March Madness always has perhaps too large of an impact on the NBA draft. While good scouts try to take the whole season’s picture into account, it’s hard to ignore how players perform on the biggest stage in college basketball. Recency bias also plays a subconscious factor in weighing those games more heavily. A good tournament can move a player into the lottery, and a bad one can convince a prospect to stay in school for another year.
UNC’s Caleb Wilson and Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. were the only two lottery-projected players who did not participate in the tournament (both had injuries that kept them out). For the rest, we got to see how they handled the pressure-cooker. Some definitely helped their stock, while others may have had the scales tip in favor of taking one more season of NIL money.
With another checkpoint in the draft cycle completed, here is an updated 2026 NBA Mock Draft coming out of the NCAA Tournament.
Note: Order based on NBA Draft Lottery odds through games played on Sunday, April 5
MORE: Ranking 10 best NBA Draft prospects in 2026 March Madness
NBA Mock Draft 2026
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
Despite a premature first-round exit, Dybantsa validated his status as the potential No. 1 pick with a 35-points, 10-rebound performance. While Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer remain in the conversation, Dybantsa’s Division I-leading 25.5 points per game have him holding onto a slight edge in the race.
Dybantsa’s ability to create good looks as a 6-9 wing with guard skills is unmatched in this class. He has excellent handle, footwork, and tough shot-making skills that make him one of the most polished scoring prospects that we’ve seen in years.
2. Brooklyn Nets: Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
Boozer had a good-not-great tournament, falling in the Elite Eight on one of the craziest shots in tournament history. He continued to produce in every game though, averaging 22.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over those four games.
Boozer wasn’t as dominant as some would have liked during March Madness, and he did have some turnover issues. But he continued to show why he’s so highly regarded in this class. He is extremely skilled, scoring efficiently at the rim, stretching out to 3, playmaking for teammates, and providing solid positional defense.
MORE: Cameron Boozer is The Sporting News Player of the Year
3. Indiana Pacers: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Peterson quieted durability concerns by averaging 36.5 minutes across Kansas’ two tournament games. He continued to show why he’s considered a premier scorer, averaging 24.5 points in those contests.
Peterson was known for possessing a great motor in high school before his college cramping issues cropped up. If those are behind him, then he would be a nightmare in transition on a fast Pacers team next to Tyrese Haliburton.
MORE: Darryn Peterson’s timeline of Kansas controversies
4. Utah Jazz: Caleb Wilson, SF/PF, North Carolina
Wilson missed the tournament with a broken hand. The gap between him and the rest of the contenders at No. 4 in this draft shrunk as a result. He’s still the best pick available for the Jazz, who should select him despite having a solid starting frontcourt in place with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Wilson’s 6-10 size, incredible athleticism, and defensive ability make him the clear pick here. He’s a dunking machine, and he’s liable to come from anywhere on the floor to make jaw-dropping blocks. He’s nowhere close to a finished product, but he will have plenty of time and opportunity to develop on a Jazz team that is poised to take a big jump next season.
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5. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
Acuff transformed into a scoring machine during the final weeks of the season, a trend that continued through a Sweet 16 berth. Averaging 29.3 points and 5.3 assists for the tournament, he established himself as arguably the most dynamic lead guard in the college game. While his defensive effort remains inconsistent, the Kings badly need a long-term option at the position over the 37-year-old free agent Russell Westbrook. Acuff’s elite playmaking and lights-out shooting will be a much-needed addition.
MORE: Darius Acuff full scouting report
6. Dallas Mavericks: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
The Mavericks’ struggles this year were largely tied to a lack of backcourt depth and shot creation. Flemings addresses this deficiency immediately. During Houston’s deep run, he showcased the top-tier speed and the ability to control a game. Beyond his high offensive skill, he is a capable point-of-attack defender who gives Dallas another player to pair with potential All-Defensive forward Cooper Flagg.
7. Atlanta Hawks (from Pelicans): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
Wagler’s meteoric rise from late bloomer to surefire top 10 pick was the story of the Big Dance. He displayed remarkable poise while dismantling Houston’s aggressive defensive traps in the Sweet 16 and played well throughout Illinois’ Final Four run.
For a Hawks team that transitioned to a point guard by committee approach after trading Trae Young, Wagler offers a traditional organizing presence. He can also stretch the floor with his shooting for point forward Jalen Johnson or Atlanta’s other talented scoring guards.
8. Memphis Grizzlies: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
The Grizzlies have a certain draft profile that they like to pursue. They love guys who meet certain statistical thresholds corresponding to efficient shooting, high defensive rebounding and assist percentage, and high block and steal percentages.
Burries meets all of those statistical requirements sans block percentage, where his 6-4 height as a guard holds him back. But he’s a well-rounded draft prospect who has good point-of-attack defense, shooting, ballhandling, and rebounding that fits the way the Grizzlies love to play under coach Tuomas Iisalo. Burries played well for most of the tournament but had his worst game against a tough Michigan defense in a Final Four loss.
9. Chicago Bulls: Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan
The Bulls find themselves at a crossroads, needing a player who can contribute immediately to save a sputtering rebuild. Lendeborg is the most NBA-ready prospect in this range. He’s raised his stock thanks to a terrific tournament performance for Michigan, where he looked like the best player in it. His dribble, pass, shoot skill set aligns with the Bulls’ egalitarian and high-tempo offensive style.
MORE: Yaxel Lendeborg full NBA scouting report
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville
A back injury kept Brown out of Louisville’s tournament games, but his regular season proved that he belongs in the lottery. The Bucks badly need some creation and playmaking around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brown can provide that.
Brown showed during his 21 games in college that he is a microwave scorer who is capable of getting on incredibly hot streaks. He didn’t shoot a great percentage from 3 in college but looked like one of the best pure shooters in high school. He’s also one of the most creative passers in this draft class.
Whether the Bucks keep Giannis or move on from him, Brown is exactly the type of high ceiling prospect that they should be targeting.
11. Golden State Warriors: Jayden Quaintance, PF/C, Kentucky
Quaintance’s draft stock is a battle between elite tape and a frustrating medical file. After returning from a torn meniscus and ACL recovery, he managed only four games as a sophomore before persistent knee swelling shut him down for the tournament. When healthy, however, he is the premier vertical athlete in this class.
For a Warriors team that has spent years relying on undersized big men, Quaintance offers a necessary pivot toward true size. His ability to act as a rim-running specialist would provide immediate relief for an aging core of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.
12. Charlotte Hornets: Nate Ament, SF, Tennessee
Ament is the definition of a high-risk, high-reward lottery swing. His tournament was a microcosm of his season. He flashed brilliance in transition but struggled with consistency, notably going scoreless in the opening round and shooting just 2-of-12 in an Elite Eight loss to Michigan.
Despite the up-and-down play, his 6-10 frame and fluidity are tempting to a Thunder team that is already flush with young talent. Oklahoma City doesn’t need a win-now player, and Ament is the perfect high-ceiling prospect who could turn into a two-way force for them down the line.
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13. Miami Heat: Aday Mara, C, Michigan
Mara has skyrocketed the most of any prospect in March, playing his way into the lottery thanks to an impressive tournament performance. The 7-3 behemoth has been a monster rim protector during Michigan’s deep run. He’s scored effectively with his size while showing nice passing instincts and feel. And his poor free throw shooting has looked much better. He’s hit 68.8 percent of them over his last 23 games, including 11-of-14 during the tournament.
While Mara lacks the lateral quickness to switch on the perimeter, he should be an elite drop center. He gives the Heat a completely different look from Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware. Erik Spoelstra is a great coach who should be able to highlight the things he does with his size that nobody else in this class can.
14. Memphis Grizzlies (from Magic): Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
Peat didn’t shoot it great in Arizona’s Final Four loss to Michigan, but he was a stabilizing force during the team’s Final Four run. He is a rugged forward who excels in the grit-and-grind areas of the game. His physicality allows him to finish through contact at the rim, while he shows emerging vision as a short-roll passer. He fits the Grizzlies’ profile of drafting players who can contribute in multiple areas.
15. Chicago Bulls (from Blazers): Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
The Bulls already have a ton of guards on their roster, but free agents Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons could be gone and they’ve already moved on from Jaden Ivey. That leaves room for another guard who could explode in their faster-paced system.
Stirtz didn’t shoot the ball all that well in the tournament, but he did demonstrate how valuable his gravity was in leading the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight. He hit some big 3’s in key moments and showed NBA range in Iowa’s slowed-down system. He could reach a new level playing for one of the fastest teams in the league in the Bulls, who prioritize a transition attack with multiple ballhandlers.
Stirtz has been an unbelievable spot-up shooter, hitting 49.2 percent of his 3’s off those looks this season. He would feast next to Josh Giddey and give Chicago a dual point guard attack that they already like to use.
MORE: Bennett Stirtz full scouting report
16. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington
While Washington failed to secure an NCAA tournament bid, Steinbach’s production during his freshman campaign was undeniable. The 6-11 big man averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds on a stellar 57.7 percent from the field and a promising 34.0 percent from 3.
The Hornets already have two specialist big men in Moussa Diabate with his high motor and Ryan Kalkbrenner with his size. Steinbach is a more well-rounded player. He’s got great hands, adds to their elite offensive rebounding, and has nice touch around the basket.
17. Charlotte Hornets (from Suns): Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
Carr’s breakout sophomore season has transformed him from a project into a surefire first-rounder. He is an elite vertical athlete, as evidenced by his 46 dunks this year. It’s his 38.5% shooting from deep that truly raises his floor. At 6-5 with a lanky frame, he has the length to become a disruptive perimeter defender. In Charlotte, he would thrive as a transition finisher and secondary creator, giving the Hornets much-needed depth and athletic pop on the wing.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (from 76ers): Morez Johnson, PF, Michigan
The Thunder like the ability to play different styles on defense. They’ve used 6-7 forward Kenrich Williams or even 6-foot-5 guard Jalen Williams as centers in small ball lineups in the past. They get another extremely versatile defender with a bit more size in the 6-9 Johnson. He is an energy big who can switch onto perimeter scorers or act as a weak side shot blocker. His offensive game is still maturing, but his motor and athletic tools allow him to impact the game.
19. Toronto Raptors: Labaron Philon Jr., PG, Alabama
The Raptors already have Immanuel Quickley at point guard, but he’s had issues with staying healthy for full seasons. Philon serves as both a high-level insurance policy and a potential backcourt partner. He was one of the tournament’s individual stars, erupting for 29 points against Hofstra and a career-high 35 against Michigan.
Philon is a legitimate pull-up threat from distance, a skill that has evolved significantly during his sophomore year. His passing chops are equally refined. He gives the Raptors a more dynamic option at lead guard to jump start a mediocre offense that has been in need of better shooting.
MORE: Labaron Philon Jr. NBA scouting report
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Hawks): Karim Lopez, SF, New Zealand Breakers (NBL)
Lopez might be the only international player taken in the first round. The Spurs obviously have a ton of success stories with those types of prospects.
Lopez fits in well theoretically with Victor Wembanyama as a toolsy 3-and-D forward with good size. He struggled at the start of the NBL season, but he has shown steady improvement while playing against the physical competition that the Australian league is known for. He still needs polish, but the Spurs have the developmental track record to provide that for him.
21. Detroit Pistons (from Timberwolves): Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas
The Pistons have built an elite defensive identity, but they remain overly reliant on Cade Cunningham for offensive creation. Swain addresses this as a 6-8 wing initiator. He is at his best when getting downhill and finishing through contact, but his passing development was the real story of Texas’ Sweet 16 run. Averaging 5.7 assists in the tournament, he proved he can read defenses on the fly and find open shooters when defenses load up on him.
22: Atlanta Hawks (from Cavaliers): Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
The Hawks have two big men that they can count on in their rotation. Onyeka Okongwu has been a quality starter for the Hawks. Jock Landale has been a capable energy backup big. They could use more size to complement that group.
At 7-0 tall, Veesaar could be that guy for the Hawks. He did his best to carry North Carolina without star Caleb Wilson in their first round tournament loss against VCU. The big man scored 26 points on 18 shots, showing scouts how polished his offensive game is.
The Hawks love to play with five-out spacing, and Veesaar provides that with 42.6 percent shooting from 3 this season. He is a good passer with nice feel, and he has a big body to grab rebounds. He’s an older prospect that doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he has the size and skill combination that is currently lacking on Atlanta’s roster.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (from Rockets): Patrick Ngongba, C, Duke
The minutes without Joel Embiid have been a perennial disaster for Philadelphia. Ngongba is the antidote. He is a high-level glue guy who doesn’t need plays called for him to be effective. Though a sore foot limited his mobility in Duke’s Elite Eight loss to UConn, his season-long tape shows a productive finisher and a high-IQ defender who understands positioning. He would thrive off the gravity of Tyrese Maxey and Embiid, feasting on putbacks and dump-off passes.
MORE: Ranking college basketball’s loaded freshmen class in March Madness
24. New York Knicks: Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn
Mullins did not shoot the ball well in the tournament, but he provided its signature moment with his game-winning heave to send UConn to the Final Four. And he hit another big 3 to get them to the championship game.
While his shooting percentages dipped late in the year due to a massive slump, those clutch shots reinforced what scouts know is a top-tier shooter dating back to his high school days. He’s a good candidate to return for another year in a weaker draft where he could easily be picked in the lottery. If he does enter the draft, his ability to spread the floor as a movement shooter with good feel on both ends makes him a worthy flier with a late first round pick.
MORE: Braylon Mullins full scouting report
25: Denver Nuggets: Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida
Denver’s championship window requires players who can think as fast as Nikola Jokic. Haugh, a 23-year-old senior, is the most cerebral forward in this range. At 6-9, he is a willing floor-spacer and a disciplined cutter who understands how to exploit the pockets of space Jokic creates. His quick feet and length would also help shore up a Denver defense that has struggled this season.
26. Los Angeles Lakers: Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
The Lakers need a lob threat to pair next to Luka Doncic. Cenac has great physical tools at 6-11 with a long wingspan. He’s a fluid athlete who gives the Lakers some defensive versatility and rebounding. He had great touch at the rim, and he threw down an impressive 47 dunks this season.
While his offensive game outside of three feet is a work in progress, his role in LA would be simple. Run the floor, protect the rim, and catch everything Doncic throws near the square.
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27: Boston Celtics: Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt
The Celtics won a championship with a brilliant passer and undersized guard back in the day with Rajon Rondo. Tanner doesn’t have Rondo’s passing chops, but he does play with that same knack for manipulating space. The 6-0 guard could provide some scoring punch off the bench if he does decide to forego a big NIL payday next season. He’s proved himself to be a capable shooter, which is key in Joe Mazzulla’s offensive system, and he could get the team more paint touches.
MORE: Tyler Tanner full scouting report
28: Minnesota Timberwolves (from Pistons): Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
The Wolves gave up on the Rob Dillingham experiment, trading for a veteran scoring guard in Ayo Dosunmu instead. They still need that young point guard to replace Mike Conley’s minutes.
Anderson could be that guy. He’s one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, he has outstanding vision, and he has a good defensive motor. He would be a great complementary player to space the floor for Anthony Edwards.
29: Cleveland Cavaliers (from Spurs): Amari Allen, SF, Alabama
Allen is a 6-8 forward who provides the 3-and-D archetype Cleveland desperately needs to bolster its wing depth. Despite a 2-of-25 slump to end his freshman year and poor shooting throughout the tournament, his mechanics and high school pedigree suggest he is a much better shooter than his 34% average indicates. He is a high-effort defender with a long frame, capable of guarding multiple positions and moving the ball quickly within an offense.
30: Dallas Mavericks (from Thunder): Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
Graves’ Santa Clara team couldn’t pull off the upset against Kentucky in the first round, but he had a nice game with 17 points on only 12 field goal attempts in the overtime loss. He’s been one of the big risers of this class, showing that he can shoot effectively from 3, rebound, and play with very high feel. He’s not an athletic freak, but he’s a statistical darling and a first-round talent who could be picked higher if he does decide to return to school for another year.