.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#42 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#37 \u2014 late first round range, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Tourney scoring surge. Historic rebounding game. Elite rim protector with 87 tourney pts. UConn Final Four run.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Primary calling card is defense. Can offensive production sustain vs NBA physicality?<\/p>\n<p>8<\/p>\n<p>Zuby EjioforSt. John&#8217;sF<\/p>\n<p>Big East POY \u2022 S16 exit \u2022 19 pts \/ 9 reb \/ 7 blk in Big East title<\/p>\n<p>+13#45 \u2192 #32<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>18\/9 vs Kansas to send the Red Storm to the Sweet 16. Energy, physicality, and defense every game \u2014 plus Big East POY on one of the year&#8217;s best teams.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#45 \u2014 late first round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#38 \u2014 late first round, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Energy, physicality, defense every game. Big East POY. Versatile defender scouts love.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Poor finisher. Subpar shooter. Undersized at 6&#8217;9&#8243;. Pre-draft measurements pivotal.<\/p>\n<p>9<\/p>\n<p>JT ToppinTexas TechF<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;9&#8243; junior \u2022 S16 exit \u2022 22.6 ppg \/ 11.2 rpg<\/p>\n<p>+10#52 \u2192 #42<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Led Texas Tech to the Sweet 16 with consistent scoring. Big rebounder and athletic forward.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#52 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Big rebounder and athletic forward. Led Texas Tech to the Sweet 16.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Age as a junior. Did not differentiate enough in the tourney to climb boards.<\/p>\n<p>10<\/p>\n<p>Morez Johnson Jr.MichiganF\/C<\/p>\n<p>Title game: 12 pts 10 reb double-double \u2022 National champion<\/p>\n<p>+9#27 \u2192 #18<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Second tournament double-double in the championship game. The most versatile defender in the draft class delivered when it mattered most. Post-championship mocks putting him 19-22 range.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#27 \u2014 late first round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#25 \u2014 late first round, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Part of Michigan&#8217;s elite Final Four frontcourt. Rim protection and athleticism on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Offensive skill set still developing. Role player ceiling debate.<\/p>\n<p>11<\/p>\n<p>Amari AllenAlabamaF<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;8&#8243; \u2022 38.5% 3PT \u2022 7.3 reb \u2022 3.3 ast \u2022 S16 exit<\/p>\n<p>+9#30 \u2192 #21<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Shoot-dribble-pass combo forward who Nate Oats called key to Alabama&#8217;s identity. Needed a bigger March to be a lock.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#30 \u2014 fringe first round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#27 \u2014 late first round, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Shoot-dribble-pass versatility. 38.5% from 3. Oats praised his all-around value. NBA fit is clear.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Inconsistent from deep late in season. 5 pts or fewer in 3 of Bama&#8217;s last 4 pre-tourney games.<\/p>\n<p>12<\/p>\n<p>Meleek ThomasArkansasG<\/p>\n<p>Part of Acuff&#8217;s Arkansas backcourt \u2022 R2 exit \u2022 Explosive scorer<\/p>\n<p>+8#34 \u2192 #26<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Athletic, explosive scorer who benefited from Acuff drawing all defensive attention.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#34 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#33 \u2014 second round, slight rise<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Athletic, explosive scorer. Benefited from Acuff drawing defensive attention.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Consistency and decision-making need development.<\/p>\n<p>13<\/p>\n<p>Braden SmithPurdueG<\/p>\n<p>D-I all-time assist leader \u2022 S16 exit vs Texas<\/p>\n<p>+7#57 \u2192 #50<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>All-time assist leader in Division I basketball. 4-year Purdue contributor. Steady, mistake-free floor general.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#57 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>D-I all-time assist leader. 4-year Purdue contributor. Mistake-free point guard.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Not a dynamic athlete. Size concerns at NBA level.<\/p>\n<p>14<\/p>\n<p>Alex CondonFloridaC<\/p>\n<p>7&#8217;0&#8243; Florida junior \u2022 R2 exit vs Iowa \u2022 17.8 ppg \/ 8.8 rpg<\/p>\n<p>+7#47 \u2192 #40<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Florida&#8217;s big man who went out in the R2 upset at the hands of Bennett Stirtz&#8217;s Iowa. Solid two-way center with passing feel.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#47 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#48 \u2014 second round, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>7&#8217;0&#8243; two-way center with passing feel. Florida lost to 9-seed Iowa in the round of 32.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>R2 exit limited final impression. Athleticism for next level debated.<\/p>\n<p>15<\/p>\n<p>Zvonimir IvisicIllinoisC<\/p>\n<p>7&#8217;2&#8243; Illinois junior \u2022 Final Four \u2022 4.1 BLK% \u2022 Twin of Tomislav<\/p>\n<p>+6#61 \u2192 #55<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>The other Ivisic twin \u2014 pure rim protector and shot-blocker at 7&#8217;2&#8243;. Part of Illinois&#8217; Final Four run alongside his brother Tomislav.<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>7&#8217;2&#8243; pure rim protector. Elite shot-blocker. Part of Illinois&#8217; Final Four run. Tomislav&#8217;s twin.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Offensively very limited. Not a shooter. Backup-center ceiling most likely.<\/p>\n<p>16<\/p>\n<p>Ryan ConwellLouisvilleG<\/p>\n<p>Louisville senior \u2022 R1 exit \u2022 Career 37.6% 3PT on super high volume<\/p>\n<p>+4#53 \u2192 #49<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Career 37.6% three-point shooter on super high volume who can drill threes off screens, handoffs, and in transition.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#53 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#54 \u2014 second round, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Career 37.6% from 3 on high volume. Built like a tank. Better rebounder and defender than expected.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Limited handle at 6&#8217;4&#8243;. Ground-bound athlete. Louisville R1 exit hurt.<\/p>\n<p>17<\/p>\n<p>Dailyn SwainTexasG\/F<\/p>\n<p>Best player on Cinderella Texas \u2022 Swiss Army knife versatility \u2022 Sweet 16<\/p>\n<p>+4#28 \u2192 #24<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Part of Texas&#8217;s unexpected Sweet 16 run. All-around game and improved pull-up range benefiting from Cinderella spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#28 \u2014 late first round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>All-around game. Improved ball handler and creator. Swiss Army knife connector.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Needs shooting and ball-handling improvement to fully translate.<\/p>\n<p>18<\/p>\n<p>Isaiah EvansDukeF<\/p>\n<p>Duke sophomore \u2022 E8 exit \u2022 36.5% 3PT on high volume<\/p>\n<p>+4#26 \u2192 #22<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Lethal shooter with parking lot range and some ancillary defensive upside. E8 exit with Duke. May return to school.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#26 \u2014 late first round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#27 \u2014 late first \/ early second, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Lethal shooter, parking lot range. Rounded out game with defensive activity.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Rail thin. NBA can be unforgiving to skinny wings. May return to school.<\/p>\n<p>19<\/p>\n<p>Emanuel SharpHoustonG<\/p>\n<p>Houston senior \u2022 S16 exit \u2022 18.9 ppg \/ 1.5 stl<\/p>\n<p>+4#56 \u2192 #52<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Consistent shooting guard who has been part of Houston&#8217;s excellent program. S16 exit vs Illinois.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#56 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#57 \u2014 second round, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Consistent shooter and defensive contributor. Part of Houston&#8217;s competitive S16 run.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>S16 exit limited tourney impact. Age as a senior.<\/p>\n<p>20<\/p>\n<p>Mark MitchellMissouriF<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;9&#8243; Missouri senior \u2022 19.6 ppg \u2022 played in tourney<\/p>\n<p>+4#61 \u2192 #57<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Versatile forward who made the tournament with Missouri.<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Versatile forward. 19.6 ppg for Missouri. Made the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Senior age. Missouri&#8217;s competition level limits evaluation quality.<\/p>\n<p>21<\/p>\n<p>Yaxel LendeborgMichiganF<\/p>\n<p>Title game: 13 pts 4\/13 FG (played hurt) \u2022 Big Ten POY \u2022 National champion<\/p>\n<p>+3#13 \u2192 #10<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Played through MCL and ankle injuries to help Michigan win the title. Scored 13 points on limited movement and was a steadying force even when not at full strength. Lottery lock despite the age (turns 24 before rookie season).<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#11 \u2014 lottery, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Do-it-all production. Defends across positions. Near-TD vs Alabama. High IQ connective playmaking.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Will be 24 on draft night. Limited upside ceiling vs younger prospects.<\/p>\n<p>22<\/p>\n<p>Mikel Brown Jr.LouisvilleG<\/p>\n<p>R1 exit \u2022 Battled back injury all season<\/p>\n<p>+2#10 \u2192 #8<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Back injury wiped out his entire March \u2014 yet Yahoo&#8217;s post-championship mock has him #8. The pre-draft medicals will define his summer. If cleared, the elite shooting and playmaking put him in the top-10 conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#12 \u2014 lottery, slipped<\/p>\n<p>Why He Slipped<\/p>\n<p>Chronic back injury all season. Louisville R1 exit denied needed visibility.<\/p>\n<p>Upside<\/p>\n<p>Elite range shooter, precise passer. Enormous upside if healthy.<\/p>\n<p>23<\/p>\n<p>Flory BidungaKansasC<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;10&#8221; athletic big \u2022 9.2 BLK% this season<\/p>\n<p>+2#40 \u2192 #38<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Potent offensive rebounder, lob target, and versatile defender. R1 loss with Kansas limited his tourney exposure.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#40 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#39 \u2014 second round, slight rise<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Potent offensive rebounder, lob target, versatile defender at 9.2 BLK%.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Undersized for NBA 5. Not a floor spacer.<\/p>\n<p>24<\/p>\n<p>Dillon MitchellSt. John&#8217;sF<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;7&#8243; St. John&#8217;s senior \u2022 S16 exit<\/p>\n<p>+2#61 \u2192 #59<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Versatile wing who can defend multiple positions. Part of St. John&#8217;s deep run before S16 exit.<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Versatile defender. Can guard multiple positions. Part of St. John&#8217;s Big East title run.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Complete non-shooter \u2014 a huge problem at his size in the NBA.<\/p>\n<p>25<\/p>\n<p>Darius Acuff Jr.ArkansasG<\/p>\n<p>SEC Tourney: 91 pts \/ 3 gms \u2022 Season: 22.2 ppg \/ 6.4 apg \u2022 SEC POY<\/p>\n<p>+1#6 \u2192 #5<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Scored 49 points in one regular-season game, then 91 across three SEC Tourney games. The most prolific scoring guard in the class.<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#4 \u2014 lottery, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>91 pts across 3 SEC Tourney games. SEC POY. Shot creation rivals Peterson&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Defense is a real question mark. Pure scorer without elite 3-and-D upside.<\/p>\n<p>26<\/p>\n<p>Cameron BoozerDukePF<\/p>\n<p>22.7 ppg \u2022 11.0 reb \u2022 4.4 ast \u2022 E8 exit<\/p>\n<p>+1#3 \u2192 #2<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Double-double machine and elite passer at 26.4 AST%. Lost to UConn in the Elite Eight. Dybantsa&#8217;s emergence has many boards moving him to #3.<\/p>\n<p>Big Board Pre<\/p>\n<p>#1 \u2014 top prospect<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre \/ Current<\/p>\n<p>#3 \u2192 #3 \u2014 steady<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Sabonis\/Love comp. Double-double machine, elite passer, consistent shotmaker.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Not a plus rim protector. Tweener defensively.<\/p>\n<p>27<\/p>\n<p>Rueben ChinyeluFloridaC<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;10&#8221; Florida junior \u2022 R2 exit \u2022 16.5 rpg per 36<\/p>\n<p>+1#49 \u2192 #48<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Massive rebounder. Went out with Florida in the R2 Iowa upset. Massive body and elite interior presence.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#49 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#50 \u2014 second round, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Massive rebounder. Elite interior presence. Florida lost to 9-seed Iowa in R2.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Limited offensive skill set beyond finishing. Mobility concerns.<\/p>\n<p>28<\/p>\n<p>Koa PeatArizonaF<\/p>\n<p>FF: 16 pts 11 reb in loss vs Michigan \u2022 Final Four<\/p>\n<p>~#22 \u2192 #22<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>One of few Arizona bright spots with 16 and 11 in a tough loss. Competed hard as Michigan&#8217;s bigs dominated. His physical profile and defensive upside remain the pitch to lottery teams.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#22 \u2014 late lottery<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#21 \u2014 late lottery<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Back-to-back 20-pt games vs Arkansas and Purdue. Strength, play-finishing, defensive versatility.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Lack of shooting range and creation. Questions about NBA ceiling.<\/p>\n<p>29<\/p>\n<p>Keaton WaglerIllinoisG\/F<\/p>\n<p>FF: 20 pts 8 reb 2 ast (7\/16 FG) \u2022 First frosh with 20-8 in Final Four since Derrick Rose 2008<\/p>\n<p>~#7 \u2192 #7<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Dropped 20 points and 8 rebounds on the Final Four stage \u2014 the first freshman to do that since Derrick Rose in 2008. Illinois fell but Wagler&#8217;s tape from Indianapolis is going to be talked about all spring.<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#5 \u2014 lottery, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Pull-up shooting, footwork, shot creation as a freshman. Pro-level mid-range. 38.8% from 3.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Below-average athleticism. Lack of explosion limits defensive impact.<\/p>\n<p>30<\/p>\n<p>Darryn PetersonKansasG<\/p>\n<p>R1 exit \u2022 Last 9 gms: 20.6 ppg \u2022 Season-long health questions<\/p>\n<p>~#2 \u2192 #2<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Buzzer-beater loss to St. John&#8217;s in R1. Still top-3 talent. Spring medicals will be the real moment of truth.<\/p>\n<p>Big Board Pre<\/p>\n<p>#2 \u2014 projected No. 1<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre \/ Current<\/p>\n<p>#2 \u2192 #2 \u2014 slipped from #1 consensus<\/p>\n<p>Why He Slipped<\/p>\n<p>Health questions persisted all year. R1 exit. Dybantsa&#8217;s emergence makes him the riskier pick.<\/p>\n<p>Upside<\/p>\n<p>Best offensive upside in the class. Elite shooter and playmaker.<\/p>\n<p>31<\/p>\n<p>Brayden BurriesArizonaG<\/p>\n<p>FF: 13 pts (11 in 2nd half) quiet vs Michigan&#8217;s defense \u2022 Final Four<\/p>\n<p>~#9 \u2192 #9<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Held scoreless until late in the game by Michigan&#8217;s elite defense. Finished with 13 but 11 came in garbage time. The blowout nature of the game limited his showcase \u2014 but scouts already have enough tape.<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#7 \u2014 lottery, rising<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Elite scoring efficiency in tourney. Defense, decision-making, intangibles all check.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Slightly undersized at two-guard. Playmaking volume modest.<\/p>\n<p>32<\/p>\n<p>Joshua JeffersonIowa StateF<\/p>\n<p>Iowa State senior \u2022 Ankle injury \u2022 Missed S16 games \u2022 19.1 ppg \/ 8.6 rpg<\/p>\n<p>~#32 \u2192 #32<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Ankle injury cost him NCAA tournament games at the worst possible time. Improved shooting and expanded playmaking role had built his stock all year.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#32 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#34 \u2014 second round, slipped<\/p>\n<p>Why He Slipped<\/p>\n<p>Ankle injury cost him S16 games. Scouts could not get final evaluation when it mattered most.<\/p>\n<p>Upside<\/p>\n<p>Improved 3PT efficiency, new playmaking role as 6&#8217;9&#8243; forward. Tough around the basket.<\/p>\n<p>33<\/p>\n<p>Tomislav IvisicIllinoisC<\/p>\n<p>7&#8217;1&#8243; with outside shooting touch \u2022 Final Four \u2022 16 pts 7 reb vs UConn<\/p>\n<p>~#61 \u2192 #61<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Rare 7&#8217;1&#8243; big with legitimate outside shooting touch. Part of Illinois&#8217; Final Four run. Scored 16 and grabbed 7 in the semifinal loss to UConn. Scouts noting his performance on the biggest stage \u2014 not yet in post-championship mocks but expected to be a combine name.<\/p>\n<p>Pre-tourney<\/p>\n<p>NR \u2014 not in pre-tourney mock drafts<\/p>\n<p>Post-championship<\/p>\n<p>NR \u2014 not yet in No Ceilings, Yahoo or NBADraft.net<\/p>\n<p>Why scouts watch<\/p>\n<p>7&#8217;1&#8243; with shooting touch is almost unprecedented. Final Four exposure. 16 pts vs UConn in the semis.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Old for a junior. Clunky mover. Limited ball skills. Pure size swing pick.<\/p>\n<p>34<\/p>\n<p>Andrej StojakovicIllinoisF<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;7&#8243; Illinois junior \u2022 Final Four \u2022 9 pts 8 reb vs UConn \u2022 Part of 10-0 run<\/p>\n<p>~#61 \u2192 #61<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Nasty competitor with a bullying downhill game. Capped Illinois&#8217; 10-0 second-half run that nearly completed the comeback vs UConn. Part of Illinois&#8217; historic first Final Four since 2005. Not yet in post-championship mocks \u2014 pre-draft workouts will determine his case.<\/p>\n<p>Pre-tourney<\/p>\n<p>NR \u2014 not in pre-tourney mock drafts<\/p>\n<p>Post-championship<\/p>\n<p>NR \u2014 not yet in No Ceilings, Yahoo or NBADraft.net<\/p>\n<p>Why scouts watch<\/p>\n<p>Part of Final Four run. Nasty competitor. Above-the-rim bounce. High effort floor.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Poor shooter. Tunnel vision on offense. Son of Peja.<\/p>\n<p>35<\/p>\n<p>AJ DybantsaBYUF<\/p>\n<p>R1 exit: 37 pts \/ 10 reb \/ 12-12 FT \u2022 Season: 24.5 ppg \u2022 Led nation scoring<\/p>\n<p>-1#1 \u2192 #2<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>R1 loss did not hurt him \u2014 37 points, 10 boards, 12-12 from the line in 40 minutes. Now widely viewed as the likely No. 1 pick.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre \/ Current<\/p>\n<p>#1 \u2192 #1 \u2014 new consensus No. 1<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Played all 40 min in a loss and dominated. 60% TS. Seen as safer #1 vs Peterson&#8217;s health uncertainty.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Handle and perimeter shooting need polish. Defensive engagement inconsistent.<\/p>\n<p>36<\/p>\n<p>Bennett StirtzIowaG<\/p>\n<p>Upset No. 1 Florida \u2022 E8: 24 pts vs Illinois \u2022 160 min \/ 1 foul \/ 3 TO in 4 games<\/p>\n<p>-1#18 \u2192 #19<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Led 9-seed Iowa to the Elite Eight. 1 foul and 3 turnovers across 4 games. The poise and feel under pressure that scouts do not forget.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#18 \u2014 mid first round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#17 \u2014 mid first round, solidified<\/p>\n<p>Why He Rose<\/p>\n<p>Led 9-seed to E8. 90 dribble jumpers on season. 50.8% catch-and-shoot. Elite decision-making.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Older (senior). Not the quickest or best separator.<\/p>\n<p>37<\/p>\n<p>Chris Cenac Jr.HoustonC<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;11&#8221; Houston freshman \u2022 S16 exit \u2022 11.4 rpg<\/p>\n<p>-1#21 \u2192 #22<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Big-bodied frontcourt piece who excels on the glass and at the rim. Houston&#8217;s S16 exit vs Illinois limited exposure.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#21 \u2014 late lottery<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#22 \u2014 late lottery, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Big-bodied frontcourt piece. Dominant rebounder and rim presence.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Not a floor spacer. Limited offensive skill set beyond finishing.<\/p>\n<p>38<\/p>\n<p>Henri VeesaarNorth CarolinaC<\/p>\n<p>7&#8217;0&#8243; UNC junior \u2022 R2 exit \u2022 19.5 ppg \/ 10.0 rpg<\/p>\n<p>-2#38 \u2192 #40<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>7-footer with solid scoring and rebounding numbers. UNC&#8217;s R2 exit limited exposure.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#38 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>7&#8217;0&#8243; junior with solid scoring and rebounding. Capable shooter and passer for his size.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Athleticism concerns. R2 exit offered limited top-competition evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>39<\/p>\n<p>Otega OwehKentuckyG<\/p>\n<p>Kentucky senior \u2022 R1 exit \u2022 20.5 ppg \/ 2.0 stl<\/p>\n<p>-2#58 \u2192 #60<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Athletic, long-armed Kentucky guard who can score and defend. R1 exit limited his tourney exposure.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#58 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#59 \u2014 second round, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Athletic guard with scoring and defensive versatility. Kentucky R1 exit.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>R1 exit offered limited top-competition evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>40<\/p>\n<p>Kingston FlemingsHoustonG<\/p>\n<p>S16 exit \u2022 9 pts vs Texas A&amp;M \u2022 11 pts vs Illinois<\/p>\n<p>-3#5 \u2192 #8<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Unimpressive tournament scoring \u2014 9 pts vs TAMU, 11 vs Illinois. Scouts questioning whether the upside matches the hype.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#5 \u2014 top-5 lottery<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#8 \u2014 lottery, slipped<\/p>\n<p>Why He Slipped<\/p>\n<p>Unimpressive tournament scoring. Did his part distributing but did not individually impress scouts.<\/p>\n<p>Upside<\/p>\n<p>Most explosive downhill guard in the class. Freshman age keeps him lottery-range.<\/p>\n<p>41<\/p>\n<p>Labaron Philon Jr.AlabamaG<\/p>\n<p>S16 exit \u2022 29 pts vs Hofstra \u2022 12 ast vs Texas Tech<\/p>\n<p>-3#11 \u2192 #14<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Mixed tournament bag \u2014 29-pt game vs Hofstra, then 2-for-12 with 12 assists vs Texas Tech. Scouts split on upside in a deep guard class.<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#13 \u2014 lottery, slipped<\/p>\n<p>Why He Slipped<\/p>\n<p>Inconsistent scoring in tourney. 2-for-12 vs Texas Tech hurt. Deep guard class creates more competition.<\/p>\n<p>Upside<\/p>\n<p>Shifty scorer with elite footwork. Mix of positional size and shot creation.<\/p>\n<p>42<\/p>\n<p>Tyler TannerVanderbiltG<\/p>\n<p>Vanderbilt sophomore \u2022 R1 exit \u2022 21.0 ppg \/ 2.6 stl<\/p>\n<p>-5#29 \u2192 #34<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>One of the highest steal-rate guards in the draft. Productive sophomore who got a quick tourney exit and limited national exposure.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#29 \u2014 late first round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;0&#8243; guard with elite steal rate (2.6 STL%). Productive scorer and creator.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Size is a concern at 6&#8217;0&#8243;. R1 exit limited exposure.<\/p>\n<p>43<\/p>\n<p>Jaden BradleyArizonaG<\/p>\n<p>FF: foul trouble 3 fouls in first half vs Michigan \u2022 Final Four<\/p>\n<p>-5#44 \u2192 #49<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Picked up three fouls in the first half vs Michigan \u2014 limiting his impact right when Arizona needed him most. The foul trouble narrative adds to concerns about his first-round case.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#44 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Defensive-minded point guard. Shooting improvement will determine first-round fate.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Inconsistent shooter. Creating own shot at NBA level is open question.<\/p>\n<p>44<\/p>\n<p>Allen GravesSanta ClaraF<\/p>\n<p>Santa Clara freshman \u2022 R1 exit \u2022 18.8 ppg \/ 10.4 rpg \/ 3.0 stl<\/p>\n<p>-6#23 \u2192 #29<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>One of the most interesting mid-major prospects in the class. Outstanding steal rate for a player his size. R1 exit limited the stage.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#23 \u2014 late lottery\/early R1<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#24 \u2014 late first round, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;9&#8243; with 3.0 STL% \u2014 elite defensive playmaker for his size.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Small school context. R1 exit offered limited top-competition evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>45<\/p>\n<p>Nate AmentTennesseeF<\/p>\n<p>Elite Eight run (6-seed) \u2022 6&#8217;10&#8221; wing \u2022 20.2 ppg<\/p>\n<p>-6#8 \u2192 #14<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Mixed tournament \u2014 shotmaking flashes but struggles converting drives vs physicality. Stock has fallen all year from preseason top-4 hype.<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#9 \u2014 lottery, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Why He Slipped<\/p>\n<p>Stock fallen all year. Struggled to convert drives vs physical defense in tourney.<\/p>\n<p>Upside<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;10&#8221; long wing. Shoot-dribble-pass framework. 19+ made FGs in every offensive situation type.<\/p>\n<p>46<\/p>\n<p>Thomas HaughFloridaF<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;9&#8243; junior \u2022 18.4 ppg \u2022 R2 exit vs Iowa<\/p>\n<p>-6#16 \u2192 #22<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Classic high-IQ, strong-defender, efficient scorer. Florida&#8217;s season ended with the Bennett Stirtz upset, limiting his tourney footprint.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#16 \u2014 mid first round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>High IQ, strong defender, efficient scorer. Florida lost to 9-seed Iowa in the round of 32.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Did not get enough games to move up. Athleticism questions linger.<\/p>\n<p>47<\/p>\n<p>Alex KarabanUConnF<\/p>\n<p>Title game: 17 pts 11 reb double-double (final college game) \u2022 18-2 career tourney record<\/p>\n<p>-7#35 \u2192 #42<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Went out with 17 and 11 in his final college game \u2014 fell just short of becoming the ninth player ever to win three NCAA titles. The soul of UConn&#8217;s dynasty. Post-championship mocks have him late first round, with Boston, Denver, and Houston cited as fits.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#35 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Veteran stretch big. Smart, reliable floor spacer. Part of UConn&#8217;s championship-caliber program.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Athleticism concerns. Senior age. Role player ceiling.<\/p>\n<p>48<\/p>\n<p>Christian AndersonTexas TechG<\/p>\n<p>Season: 19.3 ppg \u2022 7.7 ast \u2022 41.5% 3PT \u2022 S16 exit<\/p>\n<p>-9#19 \u2192 #28<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Expanded offensive duties produced a sterling stat line. Outstanding A\/TO ratio and elite 3PT shooting on volume pushed him up boards.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#19 \u2014 mid first round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#20 \u2014 steady, slight slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>41.5% from 3 on volume. Excellent court vision. Outstanding A\/TO ratio.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Not overwhelming physically. Deep guard class makes evaluation tricky.<\/p>\n<p>49<\/p>\n<p>Pryce SandfortNebraskaF\/G<\/p>\n<p>Leading scorer on historic Huskers team \u2022 Elite 3-point specialist<\/p>\n<p>-11#46 \u2192 #57<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>One of the better shooters in the draft. Brother Payton is in OKC&#8217;s G League.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#46 \u2014 second round<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Elite 3PT specialist. Nebraska&#8217;s best player on their best-ever NCAA tourney team.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>May return for senior year for NIL. Defensive questions.<\/p>\n<p>50<\/p>\n<p>Patrick Ngongba IIDukeC<\/p>\n<p>6&#8217;11&#8221; Duke sophomore \u2022 E8 exit \u2022 Injury concerns all year<\/p>\n<p>-13#17 \u2192 #30<\/p>\n<p>Tourney<\/p>\n<p>Analytics darling with elite passing and rim protection feel. Foot issues all year clouded his season. Duke&#8217;s E8 exit with UConn limited his final impression.<\/p>\n<p>Mock Pre<\/p>\n<p>#17 \u2014 mid first round<\/p>\n<p>Current<\/p>\n<p>#18 \u2014 mid first round, minor slip<\/p>\n<p>Profile<\/p>\n<p>Analytics darling. Elite passer for a big. Strong rim protector. Foot soreness clouded evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>Concern<\/p>\n<p>Below-average run-jump athlete. Foot injury history.<\/p>\n<p>Updated through National Championship \u2014 April 7, 2026Michigan defeats UConn 69-63. Elliot Cadeau named Final Four MOP. Final delta values reflect full tournament movement from pre-tourney mock through championship game.<\/p>\n<p>                         #         PlayerSchoolPos         PreCurrent\u0394              1Braylon MullinsUConnG#60#22+382Aday MaraMichiganC#31#9+223Trevon BrazileArkansasF#54#33+214Milos UzanHoustonG#61#41+205Milan MomcilovicIowa StateF#55#36+196Motiejus KrivasArizonaC#37#22+157Tarris Reed Jr.UConnC#42#29+138Zuby EjioforSt. John&#8217;sF#45#32+139JT ToppinTexas TechF#52#42+1010Morez Johnson Jr.MichiganF\/C#27#18+911Amari AllenAlabamaF#30#21+912Meleek ThomasArkansasG#34#26+813Braden SmithPurdueG#57#50+714Alex CondonFloridaC#47#40+715Zvonimir IvisicIllinoisC#61#55+616Ryan ConwellLouisvilleG#53#49+417Dailyn SwainTexasG\/F#28#24+418Isaiah EvansDukeF#26#22+419Emanuel SharpHoustonG#56#52+420Mark MitchellMissouriF#61#57+421Yaxel LendeborgMichiganF#13#10+322Mikel Brown Jr.LouisvilleG#10#8+223Flory BidungaKansasC#40#38+224Dillon MitchellSt. John&#8217;sF#61#59+225Darius Acuff Jr.ArkansasG#6#5+126Cameron BoozerDukePF#3#2+127Rueben ChinyeluFloridaC#49#48+128Koa PeatArizonaF#22#22~29Keaton WaglerIllinoisG\/F#7#7~30Darryn PetersonKansasG#2#2~31Brayden BurriesArizonaG#9#9~32Joshua JeffersonIowa StateF#32#32~33Tomislav IvisicIllinoisC#61#61~34Andrej StojakovicIllinoisF#61#61~35AJ DybantsaBYUF#1#2-136Bennett StirtzIowaG#18#19-137Chris Cenac Jr.HoustonC#21#22-138Henri VeesaarNorth CarolinaC#38#40-239Otega OwehKentuckyG#58#60-240Kingston FlemingsHoustonG#5#8-341Labaron Philon Jr.AlabamaG#11#14-342Tyler TannerVanderbiltG#29#34-543Jaden BradleyArizonaG#44#49-544Allen GravesSanta ClaraF#23#29-645Nate AmentTennesseeF#8#14-646Thomas HaughFloridaF#16#22-647Alex KarabanUConnF#35#42-748Christian AndersonTexas TechG#19#28-949Pryce SandfortNebraskaF\/G#46#57-1150Patrick Ngongba IIDukeC#17#30-13                <\/p>\n<p>There is still a bit more regular-season action before the NBA playoffs begin, so keep tabs on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/nba\/odds\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NBA odds<\/a> right here at RotoWire.<\/p>\n<p>Methodology For Draft Tracker<\/p>\n<p>Here is how we calculated our figures.<\/p>\n<p>Pre-tournament baseline: Each player&#8217;s pick position was pulled from the Tankathon mock draft entering the NCAA tournament. Players who appeared on the Big Board but not in any mock draft were assigned NR (treated as pick No. 61, the first undrafted slot) for delta calculation purposes.Post-championship consensus: After Michigan&#8217;s 69-63 win over UConn on April 6, we averaged pick positions across three independently published mock drafts: No Ceilings V.6 (April 7), Yahoo Sports\/SB Nation (April 7), and NBADraft.net (April 7). When a player appeared in only one source, that single position was used. Players not appearing in any of the three post-championship mocks \u2014 including Final Four MOP Elliot Cadeau \u2014 are listed as NR and excluded from the delta leaderboard.Scope: 50 prospects who (a) played in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and (b) appear in at least one post-championship mock draft. Injured players (such as Caleb Wilson, Jayden Quaintance), internationals (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/basketball\/player\/karim-lopez-6915\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Karim Lopez<\/a>, Sergio de Larrea), and players whose teams did not make the NCAA Tournament (Auburn&#8217;s Keyshawn Hall, Cincinnati&#8217;s Baba Miller) are excluded.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s dig deeper into possible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/nba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NBA betting<\/a> angles with the NBA draft a couple of months away.<\/p>\n<p>The Championship Game Divide<\/p>\n<p>Michigan outscored its NCAA Tournament foes by a combined 114 points in UM&#8217;s six-game run through the Big Dance. But now it&#8217;s time for some of coach Dusty May&#8217;s stars to take their talents to the pros.<\/p>\n<p>Unsurprisingly, the Wolverines and the team they beat by six points on Monday night (UConn) will most likely send six or more players between them to the NBA Draft pool in 2026. Michigan stars <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/basketball\/player\/yaxel-lendeborg-6562\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Yaxel Lendeborg<\/a>, Morez Johnson, Aday Mara all have rising NBA Draft stock, which rose along with Michigan&#8217;s NCAA championship <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/college-basketball\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">college basketball odds<\/a> as the tourney rolled on.<\/p>\n<p>Two Huskies stars, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/basketball\/player\/alex-karaban-6594\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Karaban<\/a> and Braylon Mullins, sparked UConn&#8217;s run as a No. 2 seed. They combined to score 18 of their team&#8217;s 63 points in the championship game loss Indianapolis.<\/p>\n<p>Biggest Riser: Braylon Mullins (+38)<\/p>\n<p>The freshman guard shined in his home state during two Final Four weekend contests. He piled up 26 points and 10 rebounds combined against Illinois and Michigan. As a result, Braylon Mullins NBA draft stock talk is increasing.<\/p>\n<p>The freshman entered the Big Dance as a fringe draft candidate, ranking No. 60 in pre-tournament mock drafts. But he gained 38 spots to leave Storrs (in all likelihood) as a consensus first-round pick, ranking 22nd in our most recent version.<\/p>\n<p>Mullins&#8217; One Shining Moment from the tournament came against Duke in D.C., where his buzzer-beating 3-pointer capped a wild, 73-72 comeback victory over the East Region&#8217;s top seed.<\/p>\n<p>That type of accuracy from deep is why Braylon Mullins&#8217; NBA Draft stock has soared and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/sites\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">sportsbook sites<\/a> customers might want to keep an eye on him before this summer&#8217;s draft.<\/p>\n<p>The Aday Mara Leap (+22, now top 10)<\/p>\n<p>Few players saw their NBA Draft prospects soar quite as high as Michigan junior Aday Mara. In the national semifinal, he crushed Arizona in the paint with 26 points and nine rebounds as the Wolverines routed the West&#8217;s top seed.<\/p>\n<p>Mara&#8217;s NBA Draft stock surged, with the Spanish-born center jumping 22 spots from No. 31 to No. 9. That&#8217;s just behind Mullins&#8217; leap and one more than Trevon Brazile of Arkansas, who gained 21 spots from No. 54 to 33. Aday Mara NBA draft prospects are worth watching now.<\/p>\n<p>Yahoo! Sports and No Ceilings have Mara as the ninth-best NBA Draft prospect.<\/p>\n<p>Elliot Cadeau: The MOP Not On Any Mock<\/p>\n<p>One of the brightest stars on May&#8217;s championship team hasn&#8217;t gotten a whole lot of love online. Junior guard Elliot Cadeau&#8217;s NBA Draft stock hasn&#8217;t moved much, despite his solid play in the backcourt for the Wolverines.<\/p>\n<p>Cadeau averaged 12.3 points and 7.5 assists per game during the tournament. The North Carolina transfer hit 8-of-9 free-throw attempts on his way to 19 points in Michigan&#8217;s six-point title game win. Cadeau was named the Final Four&#8217;s Most Outstanding Player.<\/p>\n<p>But Cadeau will have to make his NBA Draft case during pre-draft workouts and the combine. That makes him one of the most interesting unranked names in this year&#8217;s class. Elliot Cadeau NBA draft possibilities are not to be dismissed just yet.<\/p>\n<p>Patrick Ngongba II: Biggest Faller (-13)<\/p>\n<p>The prospect whose stock fell furthest is Duke forward Patrick Ngongba II, who went from a consensus mid-first round pick (at No. 17) to No. 30, perhaps out of the first round.<\/p>\n<p>Three forgettable starts in the Big Dance did not help. Ngongba scored 13 points in the tournament with nearly as many personal fouls (10) as rebounds (11).<\/p>\n<p>Ngongba is an analytics darling, with elite passing skills and strong rim protector vibes. But a sore foot hobbled the 6-foot-11 Virginia native all year. No Ceilings has pegged him 41st overall in its latest mock.<\/p>\n<p>Sportsbook operators already have futures odds on the 2027 NCAA Men&#8217;s Basketball Tournament champion. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/draftkings\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">DraftKings Sportsbook<\/a> lists Duke at the top with +800 odds. Fellow No. 1 seeds Michigan (+1200), Florida (+1400) and Arizona (+1500) are next.<\/p>\n<p>Pryce Sandfort: The Mystery Drop (-11)<\/p>\n<p>One NCAA prospect who played well but still saw his NBA Draft prospects suffer was Nebraska forward Pryce Sandfort. He fell 11 spots by our metrics, from No. 46 to 57th overall. He averaged 21 points and five rebounds a game for the Cornhuskers, who earned the program&#8217;s first two NCAA Men&#8217;s Basketball Tournament wins in program history.<\/p>\n<p>Sandfort enters the offseason a as a late second-round draft prospect, so the junior from Iowa might ponder returning for another year under head coach Fred Hoiberg. Another season at Nebraska (and likely a big NIL bag) plus a weaker 2027 NBA Draft class could help his cause.<\/p>\n<p>Motiejus Krivas: Surprise First-Round Push (+15)<\/p>\n<p>Few NCAA big men saw the type of NBA Draft stock swing that Arizona&#8217;s Motiejus Krivas did. The Lithuanian forward gained 15 spots, from No. 37 pre-tournament to 22nd. The 7-2 junior averaged 10.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in five tournament games. He&#8217;s a first-round prospect for No Ceilings (No. 22) and Yahoo! Sports (No. 23) in their mock drafts.<\/p>\n<p>Krivas has first-class rebounding chops and a deft shooting touch in the paint. So the veteran of 83 games in Tucson will enter the NBA Draft process as one of the top college forwards, despite how the Wildcats&#8217; season ended against the Wolverines.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/apps\/nba\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best NBA betting apps<\/a> will have futures odds right after the NBA Finals. We will see how much the draft changes those lines.<\/p>\n<p>Milan Momcilovic: Steady Riser Few Are Talking About (+19)<\/p>\n<p>Iowa State reached the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years. No player on coach T.J. Otzelberger&#8217;s roster did more to help their NBA Draft stock than 6-8 forward Milan Momcilovic.<\/p>\n<p>Momcilovic entered the Big Dance as a fringe draft pick in general, ranking 55th overall, but finishes March Madness at No. 36 overall. The NBADraft.net mock puts him 29th. Between Momcilovic&#8217;s lightning fast release and rare shooting touch, there&#8217;s plenty to love about the Wisconsin native. He averaged 14.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the Cyclones in three tournament games this year.<\/p>\n<p>Tarris Reed Jr.: The Transfer&#8217;s Last Stand (+13)<\/p>\n<p>Tarris Reed Jr., a Michigan transfer, finished his NCAA career with 13 points and 14 rebounds for UConn on Monday. He logged two seasons in Ann Arbor before transferring to Storrs in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Reed&#8217;s Big Dance definitely helped his draft stock as he posted four double-doubles. He rose to No. 26 with No Ceilings, while NBADraft.net has the senior from St. Louis at 32nd overall.<\/p>\n<p>Reed averaged a career-high 14.7 ppg and 9.0 rpg, but his best campaign came in his last NCAA stand. The four-year forward is now tasked with taking his talents to the next level after coming up short on Monday against the program that signed him as a high school prospect.<\/p>\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/bet365\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">bet365 Sportsbook<\/a>, BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa is the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick at -185 odds as of April 7.<\/p>\n<p>What To Watch Next<\/p>\n<p>With college basketball season over, the next thing to watch is which underclassmen enter the NBA Draft. Players musty hake those decisions no later than 60 days before the NBA Draft (to be held in late June, exact date undetermined).<\/p>\n<p>Underclassmen don&#8217;t have to formally declare until May 27, with the NBA Draft combine held between May 10 (the same day as the NBA Draft Lottery) and May 17.<\/p>\n<p>The top 50 changed a lot since the start of March Madness, with 27 of the 50 tracked prospects rising in our latest mock draft stock report. Compare that to 16 played who fell and five holding steady. So there&#8217;s sure to be a lot more NBA Draft volatility between now and late June.<\/p>\n<p>Future NBA players such as Tarris Reed, Braylon Mullins, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/basketball\/player\/alex-karaban-6594\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Karaban<\/a> and Aday Mara all put their best foot forward during March Madness, giving scouts plenty to work off of as the draft cycle kicks into full gear. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/apps\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Online sports betting apps<\/a> will have props galore for NBA Draft wagering action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Now that the Michigan Wolverines have cut down the nets on their first men&#8217;s national championship in 26&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":704107,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[7,80042,6,12],"class_list":{"0":"post-704106","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba-draft","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-minor-league-stats","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-nba-draft"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116365779427196700","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/704106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=704106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/704106\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/704107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=704106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=704106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=704106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}