Santa Clara freshman forward Allen Graves is declaring for the 2026 NBA draft, he announced this week on social media (Twitter link).
Graves only started four of 35 games during his first college season, but he was a valuable reserve for the Broncos, averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 assists in 22.6 minutes per contest. The 19-year-old also had a solid shooting line of .512/.413/.750 and won a pair of awards, having been named the WCC’s Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year.
Graves comes in at No. 32 overall in the newly updated big board from Jeremy Woo of ESPN, making him a candidate to be a first-round pick this spring if he has a strong pre-draft process.
Here’s more on the 2026 draft:
- Woo’s new top-100 list features BYU forward AJ Dybantsa taking over the No. 1 spot, with Illinois guard Keaton Wagler moving into the top five in place of Houston’s Kingston Flemings, who slips to No. 7. The biggest risers near the top of Woo’s board are Arizona’s Brayden Burries, who jumped from No. 17 to No. 10, and Michigan’s Aday Mara, who is up to No. 14 after previously ranking 32nd.
- Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has published an updated version of his mock draft, which features Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. coming off the board fifth overall and UConn’s Braylon Mullins moving up to No. 9.
- Wake Forest guard Juke Harris is entering the transfer portal while testing the draft waters, he confirmed on Instagram. Harris had a breakout year for the Demon Deacons as a sophomore in 2025/26, increasing his scoring average to 21.4 points per game and earning Most Improved Player honors in the ACC. He’s currently ranked 39th on ESPN’s big board.
- North Carolina State guard Matt Able, who averaged 8.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.2 APG as a reserve across 34 appearances as a freshman, has entered the transfer portal while also putting his name in the NBA draft pool, tweets Jeff Borzello of ESPN. Able is the No. 60 prospect on ESPN’s board.
- The following prospects are also entering the 2026 draft (players marked with an asterisk are entering the transfer portal too):
- Dai Dai Ames, G, California (junior) (Twitter link via Joe Tipton of On3) *
- Rowan Brumbaugh, G, Tulane (junior) (Twitter link via Tipton) *
- Dennis Parker, G, Radford (junior) (Twitter link via Travis Branham of 247 Sports) *
- Bryson Tucker, F, Washington (sophomore) (Twitter link)
- LeJuan Watts, F, Texas Tech (junior) (Twitter link via Borzello) *
Hey Al, These people are ranking Wagler ahead of Acuff just like me and Raz. Wagler has the the better skill set, Just admit it. LOL If Wagler is in the top 5 and Acuff is 5th then Wagler is higher. They should have left Mara at 32.
I just read the bleacher report mock draft. Some of these comps are hilarious to me. Ain’t no way there is a comp for Braylon Mullins as Aaron Nesmith. He reminds me more of Grayson Allen without the antics.
I like Wagler because of his shot making/creativity along with feel for the game. He doesn’t force shots or anything. He can grow into a 2 way player at his 6’6 frame. He’ll need to add some meat on that 180 pound body, especially if he has issues with strength and explosion, but what he lacks in those two areas, he makes it up with IQ and shotmaking and quickly adjusting to the flow of the game.
My early mock (prior to the lottery)
1) Wizards (Peterson) – He prefers to play off the ball and with Trae and AD and Sarr there, he can just fit in like a glove.
2) Pacers (Boozer) – They need another big who can run and also finish in traffic after losing Myles Turner to Milwaukee last year. I think with Hali back and Boozer downlow, they’ll play the style of basketball that nearly won them a title last year.
3) Nets (Dybansta) – They need talent, and nobody from last year’s draft class really broke thru despite their 5 first rounders they had last year.
4) Jazz (Wagler) – This is where it gets tricky, I think they will pass on Wilson because of his inability to shoot from deep, they already have Markkanen and will likely reup Kessler. Wagler next to George will open up more driving lanes for the rest of the team.
5) Kings (Acuff ) – They’ll pass on Wilson because they love Murray at the 4. They need a PG who can create his own shot.
6) Grizzlies (Wilson) – Here where Caleb wilson would fit in well, Memphis needs a big now that they traded JJJ and Wilson with Coward and Eddy will be the next core for the Grizzlies.
7) Mavericks (Brown Jr) – Kyrie isn’t getting any older and they need a guy who can create his own shot. They need an explosive young guard who can build with Flagg.
8) Hawks (Flemings) – Hawks let Trae go finally and they need a PG who can distribute the ball to Jalen Johnson and the rest of that young team.
9) Bulls – (Ament) Excellent size and he is a 3 level scorer, the position of a stretch 4 is needed, especially with Buzelis going to be a hybrid 3/4 I believe.
10) Bucks (Philon) – Bucks need a young guard who can score on his own. Whatever Milwaukee does with Giannis, it shouldn’t exclude them from taking the best player available for the future.
11) Warriors (Lendeborg) – Warriors need to get younger and Yaxel is older at age 23, but he has a strong feel for the game and he’s a modern day 4 for that team. Pairing him with up Steph and whoever they decide to bring in whether it’s Giannis or someone else, high motor energy player as well.
12) Blazers (Steinbach) – They have really come on strong with Splitter as the HC and Devi is a stud when healthy. They need someone who has a strong post game to open up more lanes for Sharpe and Devi on the perimeter. Plus they will have a need at the position.
13) Heat (Lopez) – Another Heat type player, can handle the ball, shoot the 3 and ability to play thru contact.
14) Hornets (Quiantance) Excellent defensive player who can hit the outside shot, but healthy has been a question, but this would be great value and get a guy for when Mikal Bridges leaves town. With Knueppel being a stud, they need a defensive enforcer who can really excel in the open floor).
Let me know what you guys think. I’ll do the 15-30 after the lottery has been determined.
Lendeborg ??? Noooo !!!
Why do you and arc2 have a fascination with this guy?
Warriors need a BIG man and this guy sits on the perimeter all game?
Can you imagine a “college” team having several better BIG men than a guy you expect to run at POWER FORWARD in the NBA? Ridiculous.
He’s not big enough or athletic enough to run with the fours in the NBA
So he plays on the wing, which is great in college because he can pass he can dribble he can shoot, etc. etc. but in the NBA it’s a different story.
You need a gazelle on the wing in the NBA and if the Warriors burn the 11th pick on another Ike Diogu, I will throw something at the TV.
“Yeah, but Yaxel has long arms” they say. Well, so did Ike.
Warriors need NOT screw up this very valuable draft pick.
And if I hear the name Yaxel at pick number 11, Dunleavy better have a trade lined up because I don’t want to see that kid set foot in San Francisco.
Just my two cents, which is about what my comments are usually worth.