NBA Mock Draft 9.0: First-Round Predictions Ahead of NCAA Championship
The NCAA men’s basketball final between Michigan and UConn will showcase multiple projected 2026 first-round talents. Scouts will study performances as the season ends. The game provides one last major evaluation for prospects.
Context and methodology
This mock is built using ESPN-projected records and accounts for trades. Swaps and protections are included in the order. Filmogaz.com compiled these first-round predictions ahead of the NCAA Championship.
Notable players who could still return
- Tounde Yessoufou — Baylor.
- Alijah Arenas — USC.
- Meleek Thomas — Arkansas.
- Ebuka Okorie — Stanford.
- Flory Bidunga — Kansas.
Top 10 lottery prospects
1. AJ Dybantsa, BYU, is the projected No. 1. He won the Julius Erving Award. He led the nation in unassisted points with 680.
Dybantsa scored 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in his NCAA Tournament game. He also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament.
2. Cameron Boozer, Duke freshman, earned national collegiate player of the year honors. He is viewed as a high-upside fit for the Pacers.
Boozer brings consistent production and championship experience from high school and Duke.
3. Darryn Peterson, Kansas guard, remains highly talented despite injuries and inconsistency. Scouts consider him the most skilled player in the class.
The Nets could target him to improve their offense.
4. Kingston Flemings, Houston guard, is a defensive playmaker. He has multiple multi-steal games and scored 42 points versus Texas Tech.
He helped Houston reach the Sweet 16.
5. Caleb Wilson, North Carolina big, missed the tournament with a broken thumb. Before injury, he led the nation with 67 dunks.
Wilson posted strong block, steal, and defensive rebound percentages for his age.
6. Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas guard, won SEC Player of the Year. He led the nation in points created with 1,394.
Acuff excelled in transition and in finishing alley-oop plays.
7. Keaton Wagler, Illinois wing, helped lead the Illini to the Final Four. He scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the national semifinal.
Wagler shot 39.7 percent from three this season.
8. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan forward, is the Big Ten Player of the Year. At 6-foot-9, he played as an NBA-ready interior piece.
His transfer from UAB to Michigan validated his high-major impact.
9. Brayden Burries, Arizona guard, rose during March. He had 23 points in the Final Four and multiple breakout games in January.
Burries can defend, move the ball, and score off the dribble.
10. Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville guard, displayed deep range. He scored 45 points with ten threes in one game against NC State.
He missed March Madness after an injury on Feb. 28.
Middle lottery and versatile prospects
11. Labaron Philon, Alabama guard, shot 39.9 percent from three as a sophomore. He averaged 22.0 points per game.
Philon added playmaking with about five assists per game.
12. Hannes Steinbach, Washington big from Germany, is an instinctive rebounder. He grabbed 24 rebounds in one outing versus USC.
Scouts value his pick-and-roll finishing and smart reads.
13. Nate Ament, Tennessee forward, averaged 21.6 points during a 13-game stretch. An injury slowed his March run.
He showed 3-point shooting around 38.9 percent in that span.
14. Koa Peat, Arizona forward, offers playmaking as a versatile athlete. Arizona’s pace increased with him on the floor.
He needs a more consistent jumper to maximize pro minutes.
15. Braylon Mullins, UConn wing, made one of March Madness’s most improbable threes. He shot 40.7 percent from three in his early starts.
Mullins is an effective off-ball threat.
16. Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State forward, fits Memphis’s preferred statistical profile. He was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward.
He suffered an injury in the tournament’s first round.
17. Bennett Stirtz, Iowa guard, created shots off the dribble. He scored 24 points versus Illinois in March Madness.
Stirtz adapted from Division II to high-major success.
18. Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky big, missed starts recovering from major knee injuries. When healthy, he is an elite defensive prospect.
Health concerns temper immediate expectations.
19. Karim López, an international forward playing in Australia, exploded for 32 points on 11-of-13 shooting in one game. He remains a draft-and-stash candidate.
The Thunder have previously favored NBL talent in the draft.
20. Aday Mara, Michigan center, stands 7-foot-3 and anchors rim protection. Opponents attempted only 20.9 percent of rim shots with him on court.
He also shows passing ability and transition vision.
Late first-round targets and role fits
21. Christian Anderson, Texas Tech guard, led high-major players with 61 unassisted three-pointers. He improved significantly after moving to point guard.
Anderson increased his assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore.
22. Chris Cenac Jr., Houston big, recorded 18 rebounds in his first NCAA Tournament game. He also contributed points and a 3-pointer.
He remains a candidate to return to college.
23. Thomas Haugh, Florida wing, won a national title the prior season. He is a glue player with a high motor.
Haugh provides non-scoring value for contending rosters.
24. Patrick Ngongba II, Duke big, is a 6-foot-11 passer. His assist rate ranks highest among underclassmen that size.
He developed notably from freshman to sophomore year.
25. Allen Graves, Santa Clara forward, was a WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man. He scored 30 points with 13 rebounds against Washington State.
Graves posted box plus-minus numbers near top under-21 prospects.
26. Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan big, is a two-way presence. He thrived after transferring and projects as a reliable defender.
Johnson’s cutting and rim scoring stand out.
27. Cameron Carr, Baylor wing, improved his stock with balanced shooting and athleticism. He recorded both many dunks and 3-pointers.
Baylor significantly outscored opponents when Carr was on the floor.
28. Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt guard, is a 6-foot sophomore who contributes across categories. He can score, defend, and facilitate.
Tanner may still return to school, but first-round buzz exists.
29. Dailyn Swain, Texas wing, transferred from Xavier and helped the Longhorns reach the Sweet 16. He is efficient in isolation.
Swain impacts both ends of the floor.
30. Amari Allen, Alabama wing, averaged 12.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in SEC play. He shot 39.5 percent from three.
Allen earned SEC All-Freshman recognition.
Final notes
This edition of the NBA Mock Draft 9.0 emphasizes team needs and player trajectories. Filmogaz.com will update projections as declarations and combine results arrive. Expect movement as prospects weigh college returns or draft entry.
