The madness has officially begun.
The first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament kicked off Thursday morning, marking the start of an electric few weeks of college basketball.
Mavericks fans should be tuned into the action this weekend because there are several elite NBA draft prospects who might be available in the mid-lottery range — where Dallas is currently projected to land.
The Mavericks have lost eight of their last 10 games despite Sunday’s impressive road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. With rare wins on Wednesday by Memphis and New Orleans, Dallas maintains a one-game advantage for sixth place in the lottery standings, 2.5 games behind Utah for fifth.
The NCAA’s field of 68 has plenty of NBA prospects who will likely walk across the stage in June’s draft, including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer, the cream of this year’s class.
The Mavericks lucked up in last year’s draft lottery and secured the No. 1 pick, leading to a lifeline in the form of Cooper Flagg, their do-it-all forward. Now, they need to find a running mate that will complement his versatile two-way talents.
Our Kevin Sherrington eloquently pointed out that the Mavericks are in desperate need of a guard in this year’s draft cycle. Here are five prospects that could still be on the board if the Mavericks indeed remain within picks 5-8.
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
No prospect outside of the Big 3 has been raved about more than Acuff, who could very well be the best guard in the country.
Look no further than the SEC tournament to see why the Arkansas freshman would be a quality pick for the Mavericks, who are in need of an additional playmaker to help Flagg and Kyrie Irving next season.
Acuff is a flat out scorer. He exploded in the three games leading to the Razorbacks’ first SEC championship in 26 years. He scored 37 points in a quarterfinal win over Oklahoma, posted 24 points and seven assists in a semifinal win over Ole Miss that required overtime and tallied 30 points with 11 helpers in the title game against Vanderbilt.
Acuff’s size at 6-3 works against him, especially on the defensive end, but he’s proved to be efficient in his lone season at Arkansas. He averages 22.9 points and 6.5 assists with shooting splits of 48.6% from the field and 44.5% from 3. The Mavericks need as much perimeter shooting as possible to help space the floor for Flagg’s aggressive drives. Acuff could be the missing piece.
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
It’s actually unclear if or when Brown will make his NCAA Tournament debut.
Brown hasn’t played a game since Feb. 28 and he’s currently sidelined with a back injury, which will require Louisville to navigate possibly the first two rounds without their star point guard. Luckily for Brown, they defeated South Florida on Thursday and advanced to face the winner of Michigan State and North Dakota State.
Brown has dealt with back issues for the majority of the season but has managed to average 18.2 points and 4.7 assists. His ability to score and find his teammates would bode well on the Mavericks, who possess the fourth-worst offense in the NBA. He exploded for a season-high 45 points against NC State earlier this season and eclipsed Flagg’s former ACC freshman single-game scoring record of 42.
He remains a projected lottery pick because he’s a pull-up threat, a willing passer and has a shifty handle. Irving is expected to be one of the Mavericks’ primary scorers alongside Flagg, but they’ll need plenty of secondary scoring to be competitive.
Brayden Burries, Arizona
Arizona has a pair of freshmen who could play in the NBA next season in Burries and Koa Peat.
Burries has improved his draft stock throughout his first year with the Wildcats by being a combo guard that can shoot, especially off the catch. He averages 16.0 points and 2.6 assists this season. Burries is 6-4, so he’s slightly undersized for a traditional shooting guard, but he’s a good rebounder at that position with 5.0 per game.
There are other options that would be better fits, but Burries would be an effective choice if the Mavericks slide toward the bottom of the lottery.
Houston’s Kingston Flemings, right, and Arizona’s Brayden Burries battle for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big 12 Conference tournament Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo.
Charlie Riedel / AP
Kingston Flemings, Houston
One of Irving’s best skills is the ability to get downhill and finish at the basket with either hand. The same goes for Flagg, who’s excelled with his left hand all season.
Meet Flemings, who is one of the most explosive players in the draft, possessing a similar skill set as a driver. His 3-point shot isn’t as potent as the others, but 39% isn’t too shabby.
Flemings also shares a couple of Texas ties since he hails from San Antonio and plays for Houston. Could he remain in his home state at the next level?
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year averages 17.9 points per game along with 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists, showing a wide range of versatility as a 6-6 guard. The Mavericks leaned all the way in on size over the last two years and Wagler’s frame could fit in on a roster full of lengthy wings and big men.
Wagler would benefit any team’s offense thanks to his ability to attack defenses and attract multiple defenders. The Mavericks need as many players with that skill set as possible because it generates open 3-pointers. The NBA is predicated on perimeter shooting, and Wagler is making 40.2% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
He’s not as athletic as some of the other guards in his class, but he has the potential to be a long-term starter.
Twitter/X: @MikeACurtis
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