Jon Chepkevich

The 2026 NBA Draft Consensus Big Board is now live on Rookie Scale. Agency 📝’s and 🔮’s within. Bookmark to follow along and monitor how the draft class is taking shape between now and June. rookiescale.com/2026-consensus…

Our 2026 Men's Rising Star is Kevin Sweeney of @CBB_Central and @SInow ... usbwa.com/a/f183eabf

Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson put his feel and versatility on full display throughout the Big 12 Tournament. 19.7 PTS, 9.7 REB, 4.0 AST, 2.3 STL, 1.0 BLK on a 61.6 TS% while finishing +58 in 3 games. The 2nd Team All-American brings an enticing combination of size, strength, playmaking, and two-way instincts as a 6’9” 240 pound utility forward. Chance to bolster his late first round case as the focal point of the 2-seed Cyclones, who have a chance to make a deep March Madness run.

NEWS: Washburn's Dillon Claussen will enter the transfer portal, per his agency, Excel Sports Management. The 19-year-old First-Team All-MIAA PF is the No. 2 sophomore in the DraftExpress D2 model.

we have signed undrafted free agent TE Carson Towt.

Brayden Burries’ timely scoring (21 points on 10 shots) against Houston in the Big 12 Tournament championship game helped Arizona take home the hardware. The strong-bodied 6’5” freshman guard knows how and when to attack defensive vulnerabilities. Burries' patience, shotmaking prowess, and ability to play through contact have been invaluable to the Wildcats’ offense, perfectly complementing veteran backcourt mate, Jaden Bradley. Projected top ten pick who could really solidify his standing with a strong March Madness run on a team with championship aspirations.

NEWS: Central Missouri PG Lazerek Houston will enter the transfer portal, per agent Duncan Lloyd. The MIAA Player and Freshman of the Year is the No. 1 freshman in DraftExpress's D2 model, averaging 20.8 points and 5.1 assists per game.

Braden Smith stepped up with a big time double-double to upset Michigan and bookend his Purdue career with B1G Tournament titles. 14 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, and 0 turnovers against one of the nation’s biggest, most imposing defenses. Cooked switching bigs out in space, got to his midrange spots, dished out a bevy of slick pocket passes, fed TKR smartly on the short roll, was disruptive both on and off the ball defensively, and simply controlled the game from start to finish with steadfast composure. Showed why he was tabbed as the preseason National + Big Ten Player of the Year, bringing the Boilers back to form in March and securing a 2-seed after an uneven season. Has the makings of a longtime NBA backup point guard.

Darius Acuff Jr. showed out and put another bullet on his NBA Draft résumé by leading Arkansas to their first SEC Tournament title since 2000. Scorched his competition to the tune of 30.3 points, 7.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game en route to MVP honors. The 19-year-old’s ability to dissect defenses while seamlessly blending his scoring and playmaking is a rare commodity. Carves up elite competition every which way on big stages while remaining unfazed by the moment. While some defensive foibles certainly persist, Acuff has built a strong case as a top ten pick, and very well may be knocking on the top five’s door with continued postseason success.

Zuby Ejiofor completely dominated on both ends of the floor, leading St. John's to a second straight Big East Tournament Championship and earning Most Outstanding Player honors. 19.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 4.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game throughout the Johnnies’ title run in friendly confines of MSG. Slightly undersized by NBA big man standards, but more than makes up for it with his motor, physicality, smarts, competitiveness, footwork, passing, and improving touch. Potential first round pick.

Ugonna Onyenso put forth yet another Herculean defensive effort in a narrow ACC Championship loss to top-ranked Duke. Gave a typically unflappable Cam Boozer fits all game with his length, mobility, motor, and rim-protection instincts, holding him to just 3-of-17 from the field. Racked up 9 emphatic blocks, giving him 21 for the ACC Tournament, shattering a record long-held by Tim Duncan.

Aday Mara was, once again, an X-factor for Michigan in a B1G Tournament quarterfinal rivalry matchup against Ohio State. 17 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK on a 68.9 TS% while finishing +7 in a 4-point win. Rolled to the rim with purpose, finished lobs at odd angles with coordination, showed nimble footwork operating out of the baseline midpost, and anchored the paint with blocks, impactful contests, well-executed drop coverage, drive deterrence as a helper, and shot alterations with verticality. Unique prospect with a chance to further elevate his draft stock in the coming weeks on a March Madness title contender.

Ivan Kharchenkov put forth a masterful two-way performance in Arizona’s nail-biter of a Big 12 Tournament semi-final win over Iowa State. 17 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK on a 79.0 TS% Drove downhill with force, splashed corner threes, showed comfort as a pick-and-roll handler, fed bigs with great timing/touch/accuracy, fought over ball screens, held his ground defensively, and maintained active hands for disruptive steals/deflections/digs. A lot to like from an NBA standpoint as a 6’7”, 230 pound utility wing who makes winning plays on both ends without commanding much usage.

Virginia’s Ugonna Onyenso was a defensive game-wrecker off the bench in a win over NC State. The Nigerian big man leveraged his tools (7’5” wingspan, 9’5 ½" reach), timing, instincts, and motor to reject 8 shots and alter several more. Re-emerging on NBA radars with a strong senior season in a winning context.

@CBB_Central *Bid Moggers

New Bracket Watch: - Auburn: OUT - Miami: IN - Oklahoma: SURGING - Bid Thieves: LURKING si.com/college-basket…

Elite shooting display from Providence’s Stefan Vaaks in a Big East Tournament win over Butler. The 6’7” Estonian freshman drilled 8 threes en route to a game-high 28 points. Dynamic sniper with NBA range both pulling up out of ball screens and as a spot-up catch-and-shooter.

NEWS: Jared Grey has committed to High Point, agent Milan Nikolic told DraftExpress. The 6'8 German forward plays a meaningful role for EuroCup team Hamburg in the BBL. Had a strong U20 Eurobasket showing.

I spent 20 hours embedded with @UIC_MBB experiencing the highs and lows of conference tournament life. An all-access look at the race to prepare for the biggest game of your life and the crushing moment when the journey officially ends: si.com/college-basket…

Tampa’s Ryan Blount is entering the transfer portal, he tells DraftExpress. The 6’7” sophomore guard averaged 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 41% on 6.7 threes per game this season. Projects as one of the top D2 to D1 transfer-up targets of this portal cycle.