March Madness is now over, and it is officially “silly season” time. Yes, The Sports Bank’s 2026 NBA mock draft version 10.0 is coming to you on the heels of being at press row at Lucas Oli Stadium in Indianapolis for the Final Four. Yes, you read that right, The Sports Bank was media credentialed for the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Indy! And there were plenty of top tier NBA Draft prospects to interview and analyze. We’ve got lots of insider stuff for you in this update.
We’re also the only independently-owned, mom and pop shop website to publish a mock draft in all four of the major North American sports, and the most popular professional women’s sport.
At least, we think we think we are. We’re still waiting to be told otherwise.
Past NBA Mock Drafts, final editions: 2025 2024 2021 2020 2018
Meanwhile our latest 2026 NFL mock draft can be found here. Our final MLB mock draft of 2025 can be found at this link. For our latest WNBA mock draft go here. And finally, here’s the link to our latest 2026 NHL mock draft update.
More detailed player descriptions are coming soon! Happy 2026 NBA mock draft everyone!
This mock is listed on EDS Football’s 2026 NBA Mock Draft Database.
1. Washington Wizards, AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
The most talented freshman in the nation this year, and he is pro ready.
2. Indiana Pacers, Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Honestly, you can put Peterson-Boozer-Dybantsa in any order up in the top three.
3. Brooklyn Nets, Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
Second generation superstar in the making…you’re already long sick of those insurance commercials with him and his brother. Insurance commercials are grotesquely inescapable these days.
4. Sacramento Kings, Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina
After that elite trio there is a drop off to everyine else, but Wilson is very much a (Carolina) blue chip prospect in his own right.
5. Utah Jazz, Keaton Wagler, PG/SG, Illinois
Go here for our exclusive with Wagler.
Keaton Wagler, what else is there left to say about this sensational freshman at this point?
Wagler features prominently in our Illinois Fighting Illini Bingo Card/Drinking Game, as March Madness announcers couldn’t help but mention how “lightly recruited” Wagler was, coming out of high school. We asked Wagler about proving the recruiting rankings wrong.
“I think that’s just shows my character,” he responded.
“That, you know, I don’t really care what other people think about me. I just go and do what I do. And my teammates, they helped me a lot. My coach helped me a lot. And I appreciate, every single one of them.”
Wagler also added the following, earlier on in the open locker room media session.
“Once you’re an Illini, you’re always an Illini. So we just hold our heads high.
For much more on Wagler, go here, here and here
6. Dallas Mavericks, Darius Acuff, PG, Arkansas
John Calipari coached guards often get to the NBA, and then they make a ton of money when they get there.
7. Memphis Grizzlies, Nate Ament, SF, Tennessee
If you’re looking for a sleeper pick to become a generational level talent, in this class, it’s Ament. He is a polarizing prospect now doubt, as his numbers just aren’t reflective of his skill-set.
However, if you look more with a longer view, Ament would be a smarter pick, because he’s an excellent outside shooter at 6-10.
Ament is a 5-star recruit who picked UT over blue blood programs Duke and Kentucky, as well as Arkansas and Louisville. He said the coaching staff, and the roster that they assembled, were major reasons why he chose the Volunteers.
“I kind of waited, later in my recruiting process, so I could see the team that was going to be here,” Ament said in an exclusive with Ratings.
“So I knew who my teammates were going to be, and I loved every one of them, like Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Jaylen Carey, and the returners like Felix (Okpara), and everybody coming back.
“I knew that they were gonna be great teammates to play with.”
Ament is one of the most intriguing draft prospects out there. Scouts marvel at his skill set and raw talent. His natural abilities are pretty awe-inspiring, but his game still needs some polish.
“He’s gifted in so many different ways,” said teammate and sophomore forward J.P. Estrella (who has since transferred to Michigan)
“He’s just a tall kid that just gets buckets. He does a little bit of everything. Defensively he’s gotten really good since being here. I feel like he’s got an unguardable jump shot in that little mid range.
“He just does a little bit of everything for us, and it benefits us as a team so much.”
8. Atlanta via New Orleans, Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
He really gets after it on both ends of the floor, and is truly a blue-chip prospect.
9. Chicago Bulls, Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville
He hasn’t ruled out the idea of returing to UL for another year, but he’s definitely pro ready right now.
10. Milwaukee Bucks, Brayden Burries, PG/SG, Arizona
A big reason why Zona made their Final Four run this season.
11. Golden State Warriors, Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
This Wolverine is a total matchup nightmare, and he’s a huge reason why Michigan won the national title. The Dominican-American was the regional’s Most Outstanding Player and he also won the Big Ten Player of the Year award this season.
Whenever opponents D up on Lendeborg, face-guarding him and forcing him out into areas where the only shots possible are ones that he doesn’t want to take, the Dominican dynamo can kick it out to his teammates. Lendeborg knows what he needs to do in situations like these.
“I do need to figure out ways where I can be more of an aggressor,” he said after having an off game, during the 71-67 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal victory over Ohio State.
“And try to make more plays for my team. I’m going to look back on it today, and figure what I can do, to fix that, in case that coverage gets started again.”
For our interview of Lendeborg, go here.
12. Oklahoma City via Clippers, Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama
He’s a high percentage shooter who can score in bunches, but he can also take over an entire game even if he’s having an off night. Philon tested the waters last year, learned a lot about himself, and greatly improved his game.
“I would just say in the off-season, having a lot of time to just work on your game was really the biggest thing for me,” Philon told The Sports Bank ahead of the sweet 16 loss to Michigan.
“Like I said before, it really wasn’t anything that I had to change. It was just about the type of shots that I was getting and the confidence level.
“I feel like when I was working in the summer, my confidence just grew so much that every shot that I shot, I thought it was going in. That’s how I play the game of basketball now. I didn’t really have to change anything in my shot mechanics or anything like that. Just getting extra reps in and building that confidence.”
Philon was a late second round prospect a year ago, now he’s a solid lottery level pick.
13. Miami Heat, Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington
A big who can totally change the game, even when he’s not having a huge scoring night. The Huskies forward always draws so much attention that when the UW guards are having a big night…you still got to credit Steinbach. A big that can shoot the three, he’s ideal for today’s NBA.
14. Charlotte Hornets, Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
Stirtz is fundamentally sound, well-coached and athletically gifted. He’s got a great three point shot, and fits in well for what today’s NBA wants. He can knock down the three ball with ease, and while he already has a strong mid range game, developing that further would only increase his draft stock even higher.
End of the Lottery
15. Chicago via Portland, Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida
Really passionate player who truly loves the game. You can see that in his final media opps at the podium, following UF’s elimination from the tournament at the hands of Iowa.
16. Memphis via Orlando, Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn
He’s really made himself some money this March Madness, especially with that cold-blooded game-winning three in the Elite 8.
17. Oklahoma City via Philadelphia, Chris Cenac, PF/C, Houston
18. Toronto Raptors, Jayden Quaintance, PF, Kentucky
19. Charlotte via Orlando, Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke
20. San Antonio via Orlando, Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
21. Detroit via Minnesota, Aday Mara, C, Michigan
The Big Ten’s leading shot-blocker was the main reason why UM was a top 5 team in blocked shots this regular season. Like the late, great Dikembe Mutombo, he also alters a ton of shots, in addition to the ones that he blocks. The 7’3″ shot blocking extraordinaire is a UCLA transfer and Spaniard who was influenced by Pau Gasol.
Asked about Gasol this March Madness, Aday Mara (who was included in this year’s One Shining Moment), responded: “we do have a relationship, we’ve talked a couple times, he’s a really good person.”
Questioned about what he takes from Gasol’s game, he answered: “almost everything- he was a really good player, and I’m always trying to learn.”
Like everyone else of importance on Michigan’s roster, Mara transferred in from somewhere else, and in his case, it’s UCLA. Mara is considered a solid middle-of-the-first-round NBA Draft prospect. Imagine how high his stock would be if he could consistently shoot threes.
22. Atlanta via Cleveland, Tounde Yessoufou, SF/SG, Baylor
23. Philadelphia via Houston, Karim Lopez, F, Mexico
24. LA Lakers, Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt
25. New York Knicks, Morez Johnson, PF, Michigan
Last season Morez set the Illini freshman record for season field goal percentage this campaign, finishing up at 64.7%. He then transferred to Michigan in the offseason, and his sophomore year saw him develop into the Wolverines leading rebounder (7.3 rpg) and second leading scorer (13.4 ppg).
That says a lot, given how good this national championship Michigan team was.
“I think I played very different from last year,” Johnson said about the growth he made from year one at Illinois to year two at Michigan. “especially on the defensive end, being able to guard one through five, showcase more, shooting the ball, more, pretty much over everything here.”
Our exclusive with the Illini transfer can be found at this link.
Out other Morez interview can be found here.
26. Denver Nuggets, Isaiah Evans, SF, Duke
27. Boston Celtics, Koa Peat, SF, Arizona
28. Minnesota via Detroit, Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
The 6-foot-9 Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this past season, which ended early, due to an ankle injury.
29. Cleveland via San Antonio, Amari Allen, Alabama
The 6-foot-8, 205-pound freshman forward is a great rebounder and a decent three-point shooter. Green Bay native was the state of Wisconsin’s top high school basketball player.
30. Dallas via OKC, Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, RG and Ratings. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and The Washington Post.