Duke standout Isaiah Evans did not hear his name called on the first night of the 2026 NBA Draft.
> Round 2: Tonight, 8 ET | ESPN (Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.)
NEW YORK – The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft concluded Tuesday evening and some unexpected players snuck into the first round that some fans perhaps weren’t expecting.
Kentucky center Jayden Quaintaince was the first player drafted who was not in the green room when the San Antonio Spurs took him at No. 20. St. John’s senior forward Zuby Ejiofor was a late riser and was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 24th pick.
The second round of this year’s draft thinned out with several college players electing to return to school for name, image and likeness opportunities and further develop their game against their peers rather than fight for an NBA roster slot (as most second-round picks have to do).
Each year, gems can be found in the second round that completely outperform their draft spot. The No. 41 pick in 2014 by Denver, three-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokić is universally considered the greatest second-round pick ever.
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson was the 33rd pick in 2018, while former Kia Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green the No. 35 pick by the Golden State Warriors in 2012. More recently, the Memphis Grizzlies found a strong rotational player in Jaylen Wells at No. 39 in 2024.
As Wednesday’s second round (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Barclays Center nears, here are the eight best available prospects still left on the board.
Experience: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Height & weight: 6-foot-6, 186 pounds
Evans was the only player invited to the green room who didn’t hear their name called on night No. 1. Around pick 26, Evans and his family got up and left, presumably knowing he wasn’t going to hear his name called in the first round. Evans’ fall to the second round could end up being a huge steal in the draft.
He elected to return for his sophomore season at Duke to improve his 3-point shot selection and get stronger — and he did just that. He averaged 15 points per game and was crucial in postseason play when the Blue Devils needed a big bucket. During the Sweet 16 game against St. John’s, it was Evans who kept Duke in that back-and-forth game by exchanging 3-pointers with the hot-handed St. John’s guards down the stretch. Duke won, 80-75, and Evans finished with 25 points. He won’t have to wait long to hear his name called by deputy commissioner Mark Tatum.
Experience: Junior
Position: Center
Height & weight: 6-foot-11, 227 pounds
Veesaar could have returned to North Carolina for his senior season, but decided to stay in this year’s draft given UNC’s coaching change from Hubert Davis to former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone. Veesaar was a player on the border of sneaking into the first round or falling to the first half of the second. After Evans, he is the best available prospect on the board. He has great size, strong hands and often matches the physicality at the rim. He made a huge leap this season after transferring from Arizona, averaging 17 ppg and 8.7 rpg and can impact any NBA team’s second unit.
Experience: Freshman
Position: Guard/forward
Height & weight: 6-foot-3, 190 pounds
Thomas didn’t receive a green room invite for the first round, but was in Brooklyn on Tuesday night, sitting in the stands just in case his name was called. He was also there supporting his backcourt teammate and one of his best friends, Darius Acuff Jr., who was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 7 pick. Thomas was standing and cheering, recording his walk to the stage on his phone.
The improvements Thomas made over the course of his freshman year were very promising and translatable to the NBA. He has good size and played both on and off the ball for coach John Calipari. Many questioned how he would work in the backcourt with ball-dominant guards Acuff and junior DJ Wagner, but that trio harmonized and succeeded, leading Arkansas to an SEC Tournament title. Thomas can get a shot off quickly, he loves the side-step 3-pointer and can defend the switch on the perimeter. Thomas averaged 15.6 ppg and shot 41.6% on 3-pointers last season.
Cincinnati’s Baba Miller is a potent scorer around the basket and a capable rebounder.
Experience: Senior
Position: Forward
Height & weight: 6-foot-11, 208 pounds
NBA teams love length and versatility at the wing position and Miller has both. The 6-foot-11 forward tested the NBA draft waters two years ago and got good feedback from teams. He needed to add some muscle to his frame and improve his jumper off the block. His mid-range got better and he became a beast on the boards, averaging a double-double his senior season. His 2.4 offensive rebounds per game placed him among the elite second-chance creators in the Big 12. Miller is a player who will likely hear his name called in the early 30s.
Experience: Senior
Position: Forward
Height & weight: 6-foot-10, 226 pounds
Brazile started his college career at Missouri and transferred to Arkansas his sophomore season. He was having a breakout year and unfortunately tore his ACL nine games in and had to sit out and ended up redshirting. Over the next three seasons, Brazile got stronger and his crazy athleticism started to return after the knee injury. He recorded 53 dunks his senior season and loves to get out in transition. Brazile has great size at 6-foot-10 and is a floor spacer who can help any team in the front court. Brazlie could have the same impact and trajectory as GG Jackson did for the Grizzlies his first year in the league.
Experience: Senior
Position: Guard
Height & weight: 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
During the BYU-Kansas game in January, Darryn Peterson (Utah Jazz, No. 2 pick) was the best prospect on the court in the first half. Yet, it was Saunders who almost single-handedly brought Kansas back in the second half. He finished with 33 points (including six 3-pointers) and added 10 rebounds and two steals. There were times early in the season when Saunders was option No. 2 offensively if Rob Wright III or AJ Dybantsa (Washington Wizards, No. 1 pick) couldn’t get things going. Saunders’ senior season was unfortunately cut short after he suffered an ACL injury against Colorado on Feb. 14.
But there will be a place for him in the NBA. He gets shots off quickly, he’s tough and also plays the right way. Yes, he’s one of the oldest players in this draft class, but when he’s healthy, there will be value there. Saunders posted 18 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 2.1 apg in his senior season.
Experience: Senior
Position: Guard
Height & weight: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds
Bradley was the Big 12 Player of the Year and was the leading floor general who propelled Arizona to the Final Four. He hit one of the craziest game-winners in the Big 12 tournament when he caught the ball in the corner and put up a 3-pointer while falling out of bounds with two defenders in his face. He’s proven that he can play in the backcourt with other lead guards, first alongside Caleb Love the previous two seasons and this year with Brayden Burries (No. 10 pick, Milwaukee Bucks). Bradley averaged 13.3 ppg and 4.4 apg last season.
Jack Kayil of Alba Berlin is perhaps the top international prospect left on the draft board.
Experience: International
Position: Guard
Height & weight: 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
Kayil, a combo guard, played for ALBA Berlin and posted 12.3 ppg and 3.5 apg in 21 minutes per game. At 19, he’s one of the youngest players still on the board and played alongside first-round picks Hannes Steinbach and Christian Alexander for the German national team during the U19 FIBA World Cup last summer. During the tournament, Kayil averaged 11.1 ppg and 6.6 apg while becoming a name NBA scouts monitored. Even with this draft cycle being low on international prospects, expect Kayil to be the first European player off the board in the second round.
