March 20, 2026, 12:24 p.m. ET
March Madness is underway and right now’s faculty stars have an opportunity to cement themselves on this summer season’s NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to happen in late June. In USA TODAY’s newest mock draft, Santa Clara’s Allen Graves is expected to go within the first spherical.
Here’s how USA TODAY at present tasks the ahead’s draft night time will play out.
Allen Graves 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 24 general, Denver Nuggets
All picks primarily based on Tankathon lottery projection
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
Perhaps probably the most attractive, under-the-radar prospect in all of faculty basketball is Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves. It was onerous not to discover the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 factors with 13 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals on Feb. 7 in opposition to Washington State. All-in-one metrics are excessive on him, per CBB Analytics: He ranks 99th percentile in Win Shares per 40 minutes, Wins Above Replacement Player and Player Efficiency Rating. Meanwhile, the one participant underneath 21 years outdated who at present holds a better field plus-minus is Cameron Boozer, by way of Bart Torvik.
See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here
Allen Graves participant profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Forward
- Current Team: Santa Clara
- 11.6 factors per sport
- 6.5 rebounds per sport
- 1.8 assists per sport
- 51.7% discipline purpose share
- 41.6% three-point discipline purpose share
Denver Nuggets 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 23 and No. 45 (by way of ATL)
All picks primarily based on Tankathon lottery projection
