One of the tentpole events of the NBA draft process and college basketball offseason came to an end Thursday, with the second day of 5-on-5 scrimmages at the 2026 combine.
The next steps of the predraft process are agency pro days -- though some already took place this week in Chicago -- and team workouts. College basketball programs, meanwhile, begin the two-week wait until the May 27 draft withdrawal deadline.
The star of Wednesday's scrimmages, Baylor guard Cameron Carr, withdrew from Thursday's games after consistently raising his stock throughout the week. Another projected first-round pick, Texas wing Dailyn Swain, also withdrew from Thursday's scrimmages after suiting up Wednesday. Their decisions left Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner as the highest-ranked player to take the floor Thursday, but plenty of likely second-rounders potentially impacted their stock. Let's run through which prospects are leaving Chicago in better standing and which still have questions to answer, plus where those with remaining eligibility stand on staying in the draft vs. returning to college.
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Stock risers
Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor
No. 18 to Charlotte in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
Carr opted not to scrimmage Thursday after lighting up the combine Wednesday, a decision that was met with zero scrutiny around the gym. He backed up his strong athletic testing and measurements (6-foot-4½ barefoot with a nearly 7-1 wingspan) with 30 points and six 3s, helping to reinforce his case as a late-blooming development bet in a draft that's somewhat light on offensive-minded wings. Already projected at No. 18 in my mock draft entering the week, Carr has an opportunity to keep rising as he goes through team workouts in the coming weeks. -- Jeremy Woo
Matt Able, SG, North Carolina
No. 39 to Houston in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
Able arrived in Chicago hoping to boost his case for the late first round, coming off an up-and-down freshman year at NC State that dampened his preseason buzz. He did well to bolster his case, playing well again Thursday (17 points with four 3s) and showcasing a solid feel for scoring. Though Able is still not ready to help a competitive NBA team and he measured on the smaller side for a wing (6-3¾ barefoot and 196 pounds), his plus-4½ wingspan and huge hands are helpful, and he has yet to turn 20 years old. Returning to college and changing scenery from NC State to UNC could help him a year from now, though he has put himself in consideration as a developmental pick for a team that can afford to draft him now and take a longer view. -- Woo
Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn
No. 37 to Oklahoma City in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
Reed built off an incredibly dominant NCAA tournament run with his showing this week. He measured in with a 7-4¼ wingspan Monday, then showed off his blossoming all-around game in the scrimmages. On Wednesday, he had nine points, five rebounds and two assists, while overpowering opponents with his physicality and switching defensively at the other end. It was more of the same Thursday, when he posted 17 points and continued to show impressive mobility, both laterally and running the floor.
Reed's development over the course of his senior season -- particularly his defensive versatility, improved passing and emergence as a focal point of UConn's offense -- pushed him up draft boards. He looked very much like a top-40 pick, perhaps even a fringe first-rounder, in Chicago. -- Jeff Borzello
Prospects with questions left to answer
Koa Peat, F, Arizona
No. 24 to New York in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
Peat opted not to scrimmage at the combine but raised some questions from NBA evaluators in shooting drills, with teams observing what appeared to be major changes to his jump shot mechanics. With his ability to score outside 15 feet considered the main deficiency in his skill set, Peat will clearly require time to work through that. The door remains open for his return to Arizona, where he would likely be among the most productive players in college basketball and have a longer runway to keep working on his shot.
His NBA future might ultimately be as a small-ball center, a role that could mitigate continued shooting struggles but help maximize his defensive versatility, physical strength and potential as a short-roll playmaker. -- Woo
Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt
No. 31 to New York in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
Tanner, viewed as a potential late first-rounder, was among the highest-ranked prospects to participate in scrimmages this week but struggled to impact them Tuesday (13 points on 4-of-11 shooting) and Wednesday (2 points on 1-of-7 shooting). Though he flashed exceptional talent this season at Vanderbilt, the way NBA teams tend to devalue players his size (5-10¾ barefoot) makes his case somewhat polarizing in a draft class that's deep at his position.
His body of work matters far more than a couple of difficult days in this setting, but he didn't bolster his case for late first-round consideration. That will influence his decision whether to return to Vanderbilt, a move that would be profitable from an NBA perspective. He's a unique prospect with a number of fans around the league and will again be a first-round candidate if he returns. -- Woo
Standouts from Thursday's scrimmages
Ryan Conwell, SG/PG, Louisville
No. 38 to Chicago in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
After switching teams Wednesday, Conwell showcased his long-range shooting Thursday, scoring 21 points with five made 3s, playing to his strengths as a microwave scorer. Though just 6-2 barefoot, Conwell has a plus-5-inch wingspan and plays with more force than most smaller guards, weighing nearly 215 pounds with a sturdy frame and the strength to take advantage of mismatches. His combination of physicality and shooting makes him an interesting sleeper candidate for teams in need of a scoring punch off the bench. -- Woo
Braden Smith, PG, Purdue
No. 40 to Boston in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
The NCAA's all-time leader in assists, Smith predictably did a good job of getting teammates involved in Thursday's scrimmage with a game-high seven dimes to go with nine points and three steals. Though Smith measured as the smallest combine participant at 5-10¼ barefoot and 166 pounds, his instincts as a playmaker and flashes of shotmaking stood out, helping his case as a second-round candidate and potential backup point guard in the long run. Smith's experience, competitiveness and dependability -- he started all 149 games of his college career at Purdue -- give him a chance to break the mold for a player his size and ultimately stick on a bench at the next level. -- Woo
Felix Okpara, C, Tennessee
No. 54 to Golden State in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
Okpara has put together a positive predraft process, showing well enough at the Portsmouth Invitational last month to skip the G League combine and earn a spot at the NBA combine. Though not a flashy option at center, Okpara has solid mobility for his size (6-10 barefoot with a plus-4-inch wingspan), measured in the top five in standing reach (9-4) and was productive in Thursday's scrimmage with 15 points and seven rebounds, showing his ability to catch lobs and move his feet defensively. He has helped his chances of hearing his name called in the second round as a depth option with a good physical profile for his position. -- Woo
Felix Okpara with the alley-oop slam!
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) May 14, 2026
📍 2026 AWS Draft Combine pic.twitter.com/N63UAoF9v1
Withdrawal watch
Dailyn Swain, SF, Texas
No. 26 to Denver in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
It has become more apparent that Swain has no intention to return to college. The projected first-round pick closed the door on a return to the Longhorns when asked by ESPN on Wednesday, saying that he's "two feet in." Then Thursday morning, Swain withdrew from the second day of 5-on-5 scrimmages, a common tactic used to protect draft stock. He wasn't great during Wednesday's scrimmage, scoring eight points on eight shots, but his positional size and physical tools have long intrigued NBA evaluators. He appears to still be trending toward a first-round selection. -- Borzello
Rueben Chinyelu, C, Florida
No. 46 to Orlando in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
Chinyelu was dominant Thursday, posting 14 points and 15 rebounds in his second combine scrimmage after going for 13 points and five rebounds Wednesday. He also checked in with a plus-10¼-inch wingspan earlier in the week, by far the best of the combine. He likely generated momentum for his future draft stock, but he was noncommittal about his status when asked Wednesday. The best defender in college basketball last season, Chinyelu returning to Florida to team up with Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to chase another national championship appears to be the likelier outcome. -- Borzello
Noam Yaacov, PG, Utah
Stay with me for a second because Yaacov's situation is a bit convoluted. The Utah commit is technically not considered an NBA draft combine participant, nor can he actually withdraw from the draft because he's auto-eligible as a 2004-born international prospect. But he was invited to the G League combine then received a call-up to play in the NBA draft combine's 5-on-5 scrimmages. With all that said, Yaacov looked the part of an immediate-impact point guard for next season. He's excellent in pick-and-roll situations, can initiate offense and control tempo and finds openings in the defense to score or create. His jumper needs work, but he should provide a massive boost to Utah's point guard play. -- Borzello
Flory Bidunga, PF/C, Louisville
No. 41 to Miami in Jeremy Woo's latest mock
Bidunga was one of the highest-ranked prospects to take part in the 5-on-5 scrimmages. The former Kansas star is also the highest-ranked committed transfer in the country. He played well in Wednesday's scrimmage and finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. He told ESPN on Wednesday that he hasn't completely ruled out the idea of staying in the draft but that he would like to hear that he's a first-round pick. Signs point to him returning to college and anchoring the frontcourt of a potential preseason top-10 team at Louisville. -- Borzello
OKAY, Flory Bidunga 😮
He came out of nowhere for the dunk! pic.twitter.com/2mYaEeMlfy
Rounding up the rest
A slew of projected second-round prospects played in the scrimmages Wednesday and Thursday, and a few might have raised their stock, though it would arguably benefit all of them to return to school. Jeremy Fears Jr. had 11 assists Thursday and held his own in a crowded group of point guards. However, he has a chance to be a preseason All-American if he returns to Michigan State. John Blackwell, who transferred from Wisconsin to Duke earlier this offseason, had 16 points Wednesday and showed his high-level scoring ability. There's a good chance he'll lead the Blue Devils in scoring if he heads to Durham.
USC's Jacob Cofie was called up from the G League combine to the NBA combine and his ceiling was on display in Thursday's scrimmages, as he posted 12 points. It will be interesting to see how he fits into an incredibly talented Trojan frontcourt if he heads to Los Angeles next season. There's a role for Arkansas' Billy Richmond III at the next level, but another year in Fayetteville could vault him closer to the first round in a weaker 2027 draft class. -- Borzello
Wednesday, May 13
With measurements and testing complete, the real action of the NBA draft combine began Wednesday with the first of two days featuring 5-on-5 scrimmages.
The vast majority of projected first-round picks have opted out of the scrimmages, as is customary. Cameron Carr and Dailyn Swain were the only prospects in the top 30 of ESPN's latest mock draft to take the floor Wednesday. (Carr was terrific, more on him shortly.)
The 5-on-5 scrimmages allow players the opportunity to boost their stock, with several projected second-rounders solidifying their draft status, and one or two potentially knocking on the door of the first round. (We'll cover stock risers in Thursday's update.)
Wednesday's schedule also featured media availability with every player at the combine, which allowed a chance to see which direction players who could still return to college are leaning in the draft process.
Standouts from Wednesday's scrimmages
Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor
My highest-ranked player to take the floor Wednesday, Carr had his full offensive skill set on display right away, making four 3s in the first quarter of his scrimmage, scoring 19 in the first half, and finishing with 30 points, making 6-of-12 from deep. After improving his comfort level on the ball and shooting 37% from beyond the arc this season, Carr reinforced his upside as a high-flying 2-guard who can score from long range and has the length to be a positive defender. Though he had some errant passes, the positive far outweighed the negative.
I viewed Carr as a clear candidate to rise coming into the predraft process due to his plus-8¼-inch wingspan and a level of explosiveness that typically plays up well in team workouts. Wednesday was a step in that direction, bolstering his case as a projected top-20 selection who could get looks in the late lottery. -- Jeremy Woo
Matt Able, SG, North Carolina
Able had plenty of buzz entering his freshman season at NC State, generating speculation as a potential one-and-done player. He had an up-and-down campaign in Raleigh (8.8 points per game) but moved the needle Wednesday with 15 points in less than 20 minutes of playing time. He shot 3-for-5 from 3-point range and 5-for-9 from the field, adding three rebounds.
Able's shooting is intriguing as a potential separator, but he also showed ability with the ball in his hands. He doesn't turn 19 until July, and although he has the potential to be a breakout performer for Michael Malone and North Carolina next season, Able's stock could quickly tick up to a back-end first-rounder. (He told ESPN that he's "back and forth" about his decision.) He entered the week at No. 39 in ESPN's post-lottery mock draft. -- Jeff Borzello
Baba Miller, PF/C, Cincinnati
Miller was a standout in the first scrimmage, showcasing his versatility and comfort level on the perimeter at 6-foot-11. He scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds and knocked down a pair of 3s -- an area that will be key to both his growth (he shot just 29% over four college seasons) and his ability to play the 4 in the NBA. The progress he made this season at Cincinnati, coupled with a continued predraft push, has put him back on the map at the right time. Miller also tested well earlier in the week, reinforcing his case to get drafted and potentially earn guaranteed money. Late-blooming bigs with his size and skill level are difficult to find and tend to earn the benefit of a developmental runway in the NBA. -- Woo
Jaden Bradley, PG, Arizona
All season, Bradley was a steady force who made winning plays at both ends of the floor. It wasn't flashy and he didn't have gaudy stats, but he won Big 12 Player of the Year as the most consistent talent on one of college basketball's elite teams. Wednesday featured more of the same. He finished with 10 points, five rebounds and seven assists, steadily finding his way to the rim using his strength and body control. Bradley also excelled on the defensive end going against former Purdue guard Braden Smith. Bradley is a projected second-round pick but has the potential to help a team from day one. -- Borzello
Ja'Kobi Gillespie, PG, Tennessee
Another college veteran with a second-round projection, Gillespie had an incredible first-half performance Wednesday. He had 24 first-half points, including multiple deep 3s over outstretched hands, while also creating space to get into the lane and score inside the arc. He measured in at under 6 feet earlier this week, which is a concern, but his shooting and playmaking ability could mitigate that.
Gillespie stood out at three schools during his college career, spending his first two seasons as an ultra-efficient offensive player at Belmont before shooting better than 40% from 3 in one season at Maryland, then eventually averaging career highs in scoring (18.4 PPG) and assists (5.4 APG) at Tennessee this past season. He snuck into ESPN's post-lottery mock at 60th. -- Borzello
Jakobi Gillespie is feeling it!
He finishes the first half with 24 points 👀 pic.twitter.com/2gPPrmxeZa
Jeremy Fears Jr., PG, Michigan State
Fears is testing the waters and will likely be better off financially returning to school, where he has two years of eligibility remaining, but he had several nice moments in the scrimmage -- an environment that typically favors guards with his level of playmaking feel and decisiveness. In a scrimmage that featured few pure point guards, Fears' vision, ability to organize and play vocally stood out. He also recorded 17 points and five assists.
Though not the biggest or fastest, Fears plays with sufficient pace. If he can hone his jumper over the next year or two, there's a place for him in the NBA as a second-unit floor leader. -- Woo
Withdrawal watch
Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford
Arguably the biggest name to go public with his stay-or-go decision Wednesday, Okorie said he's remaining in the NBA draft and has informed Stanford coach Kyle Smith of his decision. "I already talked with Coach Smith, Kyle Smith, and I talked to my agents and my family," Okorie said. "I'm staying in the draft."
Okorie had an electric season with the Cardinal, going from an unranked three-star recruit to one of the elite guards in a deep freshman class by ranking eighth in the country in scoring average (23.2 PPG). He measured well Monday, checking in with a plus-6.5-inch wingspan. -- Borzello
Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
Veesaar is staying in the draft and has no intentions of returning to North Carolina to play for new coach Michael Malone, with whom the center had discussions before announcing his decision. "I'm all-in on staying in the draft," Veesaar said. "It's 100% my decision to stay. I think it's the right decision, basketball wise."
Though the projected late first-rounder called Malone "one of the best coaches," Veesaar pointed to the NBA being better for his development as the deciding factor to stay in the draft. -- Borzello
Isaiah Evans, SG, Duke
Evans closed the door on a return to Duke, saying he has had no conversations with Jon Scheyer or the Blue Devils staff about going back to Durham. Given that Dame Sarr is returning and that the team added Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, arguably the best guard in the portal, signs all spring pointed to Evans' NBA decision being permanent. "I'm fully in," he said. Evans was projected at No. 23 in ESPN's post-lottery mock draft. -- Borzello
.@SeanFarnham gives his TOP THREE takeaways from the NBA draft combine 👀⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rW0buSqidF
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 13, 2026
Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan
When Johnson announced his intention to enter the NBA draft -- and the Wolverines simultaneously added Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam -- it seemed that the title-winning power forward's decision was final. His comments Wednesday, however, clearly left the door open for a potential return to Ann Arbor.
"I have to talk to my agents and ... see what type of feedback they've been getting," Johnson said. "Dusty [May] has been very supportive. He's not pressuring me to come back at all. He wants me to attack this thing with two feet in until otherwise."
Johnson was a winner of the early-week measurements and testing, clocking in at 6-9 (without shoes) with a 7-3½ wingspan. -- Borzello
Milan Momcilovic, F, Iowa State
Momcilovic was the best player to enter the transfer portal this spring but has yet to offer any indication on which schools he's considering if he were to withdraw from the draft. He said Wednesday that being a first-round pick would be enough to stay in the draft, and a guarantee in the early second round could also persuade him to go pro. Sources have indicated that Kentucky, Louisville, St. John's and UCLA are among the big names in pursuit. "There's not a lot of schools that still have a lot of money and a lot of roster spots left, so it's not like I'm choosing between 15 schools," he told ESPN. "It's going to be three or four." -- Borzello
Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara
An analytics darling, Graves intrigued NBA scouts all season despite coming off the bench. Slotted at No. 22 in ESPN's post-lottery mock draft, Graves said Wednesday that he would prefer to stay in the draft if it is clear he is a first-round pick. He's currently in the transfer portal and told ESPN that LSU and Duke were his two favorites and the only schools he's had conversations with, and that Kentucky had reached out to his agents. LSU has the necessary roster space and budget to land Graves if he withdraws, while Duke looks more crowded in the frontcourt. -- Borzello
Tuesday, May 12
The 2026 NBA draft combine is underway in Chicago, where every participating player went through anthropometric testing Monday. About 25 to 30 also completed their athletic testing and shooting drills at the outset, with the rest of the invitees put through their paces with the same drills and tests on Tuesday. Tune in Wednesday to our NBA draft combine show on ESPN2 from 2 p.m. through 6 p.m. ET.
The top three prospects already made what will be their final appearances of the week. AJ Dybantsa measured at 6-foot-8½ without shoes with a 7-0½ wingspan and a 42.0-inch maximum vertical leap; Darryn Peterson measured at 6-foot-4½ with a 6-9¾ wingspan and 37½-inch max vertical; and Cameron Boozer measured at 6-foot-8¼ with a 7-1½ wingspan and a 35.0-inch max vertical. That trio won't play in the 5-on-5 scrimmages Wednesday and Thursday, along with the vast majority of other surefire first-round picks.
It's difficult for any player to meaningfully raise or tank their draft stock during the first couple of days of the combine, but the 5-on-5 scrimmages will create some separation. With that said, there were still noteworthy developments from the first 24 hours at Wintrust Arena, so let's run through the early standouts and intel.
Monday and Tuesday's standouts
Alex Karaban, F, UConn
Given Karaban's status as a borderline first-round pick -- he clocked in at No. 32 in ESPN's latest mock draft -- any boost to his stock could make a sizable difference, and he was the best shooter in the gym during Monday's drills. He went 22-for-30 off the dribble, 18-for-25 in the 3-point star drill (second best so far), 21-for-25 in the side-mid-side drill (best so far) and 18-for-25 in the spot-up shooting drill.
Karaban was a consistent 3-point shooter during his four seasons in Storrs, finishing his career as a 37.4% 3-point shooter. His athletic testing was also a win, given that his standing vertical leap improved by 5.5 inches since his showing at the 2024 combine. -- Jeff Borzello
Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
Carr was one of the biggest breakout stars of this past college basketball season, averaging nearly 19 points at Baylor after playing just 18 games over a season and a half at Tennessee in 2023 and 2024. He surged into the first round of mocks and big boards, and his measurements and athletic testing numbers could push him higher than No. 18, where ESPN projected him after the lottery.
At 6-4½ with a 7-0¾ wingspan, Carr measured out an incredible plus-8.25 wingspan, giving him the second-biggest gap between height and wingspan at the combine. And then on Tuesday, he had the second-best max vertical leap (42½) and the fastest pro lane agility drill of any player. He also weighed 184.4 pounds, which is almost 10 pounds heavier than he was listed during the season. Given that one of the concerns is his slender frame, that's a positive. -- Borzello
Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan
Johnson had a positive on-court day Monday, measuring 6-9 barefoot (a number that surprised some NBA teams) with a 7-3½ wingspan and 8-11 standing reach -- legitimate dimensions for an NBA player at the 5-spot, despite being undersized. He also fared quite well in testing, outperforming most players in his lane drill time.
While his shot remains a work in progress, his improving mechanics stood out as a large group of bigs took the floor together in drills -- he made 12-of-35 total 3s at Michigan but looks to have legitimate room to develop his spot-up shooting. This all helped to reaffirm the strong physical component of his game as he makes a case for a spot in the top 20. -- Jeremy Woo
Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
Cenac made a good decision to participate in drills Monday, as his physical tools and fluidity for his size stood out. He measured and tested quite well at 6-10¼ barefoot, with a 7-5 wingspan and 9-0½ standing reach and established true size for a center, with a 41½-inch standing vertical.
While the season Cenac had at Houston wasn't statistically prolific, he bought into his role as a rebounder within Kelvin Sampson's scheme and made strides with his physicality. He presents a very intriguing bet on tools, with his brief combine showing a reminder that there are simply no other bigs in this draft with his highly valued skill set. It will be no surprise if he sneaks into the back end of the lottery, with teams such as the Charlotte Hornets (No. 14) and Chicago Bulls (No. 4, 15) in need of a long-term center and likely to take a long look at this position. -- Woo
Overheard on Tuesday
As soon as the lottery was revealed Sunday, the immediate question around the league and industry was whether the Utah Jazz, holding the No. 2 pick, might make an eventual overture to trade up to No. 1 to select Dybantsa. This is factoring in the strong ties between Utah owner Ryan Smith, CEO Danny Ainge and president of basketball operations Austin Ainge to BYU.
While the connection there is logical, there's no indication that it will happen at this stage of the predraft process, with lottery teams having only recently been assigned their selections. At the moment, the thought of Utah trading up is purely speculative, as the Jazz are sitting in a strong position at No. 2 regardless: They can simply wait and see who Washington takes, something that is not being treated as a foregone conclusion.
Dybantsa has shaped up as the favorite at No. 1, but that's not the consensus, with most around the NBA having seen Peterson as a strong candidate for that spot all season, and varying opinions on Boozer's and even Caleb Wilson's candidacies. The talent gap between that foursome, particularly Dybantsa and Peterson, might not ultimately be wide enough to trade up from No. 2 to 1 in a vacuum, regardless of which teams owned which picks.
While the nature of this draft class, with a consensus top four, could lay the groundwork for trade movement, deals atop the draft are historically quite rare. The last instance was the Philadelphia 76ers trading up to No. 1 with the Boston Celtics (at the time, run by Ainge) for Markelle Fultz. All of this is to say that any trade dynamics that might evolve within that top four might not necessarily be likely outcomes and will require more time to play out over the next month. -- Woo
Withdrawal watch
Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
Peat has one of the more interesting stay-or-go decisions in the lead-up to the May 27 withdrawal deadline. He entered the college basketball season as a projected top 10 pick but saw his stock dip despite Arizona winning the Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament championships before reaching the Final Four.
Peat was No. 24 in ESPN's most recent mock draft, and while he tested very well athletically Monday, his shooting was the bigger talking point. He made just seven 3-pointers all season for the Wildcats, then was one of the worst shooters Monday, going just 6-for-25 in the 3-point star drill and 6-for-25 in the spot-up shooting drill. It's also worth noting that Peat's shot looked dramatically different from what it did while he was at Arizona, with a slower motion and much lower release point. He didn't look entirely comfortable with it Monday. -- Borzello