The 2026 NBA Draft cycle is coming to a close. After thousands of hours of grinding tape, analysing the numbers, and deliberating, this is Draftstack’s official 2026 NBA Draft Big Board. Check it out at the link in the replies below! ⬇️ 🔗

Meet coach John Calipari’s latest demon freshman guard, Jordan Smith Jr. At 6’2”, 205 pounds, Smith Jr. is a stocky, physical, tough guard and a true two-way talent, and one of the projected top-five picks in the 2027 NBA Draft class. He’s a freakish athlete with explosive speed, plus length and a ton of upside entering his freshman season with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Offensively, Smith Jr. thrives in the open floor, using his speed and athleticism to push the pace in transition and score downhill or by spraying the ball out to an open shooter or hitting a running mate for a lob. His decision-making is much quicker and more precise in the open floor, as at times he gets in his own head in the halfcourt and can make questionable reads. Smith Jr. plays well through contact because of his broad shoulders and big frame for his position, and he's creative and skilled enough to adjust in mid-air on finishes. He gets downhill easily in the halfcourt and has the burst and strength to put other guards in bad spots on his way to the rack. When it comes to jump shooting, he’s very comfortable in the mid-range with a strong pull-up game and the ability to stop and pop when the defense starts backpedaling on his drives. As far as his outside creation goes, he is capable off the dribble and can catch and shoot from three, but that part of his game is still more of a work in progress than a sure thing. But he is confident in his perimeter scoring and has laid out a good foundation for developing his shooting with his mid-range game. Defense is where fans can get really excited, as your average 6’2” guard is a liability on the defensive end, but Smith Jr. is the opposite. He’s physical, talented, and has a tremendous motor that really shines on the defensive end. Smith Jr. can guard several positions despite his size. He is really disruptive from the point of attack and extremely active in the passing lanes, which can lead to some fun highlights in the open floor.  He also doesn’t give up on plays.  As you’ll see below in the film, there’s a clip where he gets knocked down by a screen, but pops right back up and forces a steal. That’s the type of hustle teams love, especially from players who are deemed undersized like Smith Jr. His athletic pop also makes him a shot-blocking threat and someone who can come back and chase down an opposing offensive player on the fast break. One of the things he’ll have to improve ahead of the 2027 NBA Draft is his over-aggressiveness defensively. Often, Smith Jr. tries to do too much defensively and can lose his man. He also does steal-hunting from time to time, which leads to fouls or easy scoring chances for opposing teams. Either way, ask any coach: they’d rather have a defender they have to reel in because he’s too aggressive than have someone who couldn’t care less about defense. Jordan Smith Jr. is an extremely talented freshman and has the potential to finish this college campaign as the No. 1 player on many NBA scouts’ boards. But for him to really solidify his place as that top guy, he’s going to need to grow as a playmaker in the halfcourt, continue to progress as an outside shooter, and simmer down from time to time on the defensive end. Attached below are highlights from his 20-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double against Carleton University in an exhibition game played this summer.

Been waiting for this one to drop! Matt Able is one of my favorite prospects in the 2027 NBA Draft. His floor looks like a high-end role player, but I see some Klay Thompson-like offensive upside in his game, that can develop with the ball in his hands more at UNC this year! So happy with how this piece turned out, any and all support would be greatly appreciated❤️ Article attached below

I’m very curious to see how Matt Able does in a new system. He’s a player who I was high on coming out of high school, but who somewhat underwhelmed during his debut campaign. Very good defender whose offense will be more relied upon this year, definitely worth monitoring.

Paul McNeil Jr. is as pure of a sniper as they come! Can’t wait to see him shoot the lights out at NC State this upcoming season. He’s definitely one of my favorite second round sleepers in this 2027 NBA Draft cycle, full breakdown below⬇️⬇️⬇️

Coming into the 2026 college season, there are very few players who are bigger flamethrowers than Paul McNeil Jr. The now-junior guard had a strong sophomore year with NC State, where he averaged 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 1.0 stock per game while shooting 42.7 percent from three on 7.2 attempts per game.  McNeil Jr. is a unique guard who stands 6'5" with a wingspan that's been reported to be around 7 feet. The biggest draw to McNeil Jr. is his outside scoring, as once he gets hot, even the fire department can’t cool him off. He thrives off the catch, and the confidence with which he shoots the ball, paired with his fast release, makes it easy for him to catch and pull from deep. McNeil Jr. doesn’t really have a strict range, as he is super comfortable shooting while beyond the three-point line. He’s great at relocating off the ball to get a clean look, and is also a capable pull-up shooter from deep. Because he’s such a threat from deep, defenses have to respect him, which can open up lanes to attack downhill for his teammates. NBA teams look for this trait and love to surround star players with it. Outside of his perimeter scoring, the rest of his offensive bag is so-so. McNeil Jr. isn’t a high-level self-creator, as his handle is rather loose for a guard and can result in turnovers when he’s playing on the ball. He also isn’t a good playmaker and is viewed way more as the shoot-hunting type of guard than someone you can rely on to drive your offense from the point.  At 190 lbs, McNeil Jr. is rather thin-framed, and it can affect his downhill scoring as he can get pushed around and outmatched physically on drives. On the defensive end, the upside is there. As mentioned, McNeil Jr. has a reported near 7-foot wingspan, which gives him a ton of upside to be disruptive defensively in passing lanes and on the ball. It can also give him an advantage when rebounding against other guards and wings. The issue with McNeil Jr. defensively is consistency, as he can be undisciplined and lose focus on that side of the basketball at times. If he wants to be viewed as more than just another shooter in the 2027 NBA Draft class, improving defensively would be one way to do that. Although Paul McNeil Jr. may currently profile as a specialist, he has upside to become much more than a pure shooter. If he can add muscle to help him when driving the ball, tighten his handle, improve his reads as a playmaker, and lock in more on defense, he could be a really well-rounded long guard. But even if he doesn’t develop one or two of those traits, he’ll be in real consideration to be drafted in the second round of the 2027 NBA Draft class. These highlights are from his game against Texas Southern last season, where he exploded for 47 points and tied the ACC single-game record with 11 made three-pointers, shooting 11-of-17 from deep.

Personal one for me as a Gators fan. I’m really interested to see what Tommy Haugh can do this year at UF! I could see him cracking the top 15 in this 2027 class Breakdown below: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Thomas Haugh made the interesting decision to return to Florida for his senior season and wrap up his Gators career before jumping ship to the NBA. Despite being a projected first-round pick by most outlets for the 2026 class, Haugh wanted to put the final stamp on his legacy at UF. This has put Haugh in an interesting position ahead of the 2027 NBA Draft, as his junior season was almost as good as it could get; it seems difficult to envision a major leap after such an impressive season. Last season, Haugh averaged 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 stocks per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from three. Offensively, Haugh is versatile. He excels in the open floor, running and finding lanes to the basket to finish plays. His handle is also strong enough that he can get a defensive rebound, push the break, and make a play either for himself or by finding the open man. Haugh is a smart cutter and is great at creating advantages off the ball. This past season, he grew into a better on-ball player in a bigger role and added a bit of self-creation to his game, as he’s the type of forward that can bully smaller forwards and blow bigger ones. But in the pros, Haugh projects to be more effective as an off-ball player than as someone with the spotlight on him. His jump shot is still a work in progress, but it has progressed nicely, and despite a small percentage dip from his sophomore to junior season, his attempts nearly doubled. If Haugh can reach that 36-37 percent range in his senior year while maintaining the other parts of his game, he’ll be in lottery consideration.  Defensively, Haugh projects to be a good connective defender who can be a solid defensive playmaker as a rim protector and perimeter stopper. He moves his feet well enough to stay strong in most switches, but likely will never be a truly elite defender in the NBA. Beyond his scoring upside and defensive projection, Haugh's biggest defensive draw is his motor and basketball IQ. The intangibles. The things coaches can’t teach and players can’t learn. That’s what makes projecting Haugh as an impactful role player at the NBA level so easy. Whether it’s crashing the offensive glass and creating second chances, the toughness he plays with, his connective passing, or unselfish plays, all of those traits make him the type of player any winning team would target in the first 20 picks of a draft. Haugh has insane energy that, with one play, can help him swing the momentum of a game. On top of that is the pedigree he’s established in college as a winning player and someone who has worked hard for every minute increase and role upgrade he’s earned. Every team needs glue guys, and Haugh could be one of the best in the 2027 NBA Draft class; he just needs to keep doing what he's done at Florida. Which may be easier said than done.

Meet one of the most interesting guard prospects in the 2027 High School class, Javion Tyndale. The Canadian guard recently committed to Seton Hall after a summer that included leading the Canada U18 National Team to their first U18 Men's AmeriCup gold medal. Tyndale had 19 points, 8 assists and 3 steals in the 67-65 win. For the tournament, he averaged 12.6 points, 6.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. Tyndale is a quick, speedy, and shifty guard who excels at getting downhill and finishing at the rim. But what makes him different from other top guards is that Tyndale is a 5’8” point guard. ​ That’s not a typo. Tyndale is very undersized for a potential NBA prospect, but he makes up for what he lacks in height with heart. Obviously that is an old cliché, but with Tyndale it’s really his calling card. He plays hard on both ends and never takes possessions off, constantly looking to make plays. ​ Offensively, he has a speedy first step that helps him beat opposing guards off the dribble, and that, paired with a tight handle, helps him excel at getting downhill and to the rim. He’s a creative scorer who can finish with both hands and is built for drawing contact, but because of his size, he can struggle in traffic or heavy defensive pressure around the rim. Tyndale is a great game manager and knows how to conduct an offense, get his teammates in rhythm, and help the offense find a real flow early. ​ Three-point shooting is obviously going to be the major swing skill with Tyndale. The NBA has told evaluators time and time again to be viewed highly as an undersized guard; you need to be a threat from deep. He’s a capable shooter, but because of his height, he can struggle to get his shot off, shooting 25 percent in EYBL and 24 percent from three in FIBA. ​ Defensively, he guards really well. He knows how to use his smaller stature to get under bigger lead guards and poke the ball to start a fast break. Tyndale’s got good hands, and while he plays with an aggressive style that often sees him pick players up full court, he’s also super disciplined. The intensity and energy he brings on the defensive end can be a real tone setter. ​ Tyndale does have a tough road ahead of him to establish his place as a real NBA prospect. But the drive and confidence he brings to the court, along with the way he flat-out impacts winning, help his projection for sure. Tyndale is gearing up for a final season with Montverde Academy, which should be one final step in his positive development before starting his collegiate career with Seton Hall in the fall of 2027.

Spinning back to the 2028 NBA Draft class, and instead of looking at an athletic freak like CJ Rosser, let’s take a look at a more finesse- and skill-driven player in Nathan Soliman. ​ The French prospect is a 6’9” forward who is incredibly skilled for his age and has a very versatile game that gives him a very strong floor at the NBA level. Soliman is a smooth operator who thrives with the ball in his hands, creating his own shot and advantages for his teammates. He has a strong handle that isn’t super common for a player of his size at his age, and it allows him to operate as a secondary and sometimes primary initiator. He makes good decisions and has flashed real point forward upside. ​ As a scorer, Soliman is well-rounded. He has a nice shooting stroke,  a soft touch around the rim, strong footwork and post moves, and is a strong midrange scorer who is growing into a strong outside shooter. He is a tough player to scheme for as he is both a threat as a popper and roller, making the decision of what to do when he sets a screen tough for opposing teams. Soliman isn’t some explosive athlete, especially downhill, but has good body control and can rise up for dunks. ​ Defensively, he does have a strong starting point as he has great size and can play with a good amount of discipline. Soliman also has good instincts in passing lanes and when attempting to block shots at the rim, two things that help his defensive playmaking upside. However, the issue is that, athletically, he is really limited, and that can lead to him getting hunted on that side of the court. His foot speed is lackluster, and his lateral movement is so-so. Although his length can help him recover defensively, if he can’t improve as an athlete, he may be someone teams are okay passing up on the top half of the 2028 NBA Draft because he can get exposed so easily on that end. ​ In a league all about versatility, especially at the forward spots, Soliman's ability to handle the ball, make quick decisions, and punish defenses all over does have a path to being a contributor to winning basketball in the NBA. If he can get stronger and progress into more of a plus athlete, particularly on the defensive end, he could become someone teams aren’t comfortable letting slip out of the lottery in the 2028 NBA Draft. ​ In the FIBA U17 World Cup, he averaged 18.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 stocks per game, while shooting 56 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three. These highlights are from his final game against Canada, where he dropped 37 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 stocks.

I was impressed by Haralson last year and he is as my 23rd ranked returning prospect to start this season. He's shooting is questionable but his other attributes are encouraging.

Jalen Haralson had an underrated freshman season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and is now set to team up with one of the top transfers of this cycle, Juke Harris, at Tennessee. This past season, Haralson averaged 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. ​ At 6’7” and 220 pounds, Haralson has the ideal build for a wing in the modern NBA. He has a well-rounded skill set and isn't the type of player that needs to dominate the ball to be effective, which helps his fit alongside Harris on the wing for the Vols next season. He’s a solid creator and is capable of initiating an offense and handling the ball. ​ Scoring-wise, he excels at getting downhill and scoring at the basket. He has solid finishing skills and relatively smooth touch around the rim, making him the type of player who constantly puts pressure on the rim. Haralson is a real advantage creator and knows how to use his size to dominate mismatches when smaller players are switched onto him. When given room to work, Haralson’s athleticism can be on full display with big dunks or sweet finishes above the rim. He can handle himself in the pick-and-roll, and has definitely flashed serious upside as a potential jumbo playmaker. Where the question marks come in offensively is his three-point shooting. At times he’s shown flashes of an effective catch-and-shoot player, but has really struggled with efficiency and volume, shooting just 20 percent from three on 0.9 attempts per game last season. With improved outside shooting, Haralson would no longer be someone defenses are inclined to sag off of to take away his inside scoring game. On the defensive end, he projects to be a solid defender in the NBA mostly due to his size, length, and basketball IQ. He’s a really good team defender and is capable of making plays in the passing lanes. He doesn’t have the fastest foot speed and can get exposed against quicker players; his frame and awareness help him project as a solid defensive piece. Haralson is a unique prospect because, while he doesn’t have one standout skill, his frame and well-rounded skill set project well for him to become a quality forward at the NBA level. For now, he projects to stay in college for another season or two. However, if he can continue to grow into a high-end playmaker at his position and improve his outside shooting touch, the former five-star recruit could be a name to watch in the 2027 NBA Draft.

While Cameron Boozer was stealing headlines and going in the top three of the 2026 NBA Draft, his twin brother Cayden Boozer made the decision to return to Duke for his sophomore season. Although Cayden may never be the superstar his brother is projected to become at the pro level, he should have a long NBA career when he decides to turn pro. ​ In his freshman season, he averaged 7.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from three. ​ He spent most of the season coming off the bench, but ended the season starting all seven of the Blue Devils' postseason games after Caleb Foster went down with a foot injury. During that stretch, Boozer averaged 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while playing a larger role similar to the one he is expected to play in his sophomore year. ​ Offensively, he has a very traditional point guard game. Boozer is a controlled, smart guard with natural playmaking instincts and a crafty scoring bag. For a freshman, he had an incredibly mature game. He is an efficient scorer who doesn’t have elite athletic tools but makes up for it with his effort level and good footwork. When Boozer gets downhill, he isn’t afraid of contact or getting creative when finishing around the rim. Boozer particularly thrives in the pick-and-roll as he’s very good at throwing lobs or misdirecting the defense so he can create an advantage for a teammate and hit them for an open shot. ​ He plays with that control and confidence as a playmaker that coaches at any level love their point guard to have. In a way, it is reminiscent of another Duke product, Tyus Jones. ​ Where Boozer needs to take a step is as a three-point shooter. Seeing him take over 3 threes per game last season was encouraging, and his 80+ percent from the free-throw line bodes well for his development as a shooter. But at 6’4”, if he wants to leap to the NBA after his second season with the Blue Devils, he needs to become a more efficient three-point shooter. ​ Defensively, Boozer is gritty and not afraid of what to the eye may look like a mismatch. He is a pest with active hands that show up both on and off the ball in passing lanes. He moves his feet well and has very mobile hips that help him as a stopper. At the pro level, he could have a similar impact from the guard position as someone like Jamal Shead. ​ Boozer fits the mold of the ideal backup point guard. He’s tough, plays with a ton of heart, is smart with the ball, and can get you a bucket if you need one. While he may not have his brother's ceiling, he projects well as an NBA player. If he can see an uptick in his three-point shooting this year and play a bigger role for Jon Scheyer, he could enter the first-round conversation for the 2027 NBA Draft.

Never too early

The wing position is all about versatility, which is what has made Alabama’s Amari Allen one of the top wing prospects in the 2027 NBA Draft. Allen is set to return for his sophomore season with the Crimson Tide after drawing a ton of interest during the 2026 draft cycle. Last season, Allen averaged 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 stocks (steals + blocks) per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field. Allen plays a well-rounded, high-IQ style of play that will draw a ton of interest from NBA teams this cycle looking for win-now talent. Offensively, he’s a low-mistake player. He doesn’t project as a primary creator or someone a coach can go to when they need something to happen off the dribble, but he’s smart and knows how to fit into the flow of an offense. Allen is always ready to make the extra pass or find the hole in the defense and attack it. He spaces the floor well and has good shooting mechanics that make him someone opposing defenses have to respect from outside. That respect is something Allen leveraged last year at Bama, using it to draw defenders out and then attack them on closeouts. He has a solid finishing bag that is efficient. In the pros, he projects as a reliable catch-and-shoot floor spacer who can make a living off of corner threes or being behind the arc ready to go when the defense collapses. His athleticism and size limitations at 6-foot-6 make him someone who probably won’t ever be an elite scorer downhill, but more of a big-time connective piece on a winning team. Allen has a great motor, and it showed in his rebounding numbers last season. He plays with a ton of effort and energy on both ends of the court, and it really shows up on the glass as he pairs it with strong rebounding skills that help him project as a potential Josh Hart-level rebounding wing in the pros. Defensively, Allen has a good foundation. His motor, agility, and build help him project as someone who will be able to guard 1 through 3 comfortably in the pros and even some 4s depending on the matchup. With some added strength and improved discipline, Allen could become an elite two-way talent in the pros. Allen is a well-rounded wing with still plenty of room to grow after an impressive freshman season. We see more and more that teams are really valuing IQ and versatility more than ever on the wing, and Allen offers exactly that, making him one of the top wings in this class.