The 2026 NBA Draft is just days away, so it felt like a good time to drop this year’s my guys. One of the best parts of diving into the draft and the prospects is finding the players whom you really love. Finding the players whom you want to bet on at the next level. The players who you are higher on than most as far an concensus rankings go. Everyone likes to have their own opinions on prospects, and no opinions are stronger than those of everyone’s favorite prospects.
Last year’s group of my guys featured the likes of Derik Queen, VJ Edgecombe, and Egor Demin, just to name a few. This year’s class features some electric guards, a national champion, some knockdown shooters, and a pair of Big East rivals.
Here are my NBA Draft my guys, class of 2026.
Player Breakdown- After his freshman season last year, Labaron Philon appeared ready to embark on his NBA journey. He had entered his name in the 2025 NBA Draft and went through the entire pre-draft process. Then, in the 24th hour, something changed, and Philon decided to remove his name from the draft and return to the Alabama Crimson Tide for his sophomore season. It was a massive surprise at the time, but it couldn’t have been a better decision.
In his freshman season, Philon was more of a defensive player than an offensive one. Not because he wasn’t capable of producing on offense, but because Mark Sears was one of the best players in the country, and he ran the offense for the Crimson Tide. Philon would often be tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player and then function as a secondary ball handler and shot creator on offense.
This season, Philon was given the reins to the offense with Sears no longer on the team, and it went better than anyone could have expected. In his freshman season, Philon averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, on shooting splits of 45/32/77. This season, those numbers all increased, as he averaged 22 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, on shooting splits of 50/40/80. He became a totally different player and one of the best guards in the country.
The main talking points around Philon were whether or not he could consistently shoot and his ability to create for himself as a lead guard. The numbers clearly show he answered both questions in a big way, but they don’t tell the whole story. Philon put everything on display this year and showed he has the tools to become an efficient three-level scorer in the NBA. He was a maestro in the pick-and-roll, setting up his teammates and navigating the defense to get to his spots. He displayed an array of moves when hunting his own shot, as well as phenomenal touch around the basket. He became a lethal shooter from deep on high volume.
Philon really showed everything you could have asked for from a point guard this past season. Add in all his work as a defender and role player during his freshman season, and there is a ton to like about the Alabama guard.
The biggest question surrounding Philon in the NBA will be whether or not he can hold up defensively. He showed the ability and desire to play defense during his freshman season, but the NBA is a different level. At just 6’2 1/2, Philon is a smaller guard, and he will likely be hunted on that end to begin his career. There is good reason to believe he will be able to hold up, but it is still worth considering as part of the outlook for his NBA career.
NBA Role- Secondary shot creator and facilitator with the upside to be a lead guard
NBA Comparison- Floor: Andrew Nembhard, Ceiling: Tyrese Maxey
Summary- Philon answered all the questions this season as he was one of the best point guards in college basketball. He improved as a shooter and all-around creator. He showed that he can be an efficient three-level scorer despite lacking high-end size and athleticism. Philon can play with or without the ball on offense, as he has experience in multiple roles.
Philom slipped defensively last season, but his freshman year defensive tape showed that he is a positive defender when engaged. The main concern with Philon is his overall frame, as he is very light. If he can add some weight, he should be able to be an effective defender in the NBA, as he showed an ability to defend at a high level in college.
Player Breakdown- What a basketball journey it has been thus far for Yaxel Lendeborg. From a video game addicted teen to a March Madness champion and a projected NBA Draft lottery pick, the Michigan Wolverines’ star hasn’t exactly had a traditional path to the NBA. Yet, in just a few weeks, he will hear his name called in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Lendeborg is a fascinating player, as despite being an older prospect at 23 years old, he showed he is still growing as a player. Just this past season, there were a lot of questions on how he would fit with two non-shooting bigs in Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara, considering he is at his best when attacking downhill. Well, Lendeborg answered those questions by shooting a career-best 37% from three, on a career-high 4.5 attempts per game. Lendeborg gradually increased his three-point percentage each season in college and showed this past season that he can maintain strong efficiency at a higher volume.
Aside from Lendeborg’s three-point shot, which is still improving, he has many strengths that will translate immediately to the NBA. Offensively, he can do a bit of everything. He has the ball skills and playmaking ability that every team looks for. His IQ on both ends of the court sticks out in a big way, and it will make him so valuable as a connector on the offensive end from day one. Additionally, he is a tenacious rebounder with an elite motor, and he is full of athleticism. Defensively, Lendeborg is extremely versatile, and he will be able to make an immediate impact as a switchable wing.
NBA Role- Offensive connector with the tools to become a secondary shot creator and playmaker
NBA Comparison- A blend of OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam
Summary- Lendeborg is your classic Swiss-Army Knife prospect. He doesn’t have a clear strength on offense, but he can do a bit of everything. He profiles best as an off-ball offensive connector, but there is upside for him to become more of a creator with the ball. He is a great rebounder with the ability to grab the ball and lead the break. On defense, he will be able to help a team right away due to his versatility. The biggest red flag with Lendeborg is his age, as he is going to be 24 when the season begins, so he may already be a complete player. That doesn’t mean he won’t be good, but he may not get better.
Player Breakdown- Darius Acuff Jr. was everyone’s favorite college hooper’s, favorite college hooper this past season. He was one of the most electric players in the country, and one of the best late-game players in the country.
Offensively, there aren’t many players better in the draft than the Arkansas Razorbacks freshman. Despite being undersized and lacking top-end athleticism and speed, Acuff showcased the ability to score at all three levels with ease. He controlled the game in a way a freshman point guard shouldn’t be able to, and he routinely picked apart defenses as a scorer and playmaker, and the stats back that up.
Acuff averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game, while shooting 48.4% from the field, and an outstanding 44% from three on 6.0 attempts per game. Additionally, Acuff would rise to the occasion in big games. He averaged 29 points per game in three March Madness games. He had 30 points and 11 assists in a win against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the SEC championship game. He had a 27-point and a seven-assist game against Houston. His best game, though, came in a double overtime loss against Alabama, where Acuff had 49 points and five assists, while shooting just under 60% from the field. More often than not, when the stakes were high, Arkansas’s star point guard rose to the occasion.
It’s hard to really give a deep dive on Acuff’s offensive game because he is so polished already. He plays the game at his own pace, he gets to his spots whenever he wants, and he shoots it at a high level. Acuff does it all. Sure, he can improve as a passer, and there are questions about whether he can work off the ball in the NBA, but as far as pure skill and ability go, Acuff has it. At least on the offense end, he has it. Defensively, though, that’s where a lot of the questions come into play.
Even though Acuff is a smaller guard in terms of height, as he is just 6’2 without shoes, he does have a positive wingspan of 6’6.5. So, from a size perspective, he may be a target for other teams, but he should be able to compete. It’s the effort level that is the most worrisome.
There are plenty of moments where Acuff is locked in on defense, and giving his all, but there are also a lot of moments where he looks disinterested and lost. Now, some of that may be an effort thing, some of it may be a lack of ability, and there could be other factors that contribute as well. Unfortunately, until there is a consistent level of effort on defense in the NBA, it will be a major question surrounding Acuff.
Given the toughness and confidence he plays with, I have a hard time seeing Acuff check out on defense at the next level. Now, he will still get picked on, and he may still be a liability due to his size, but only time will tell how he fares as a defender in the NBA.
Overall, Acuff is the type of offensive engine that every team wants, but his impact on defense will ultimately determine how great he can be.
NBA Role- Starting point guard from day one, with the upside of a Franchise point guard
NBA Comparison- Damian Lillard
Summary- Acuff is a gamer. He is an efficient three-level scorer who wants the ball in his hands. He spent time off the ball at Arkansas, and he was effective in that role due to his shooting. Acuff grew as a playmaker throughout the season. Defensively, he needs to be more engaged. There were too many instances where he was caught sleeping or just didn’t show the necessary effort.
Player Breakdown- As I mentioned earlier, this class is full of awesome point guards. Players like Acuff, Keaton Wagler, and Knigston Flemings are the headliners. Mikel Brown and Philon seem to have mixed opinions about them, but they are viewed positively by most. Then there are a few guys who aren’t getting the shine they deserve because of how good this class is, and Christian Anderson is one of them.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders produced the best duo in college basketball last season. JT Toppin was one of the best players in the sport and a candidate for National Player of the Year before tearing his ACL. Anderson, while not as dominant as the Texas Tech big man, was still an absolute force, both with and without Toppin.
Anderson was one of the best lead guards in the country, averaging 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, while shooting 47% from the field and 41.5% from three. Anderson had eight games of at least 10 assists, 12 games of at least 20 points, and eight games of at least five made threes. He was one of the best guards at running the pick-and-roll and one of the best shooters in the country. Anderson was simply one of the most effective offensive players in the country.
While being one of the most effective offensive players in the country, there are some concerns with Anderson’s offensive game moving forward. There is no question about him as a shooter, as he is arguably the best in the entire draft. He can shoot off the catch or the dribble, from anywhere on the court; he is just a pure shooter. Additionally, as he showed last year, Anderson is a good playmaker.
Anderson unfortunately cannot easily create his own shot. He creates easy shots for himself in the pick and roll, but in isolation situations, Anderson isn’t exactly a dynamic shot creator. He can make tough shots, but you don’t wanna rely on tough shot-making in the NBA. Anderson also isn’t much of a threat around the rim, as he just doesn’t have the size or athleticism to consistently put pressure on the rim.
On the other end of the court, Anderson competes, but he is limited defensively due to his size. Listed at just 6’1, 180 pounds, he will be a target for opposing teams at the next level, and that is the biggest concern in his game. Anderson’s lack of athleticism and size simply caps his ceiling as a defender. Now, with the right defensive infrastructure and team around him, he should be able to get by, given his effort and IQ. It’s not a matter of effort with Anderson; there are just certain things that are out of his control that limit him as a defender.
NBA Role- Scoring guard off the bench with upside as a long-term starter
NBA Comparison- Mike Conley/Payton Pritchard
Summary- If Anderson isn’t the best shooter in the draft, he is a top five shooter at worst. He is lethal from every area of the court. Offensively, he can work both on and off the ball in large part due to his gravity as a shooter. He isn’t a strong shot creator due to his size and lack of athleticism, but he is a maestro in the pick and roll.
Like many small guards, Anderson’s impact will be determined by how well he can survive on defense. Anderson will naturally be a target for opposing teams, but if he is in the right system, he should be able to be a neutral defender due to his effort and IQ.
Player Breakdown- The term 3-and-D gets thrown around a lot in today’s game, but it doesn’t always fit. In the case of Cam Carr, he has the makings of the prototype that every team looks for.
After two years of very limited action with the Tennessee Volunteers, Carr exploded onto the scene with the Baylor Bears this year. He averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, while shooting 49% from the field and 37.4% from deep. Those numbers are great, but he also filled up the stat sheet on the defensive end with an average of 1.0 steals per game and 1.3 blocks per game. Just as impressive as the numbers was the athleticism that Carr put on display last season.
Carr currently profiles best as a shooting guard, as he is just 6’4 1/2, 184 lbs, but if he puts on enough weight, he can slide in at the three due to his ridiculous 7 ft 3/4 in wingspan. Along with putting on size, he must become more engaged as a defender.
Despite having the makings of a lockdown perimeter defender both on and off the ball, there is a lot left on the table with Carr. On the ball, he doesn’t make things as difficult for opposing players as he should, given his traits, and off the ball, he tends to fall asleep. Now, this can all be fixed, especially since he does have upside as a defender; he just needs to add size and continue working.
Given the athleticism and shooting that Carr provides, he, at worst, will likely be a high-end bench scorer. With the right development, there is room for him to become a complete two-way player. He may never be a true shot creator or playmaker, but he is one of the best shooters in the class, and he has the mold of a high-level defender.
NBA Role- Big-time bench scorer with the upside to become a starting two-way wing
NBA Comparison- Terrence Ross/Devin Vassell
Summary- Carr is the perfect player for teams to swing on in the 12-20 range of the draft. He is an elite shooter with high-end athleticism and length. He has all the tools to develop into an effective 3-and-D wing, but he needs to continue adding weight, as he is very slender. Carr flashes as a defender, but he isn’t the lockdown perimeter defender everyone would expect due to his length and athleticism. He should be able to step in and be an impactful offensive player right away due to his shooting, but there is room for so much more with the right development.
Player Breakdown- If you are someone who misses the old school big men, then you are going to love Tarris Reed. The Connecticut Huskies center is a monster on the glass with touch around the rim and an elite motor. If you need proof, go check out his first game of March Madness this year, where he had 31 points and 27 rebounds, while shooting 80% from the field in a win against Furman. He is just an absolute machine.
As a full-time starter for the Huskies this past season, Reed had career-high numbers across the board. He put up a near double-double every game, with averages of 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while shooting 60.7% from the field. Additionally, he averaged 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. The blocks aren’t too surprising given Reed’s presence inside, but averaging a steal a game as a big man is a great sign for his ability to be an impactful defender.
Offensively, Reed does almost all of his work inside the paint. He was at his best when working from the post, as he was able to punish defenders on the block with his size and strength. He was also effective as a roller, given his great touch around the basket.
As far as the other elements of his offensive game, a few things stuck out. Reed was one of the best offensive rebounders in the NCAA, as he averaged 3.2 per game. He routinely created second chance opportunites for his team with his effort on the offensive glass. Additionally, Reed showed a good feel for the game as a passer. Not in the sense of he can take the ball up and run the offense, but he often made good reads out of double teams, and knew where the openings on the court were.
Defensively, Reed is solid. He isn’t a stopper, but he isn’t a liability either. He isn’t a special rim protector, but he holds his own around the basket due to his size and strength. He moves his feet well enough on the perimeter to hold his own with guards, but you would prefer to have him stay around the basket. Reed is just a well-rounded defender who doesn’t have a superpower, but he doesn’t have glaring weaknesses to the point where he will get attacked all game.
NBA Role- Long-time high-end backup big man
NBA Comparison- Day’Ron Sharpe
Summary- Reed is one of the best rebounders in the class. He takes up so much space in the paint as he is a massive human being. Offensively, teams won’t run things through him, but he has good touch around the rim as both a roller and a post-up player. Defensively, he won’t blow anyone away, but he showed that he can survive on an island when switched onto a smaller guard. Reed is just a very solid player on both ends of the floor, and the perfect backup big for any team.
Player Breakdown- NBA teams can never have enough shooting, and that is Emanuel Sharp’s calling card. He is a knockdown shooter from all over the court with a quick release, and he is a hard-nosed defender. He is the type of player that every team would love to have.
Sharp isn’t a super dynamic offensive player, but he is one of the best shooters in the class. He is comfortable shooting both off the catch and off the dribble, and he isn’t afraid to let it fly from way beyond the arc. Across his three seasons as a starter, Sharp shot an average of 38.2% from three, on an average of 6.3 attempts from deep per game.
Sharp’s ability to space the floor helped open up the Houston offense in more ways than people can imagine. The Cougars almost always had two bigs on the court who couldn’t shoot, making it so much tougher for the guards to create easy looks. With the gravity that Sharp had, it made life easier for players such as Kingston Flemmings, Milos Uzan, and LJ Cryer, as well as the other lead guards.
The defensive side of the ball is going to determine the type of career Sharp will have. While he was a strong defender at Houston, he is a smaller guard with limited athletic ability. He will be able to compete defensively, as every player who has come out of Kelvin Sampson’s program has, but teams will certainly test him.
Sharp is just 6’3 with a 6’3 wingspan, so he will struggle with bigger players who can just rise over him and shoot. Considering he is a shooting guard, and not a point guard, he could draw some unfavorable defensive matchups if he is sharing the court with another small guard. With all of that being said, Sharp is a competitive defender who should be able to hold his own in most matchups.
Sharp isn’t a flashy player, but he is a fantastic shooter, a strong defender, and the type of player who can contribute right away.
NBA Role- 3-and-D bench guard
NBA Comparison- Sam Merrill
Summary- No pun intended, but Sharp is a sharp shooter. He can shoot from anywhere on the court, and he has one of the quickest releases in the draft. He won’t offer much else offensively, as he isn’t much of a shot creator or playmaker. Defensively, he competes and makes things tough for opposing players. Sharp just isn’t gifted with elite size or athleticism, so he will have a limited upside on the defensive side of the ball.
Player Breakdown- If Dillon Mitchell could score the ball in any way, he would be a first-round pick. He is an athletic wing defender with an elite motor and feel for the game.
As a former five-star, Mitchell never lived up to that billing, but he always made an impact on the court. The thing that stands out the most when watching him is his defense. He is a versatile wing with the ability to guard both up and down in size due to his athleticism. He is a good rebounder, especially on the offensive end, as he is always crashing the glass.
Mitchell thrives in transition as he can lead the fast break, and either take it himself or find the open player. He has a great feel for the game as a playmaker in both the half-court and transition. Mitchell also has a great touch around the basket, and he can finish in multiple ways with his athleticism.
As mentioned earlier, the biggest issue with Mitchell is his lack of scoring ability and shooting. He averaged eight points per game throughout his four years in college, and never surpassed an average of 10 points per game in any season. It’s fine that he isn’t a big-time scorer, as it shows he can fill other roles at the next level, but he didn’t show any real ability to score or shoot.
Mitchell shot just 19.3% from three over his four years at Texas and St. John’s, and he only shot over 50% from the foul line in one season. Mitchell just never developed into any kind of shooter or shot creator, and that is a major concern at the next level.
Mitchell’s long-term outlook in the NBA will simply depend on whether or not he can find a role on the offensive end. If he is paired with players who can all space the floor, then he should be a great fit. If paired with another non-shooter, it will be a rough fit. Mitchell has all the defensive tools teams want and a motor that teams will love. He just needs to find his role on offense at the next level.
NBA Role- Swiss Army-Knife wing defender/offensive connector
NBA Comparison- Derrick Jones Jr./Fast and Athletic Kyle Anderson
Summary- Mitchell is just a fun player. He may not be a scorer, but his motor is always running, and he is a great defender. For him to be effective as an offensive player, he will need to share the court with shooters. He is a good passer, and he can finish around the rim, but he doesn’t offer any shooting. Defensively, Mitchell will be able to make an immediate impact as a versatile wing defender. He has the length and athleticism that all teams look for in perimeter defenders. Mitchell will only be a fit for certain teams, but in the right system, he can make an impact.
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There you have it. This year’s class of my guys for the 2026 NBA Draft. Philon and Acuff were some of the most electric players to watch in the sport this year. They were both lethal from all three levels, and they had total control of their teams. Lendeborg was the best layer on the National Champs, and he showed he can contribute in a multitude of ways. Anderson, Carr, and Sharp are all lethal shooters with completely different skill sets. Reed is a throwback big man who makes his presence felt on the boards, and Mitchell is an awesome defender who can impact the game without scoring the ball.
Between all the rumors, the trades, and of course, the actual drafting, the NBA Draft is such a great time. It is a day for the newly drafted player to celebrate their massive accomplishment, as well as prepare for the next stage of their basketball journey. The fans get to rejoice after their team makes a good pick, or have a meltdown if they aren’t happy with the pick. There is so much that goes on during the draft, and it should be a great day once again, with all the talent in this year’s class.
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