Biggest Risers and Fallers From Our Post-Combine 2026 NBA Mock Draft
Every NBA front office was in Chicago to learn more about the 2026 draft class. And there was plenty to take away from measurements, athletic testing, scrimmaging and interviews, events in which the results moved the needle on a number of players' projected outlooks and stock.
Our latest mock draft received some important updates, including changes to our top 10 and new names added to the second round.
There were also a number of players who've been moved down, and a few of them were underclassmen who'll have the chance to withdraw by May 27 and return to college.
Riser: Aday Mara (Michigan)
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Updated projection: No. 8
Aday Mara measuring 7'3" barefoot with a 9'9" standing reach became a hot topic inside Wintrust Arena. This type of size and length has become very enticing for a finisher and shot-blocker who's also an excellent passer with impressive post skill and footwork.
The conversation over the back end of the lottery has mostly featured young guards and wings. But Mara has seemed to enter the discussion with unicorn size and traits that have the potential to create a different type of upside, particularly for teams are either set in the backcourt or aren't sold that the ball-handlers on the board have surefire All-Star trajectories.
He's the only NCAA player on record to finish a season with 50 dunks, a 15.0 assist percentage and 12.0 block percentage. That production with these confirmed measurements should have front offices considering Mara in the No. 8-14 range.
Faller: Amari Allen (Alabama)
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Updated projection: No. 26
We were higher on Amari Allen when thinking he was closer to the 6'8" measurement Alabama gave him. But coming in just over 6'5" barefoot eliminated the positional size advantage that was initially a major selling point.
Scouts we talked to in Chicago were leaning more toward advising the freshman to withdraw and go back to college for a bigger role in a weaker draft.
He'll still draw first-round interest from teams that value the shoot-dribble-pass skill set and archetype it creates. But it sounds like he's being viewed more as a project with a chance than a lock, NBA asset.
Riser: Cam Carr
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Updated projection: No. 14
Cam Carr was already the highest-projected prospect to participate in scrimmage. So watching him drop 30 points in such effortless fashion only helped validate the love and draft-stock spike he received during his first season at Baylor.
The shotmaking and six threes were obviously impressive, but it was how easily he was able to rise and separate over other draft prospects that popped.
His athleticism (42" max vertical), which was also evident on his 47 dunks and 45 blocks, shined as well when he exploded past defenders and soared above the rim on three separate occasions.
From an optics standpoint, Carr simply looked like an NBA starting wing playing against college kids in Chicago. He's developed a no-risk, high-floor label and a very popular, valued archetype.
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Faller: Allen Graves (Santa Clara)
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Updated projection: No. 27
Though poor athletic testing or shooting drills won't break a prospect's draft stock, Allen Graves did not make any new fans in Chicago.
Executives watching him miss threes and struggle to generate any shotmaking rhythm— including during a pro day that's meant to make him look good—did not come away impressed.
Nobody expected him to jump well, but finishing bottom five in agility, shuttle run and sprint times was also disappointing.
During the season, scouts had gradually become intrigued by what he was doing at Santa Clara. His analytics were really what stood out most, and power forwards that can stretch the floor, pass and disruptive defensively are going to generate interest.
But seeing him alongside other big names and projected first-round picks, Graves did not stand out or look like someone teams needed to reach on after one year in the West Coast Conference.
Riser: Baba Miller (Cincinnati)
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Updated projection: No. 45
After measuring over 6'10" barefoot, Baba Miller really stood out during scrimmages with his inside-out production.
He played big inside while showing off his jumbo-wing versatility as a ball-handler and passer. And when he's making threes like he did in Chicago, he suddenly looks very enticing for a second-round pick.
Despite poor shooting numbers at Cincinnati, he still improved his case this year with much stronger rebounding and playmaking rates. Just showing he can look capable of making the occasional spot-up three could go a long way. And still, even as a non-shooter, Miller does enough interesting things at his size to warrant consideration in the 40s.
Faller: Koa Peat (Arizona)
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Updated draft projection: No. 30
Despite a productive season and Final Four run at Arizona, Koa Peat had been a polarizing prospect from the beginning. A portion of scouts have questioned the upside of a forward who doesn't make threes or handle the ball often.
And then he shot 6-of-25 during spot-up threes (the worst at the combine), 7-of-26 during the three-point star drill (tied for second worst), 10-of-25 on side three-pointers (bottom third) and 15-of-30 on mid-range pull-ups (bottom third). The eye test on the misses was just as worrisome as the results.
Peat demonstrated some shotmaking skill during the season, but he still converted just 34.4 percent of his two-point jumpers on high volume.
Scouts aren't writing off Peat, but they are suggesting he comes back to improve a correctable weakness.
Riser: Tobi Lawal (Virginia Tech)
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Updated projection: No. 56
Our first mock draft released after the NBA Combine marked Tobi Lawal's first appearance on the board.
His near record-setting verticals and above-the-rim plays during scrimmages highlight outlier athletic ability that might be enough for a non-skill wing to stick.
Lawal did raise his free-throw percentage to 76.3, and he has made 36 threes over the past two seasons.
Regardless, teams in the second round could start to look at Lawal as a specialty player capable of providing value with transition scoring, off-ball finishing and defensive playmaking.
Faller: Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State)
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Updated projection: No. 41
Joshua Jefferson's underwhelming athletic testing and shooting results mostly underlined what scouts already knew.
His combine performance won't tank his draft stock, but others in his range improved theirs, and prospects who'll be 23-year-old rookies don't have margin for errors.
Scouts also would have liked to see him alleviate concerns over his ability to score against length, but he chose to skip scrimmages.
Though a very well-rounded player at a time when versatility is valued, Jefferson is missing one bankable or advantageous strength, potentially problematic for a role player with limited upside.
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