The NCAA’s draft withdrawal deadline continued the slow weakening of the 2026 NBA draft, with a handful of additional intriguing prospects projected to get picked in the 20s and 30s electing to withdraw and spend another year in college basketball. The significant withdrawals, driven in large part by the ballooning NIL/revenue share market in college, have impacted the strength of the draft starting in the teens and throughout the 20s, trickling down into the second round.
In spite of that, the excitement is still immense at the top, with a number of elite-level prospects looking like potential franchise cornerstones available in the top 10 picks. What’s the latest Sports Illustrated is hearing on the race to go No. 1 and other key intel with the draft under a month away? Here’s a look at SI’s latest mock draft.
