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Since excelling at the NBA Combine in early May, Worcester’s Aaron Nkrumah has traversed the country, from NBA city to NBA city, working out for teams and hoping to solidify his stock ahead of the NBA Draft.
“It’s a lot of travel,” Nkrumah said during a phone interview from Los Angeles, where he had just worked out for the Clippers and was getting ready to board a flight for Sacramento, where he would meet with the Kings the next day, “but it’s all worth it.”
Before the NBA Combine, Nkrumah had no workouts scheduled. By the time of the NBA Draft (June 23-24), the former South High and Worcester State star will have visited 13 NBA teams.
ESPN’s latest mock draft projects Nkrumah, a 6-foot-6 wing, as a second-round pick (No. 48 overall) to the Dallas Mavericks.
Southborough’s Alex Karaban, who won two national titles at the University of Connecticut, is expected to be a late first- or early second-round selection.
The last player from Central Mass. selected in the NBA Draft was Worcester’s Michael Bradley, who was first-round pick (No. 17 overall) of the Toronto Raptors in 2001.
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“I want to finish this week of workouts strong and hopefully hear my name get called,” Nkrumah said. “I feel confident my name will get called. The people around me, my family, feel confident, so, yeah, I’m just waiting to see.”
Nkrumah, who was a T&G Super Team honoree at South High and notably navigated a path that took him from community college to Division 3 to Division 1 to, now, NBA prospect, was the 2025-26 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year while leading Tennessee State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 32 years.
Nkrumah led the Tigers in scoring (17.6 ppg) and ranked among the nation’s leaders in steals.
Nkrumah was the last of 44 players invited to the NBA G League Elite Camp, which took place in early May, and, with his standout performance in testing, shooting drills and 5-on-5 scrimmages there, he was one of five players to move on to the NBA Combine.
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“I went into (the G League Camp) with a nothing-to-lose mindset,” Nkrumah said. “Everyone there knew I was a good player, and I wanted to prove that in front of all the scouts. I did really well and got that call up and tried to perform well at the NBA Combine.”
In his second scrimmage at the combine, Nkrumah scored 15 points, had 6 rebounds and an assist in 22 minutes.
“It was a really cool experience,” Nkrumah said.
Nkrumah returned to Nashville, which has been his training base since earning his degree in communications from Tennessee State on May 2, buoyed by his showing at the combine.
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“I was really confident after that,” Nkrumah said. “My foot was in the door after that. I got the workouts after that. That was my favorite part of everything, just getting the traction, the buzz around my name and being able to earn the workouts.”
Carlos Rogers, a first-round pick of the Seattle SuperSonics in 1994, was the last player from Tennessee State drafted.
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Nkrumah said his workouts have gone well.
“I’m competing,” he said, “showing what I can do. Most importantly, I look like I belong there.”
After short stints at Quinsigamond Community College and Nichols, Nkrumah starred for two years at Worcester State, where he was a two-time MASCAC Player of the Year and led the Lancers to back-to-back NCAA Division 3 Tournament appearances.
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Nkrumah transferred to Tennessee State and fulfilled his dream of playing at the Division 1 level for two seasons. He made an immediate impact and truly blossomed this season.
A day ahead of the NBA Draft, Nkrumah will move home to Worcester, where he will gather for the draft with his immediate family and a couple of close friends.
“And whatever happens,” Nkrumah said, “is where I’ll end up going from there.”
‒Contact Jennifer Toland at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester's Aaron Nkrumah sees draft stock rise as he chases NBA dream
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