The 2026 NBA Draft Combine is set to take place in Chicago, showcasing top prospects like Koa Peat, Morez Johnson Jr., and Milan Momcilovic. Key decisions on whether players will stay in the draft or return to college are looming.
Key points
2026 NBA Draft Combine takes place in Chicago
Koa Peat, Morez Johnson Jr., and Milan Momcilovic are key prospects
Momcilovic is a top shooter and available in the transfer portal
Kentucky's Malachi Moreno is a projected second-round pick
Decisions will impact players' futures in college or the NBA
The NBA Draft Combine will take place this week in Chicago. It will serve as an opportunity for teams to get an up-close look at some of the best prospects in this year's draft class while they compete against each other. It will also serve as a measuring stick for players on the fence about their respective stay-or-go decision.
Kentucky has a ton at stake this week. The Wildcats met with Momcilovic's representatives last week, and soon-to-be sophomore big man Malachi Moreno is also going through the draft process. Moreno is a projected second-round pick if he stays in the draft, but he's been a real riser in the pre-draft process. Kentucky's outlook changes dramatically if Moreno returns to Lexington, and it can reel in Momcilovic. But multiple dominoes have to fall correctly at the latest stage of the offseason.
Q&A
Who are the top prospects participating in the 2026 NBA Draft Combine?
Top prospects include Koa Peat from Arizona, Morez Johnson Jr. from Michigan, and Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State.
What is at stake for Kentucky during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine?
Kentucky's future hinges on the decisions of Malachi Moreno and the potential recruitment of Milan Momcilovic, impacting their roster significantly.
What are the stay-or-go decisions players are facing before the 2026 NBA Draft?
Players like Koa Peat, Morez Johnson Jr., and Milan Momcilovic must decide whether to remain in the draft or return to college basketball.
How does Milan Momcilovic's performance affect his draft stock?
Momcilovic aims to solidify his status as a first-round pick, especially as he is considered one of the best shooters in the draft.
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Projected first-rounders like UConn'sBraylon Mullins, Florida'sThomas Haugh, Duke'sPatrick Ngongba II and Arizona's Motiejus Krivas all returned to school without going through the combine, which opened up four more spots for hopefuls like Yessoufou and Allen. A strong week for Yessoufou could be a ding for transfer portal suitors, and Alabama desperately needs a second year of Allen if it hopes to compete for the SEC Championship.
These are massive wagers for both the players and the college programs.
With the NBA Combine this week and the deadline to officially withdraw from the NBA Draft and maintain college eligibility approaching (May 27, 11:59 p.m. ET), we are previewing the biggest names who will have a stay-or-go decision to make. NIL is being used to retain top talent, and unless you have a guarantee inside the top 20 picks, you will likely make more money (albeit in the short-term) by running it back.
Peat could easily be the most impactful returnee in college basketball. This isn't really a new or hot take. I talked about Peat's as a name to watch as a stay-or-go decision last month. Another season of college basketball would do him wonders. If he improves his shot from outside of the paint, Peat would be a potential top-five pick next summer. His return to college seems unlikely, but this week will be illuminating. If Peat gets feedback that he's outside the top-20, a return to Arizona would make sense. Tommy Lloyd has a spot for Peat, both in the starting lineup and at the top of the budget. The Wildcats would be a top-5 team in America with Peat back in the fold, and he'd be a frontrunner for National Player of the Year. -- Cameron Salerno
Ament entered the season as a projected top 10 pick. Despite his freshman season at Tennessee being a mixed bag, he did show significant signs of improvement throughout the year and could be a potential lottery pick. The one knock on Ament's season was the efficiency, as he shot less than 40% from the floor. Ament did shoot 79% on 7.1 attempts per game from the free-throw line, which is a positive sign for his long-term development as a shooter. Tennessee has spent nearly $20 million in the transfer portal this offseason, so it's hard to envision Ament returning at this point, and he chose not to enter the transfer portal. He's all-in on the draft. CBS Sports' Gary Parrish and Adam Finkelstein both have Ament going No. 10 to the Milwaukee Bucks in their latest mock drafts following the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday -- Salerno
[NBA Mock Draft: Fits for all 30 picks with 2026 lottery set; Dybantsa No. 1 to Wizards, Peterson No. 2 to Jazz
Swain is expected to stay in the NBA Draft after a breakout junior season at Texas, where he flashed the ability to get to the rack whenever he wanted. Swain was a defense-first weapon in his first two seasons at Xavier before transforming into one of the best scorers in the SEC in Year 3. The 6-foot-8 wing can scale up or scale down to fill a void very easily, which makes him an attractive gamble for NBA decision-makers. It wouldn't be a surprise if Swain ends up as a top-20 pick. -- Trotter
Johnson's teammate at Michigan, Aday Mara, appears to be all-in on the draft process. He's been one of the biggest draft risers the last two months because of his play in the NCAA Tournament. As for Johnson, he also improved his stock with a strong tournament run. Johnson is projected as a late first-round pick, which could open the door for a return. Johnson is a versatile forward who exploits mismatches against smaller defenders on offense. On defense, he's capable of guarding out on the perimeter against smalls. That versatility would make him a great fit on any NBA roster. Michigan's decisions to load up on high-priced bigs in the transfer portal, namely Cincinnati'sMoustapha Thiam and Tennessee's JP Estrella, signal that Dusty May is expecting both Johnson and Mara to stay in the draft. -- Salerno
The 7-foot center is expected to stay in the NBA Draft after shooting over 40% from 3-point range on 94 attempts for North Carolina last season. The combination of size, passing and shooting is tempting, especially with so many NBA clubs opting for double-big lineups. With how the first round has thinned out, Veesaar has a real chance to be a top-25 pick.
But Alabama's Labaron Philon was also expected to stay in the NBA Draft last season before exiting at the very last second. That type of liferaft is something that UNC coach Michael Malone could use right about now. If the feedback isn't outstanding -- there are some questions about Veesaar's ability to defend in space -- and UNC can cobble together an offer that doubles what Veesaar could get in the mid-20s, it's not out of the question that he could explore a return to college. But UNC is not holding its breath on this one. -- Trotter
Chinyelu has an interesting decision to make. The big man market near the middle/end of the first round has dried up a little bit after several players (Krivas and Ngongba) at the position returned to school. Could Chinyelu be next? If he does, it would solidify Florida as the best frontcourt in the nation. The Gators already have Haugh and Alex Condon running it back. Getting back one of the best defenders in the country could give Florida the edge to be the preseason No. 1 this fall. -- Salerno
It's pretty simple: Tanner is going to do everything he can to spike his stock this week, or he will return to Vanderbilt to be one of the best guards in the country.
Tanner isn't tall or jacked, but he's one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in this class. He threw down 17 dunks last year, an unprecedented number for a 6-foot guard. He's also a dogged point-of-attack defender and incredibly hard to keep out of the paint.
Tanner will be a Preseason All-American if he returns to Vanderbilt, but it only takes one team to believe Tanner is an outlier who can stick. Vanderbilt's chances to make the Final Four in 2027 hinge on Tanner's decision. He's the force multiplier for everything the 'Dores want to be. I expect him in college next year, but I wouldn't be surprised if this gets sweaty down the stretch. -- Trotter
Every school on this list would love to see its player return to school for another season. However, one of the most important is Moreno. Kentucky's offseason has been highlighted by coming in second for some of its biggest targets in the transfer portal. Now, it's wait-and-see mode for coach Mark Pope and company to see if UK gets back its star big man. Moreno had a really solid freshman season and would benefit from another year. -- Salerno
[Mark Pope's hot seat intensifies amid Kentucky's portal struggles as rivals Louisville, Tennessee thrive
Stojakovic's counting stats went down after transferring from undermanned Cal to loaded Illinois, but he became a better all-around player. Stojakovic is one of the best slashers in this draft class. The 6-foot-7 wing can deck it with the best of 'em, and he showcased much-improved attention to detail on the glass and defensively last year.
If he can double down on the non-negotiables and improve his shooting (25% on 80 catch-and-shoot 3s), Stojakovic will be an NBA player just like his dad, Peja. Stojakovic will get feedback this week, but he is expected to return to Champaign for his senior season. He will be one of the highest-paid players in college basketball next season. -- Trotter
Richmond is one of the most entertaining players to watch in college basketball. His athleticism and defense pop on tape. Richmond is coming off a breakout sophomore season, but still needs to improve as a shooter from beyond the arc to take the next step. Richmond shot 56.3% on 2-pointers but just 25.9% from the 3-point line. It seems more likely than not that the logical move will be to run it back. -- Salerno
Fears is going through the process to get feedback from NBA decision-makers, but he is expected to return to Michigan State for his redshirt-junior season. The outstanding floor general has tremendous vision, a sky-high basketball IQ and owns all the toughness and intangibles, but he'll likely hear that he needs to continue to show growth with his jumper.
Fears shot just 30% on jumpers in 2024-25. That spiked to 39% last season on over 200 attempts. One more surge in 2026-27 could vault Fears into the draftable range in 2027. He'll be a preseason First-Team, All-Big Ten lock if (when) he returns. -- Trotter
Bidunga is expected to return to college after signing a massive deal to transfer from Kansas to Louisville last month. He was the No. 1 player in the transfer portal and got paid in the $5 million range.
The projected salary for the No. 25 pick based on 2025's projections is around $2.49 million.
We can do that math.
Returning to Louisville is the most likely option, but Bidunga will still go through the process. He's the most switchable defender in all of college basketball. While he's generously listed at 6-foot-10 (he will measure shorter than that this week at the Combine), Bidunga has terrific length, speed and athleticism to guard all five positions. If he stayed in the draft, Bidunga would likely be a late first-round pick, but he'll try to boost his stock in Chicago. The knock on Bidunga is the size. Many do not believe that he is big enough to be a NBA center, and Bidunga doesn't have a perimeter game offensively yet. If he measures better than expected, that could open some eyes.
It's a little uncomfortable for Louisville to have its highest-paid player going through the process, but that's life when you're recruiting at the top of the food chain. -- Trotter
Cofie impressed at the NBA G-League Combine and earned one of the coveted bids to join the NBA Draft Combine. Decision-makers want to continue to get a look at the fluid 6-foot-10 big man who can play on the perimeter and offers real defensive upside with his length and mobility. USC still expects Cofie to return for his junior season, but he's already helped himself considerably this week with more opportunities on tap. -- Trotter
True toss-ups, all eyes on these prospects this week
Momcilovic is the best shooter in all of college basketball. No one made more triples than Momcilovic (136), and the 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward makes tough shots look remarkably easy. Momcilovic's fadeaway midrange jumper is almost impossible to deflect, and it serves as a needed counter to his barrage of off-movement triples that he can uncork even if a defender is draped nearby. The shot-making is so pure that it covers up some of Momcilovic's warts (no offensive rebounding, little creation, no rim pressure and average defense).
He enters Chicago looking for a first-round promise. Momcilovic has made it very clear that he wants to stay in the NBA Draft, but if he's getting second-round buzz, it will grow hard to ignore the enormous offers from transfer portal suitors, including a desperate club like Kentucky. Momcilovic could make north of $6 million in college next season. His stay-or-go decision is climactic. -- Trotter
[2026 NBA Draft Combine: Nate Ament, Koa Peat, Yaxel Lendeborg among five players with most to prove in Chicago
Allen outplayed his contract by a mile as a freshman at Alabama, flashing real versatility as a 6-foot-8 wing who can make 3s, create a bit off the bounce, defend multiple positions, rebound well, make reads and slice and dice as a cutter. He's hoping to get a first-round promise. If not, Nate Oats has a featured role ready. Labaron Philon's decision to return to Alabama for his sophomore season unquestionably helped his stock. Allen could follow the same script, but NBA teams will like him on and off the floor, so this is no gimme. -- Trotter
Thomas might've flown under the radar this season because he was teammates with the best guard (Darius Acuff Jr.) in the country. Still, Thomas showed throughout the year that he can be a volume scorer and a No. 1 option when needed. Thomas shot 41.6% from the 3-point line and averaged 15.6 points. I'm a believer in the talent, and another year to expand his role within John Calipari's system would be mutually beneficial for all parties, but the current expectation is that Thomas is trying to stay in the draft. -- Salerno
Okorie is better off staying in the draft than returning to Stanford, in my opinion. Okokrie could very well be a top 20 pick in the draft this summer, which would make it likely that he keeps his name in. In my latest mock draft, Okorie went No. 19 to the Hawks. If Stanford can find a way to get him to return, Okorie would likely be a preseason All-American. He's that good. -- Salerno
Graves was an analytic darling this season at Santa Clara. He didn't post eye-popping numbers, but his advanced numbers told a different story. Notably, Graves is also in the transfer portal, so if he does withdraw from the draft, his options are a return to Santa Clara or transferring to a new school. One school that could make sense for Graves is LSU. Graves is a Louisiana native, and Will Wade's roster at LSU isn't exactly complete at the moment. Still, if Graves tests well this week, he might lock himself into being a first-round pick. The idea of Graves is tantalizing, which is always useful in the pre-draft process. Will his stock ever be this high if he struggles a little bit at the high-major ranks next year? That's a question that his representatives are trying to weigh this week. -- Salerno
Yessoufou has all his options on the table, but the 6-foot-5 wing wants to stay in the NBA Draft. The problem is that the feedback could be all over the place. Dropping to the second round is firmly in play for a prospect that's a bit of a tweener. For long stretches of his freshman season, Yessoufou operated like a 6-foot-5 power forward. That's not super enticing for the NBA game, but Yessoufou should interview well and has worked hard to refine his skillset. If he exits the NBA Draft, Yessoufou will have a huge market in the transfer portal because his combination of power, explosiveness and motor will form a wrecking ball. A team like UCLA still has room in the budget for a top-shelf addition after losing out to Duke in the John Blackwell sweepstakes, but other wing-needy teams will get involved quickly. Yessoufou is clearly looking for reasons to stay in the draft, but will he get that intel from the league? Only time will tell. -- Trotter
Quick Hitters
Texas Tech star point guard Christian Anderson is expected to stay in the NBA Draft after a sterling sophomore season in Lubbock. Plus, the Red Raiders have loaded up in free agency with four new guards.
North Carolina signee Matt Able is in an interesting predicament. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard has terrific positional size and skill, but he had an up-and-down freshman season for a dysfunctional NC State club. He could be a sneaky buy-low candidate for an NBA franchise, but the current expectation is that he will return to college and be one of the featured options for UNC. He can help his stock a ton with a breakout sophomore season in Chapel Hill.
John Blackwell will go through the NBA Draft process, but he is expected to suit up for Duke next season. This isn't a Cedric Coward situation. The Blue Devils should be able to breathe easy on this front.
7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo is another stay-or-go situation to know. Villanova is firmly in the mix here for one of the top international prospects, but Suigo's size and shooting are appealing.
