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HoopsHype spent all week on site at the Chicago draft combine. We reviewed the complete package to determine the winners and losers of the event. For the record, labeling a prospect a "loser" simply means they underwhelmed during their measurements and athletic testing or underperformed in their shooting drills and scrimmages. We do not consider these prospects actual losers. Judging a player solely on a combine performance is like rejecting a post-graduate candidate just because they scored poorly on the SATs.
The Baylor wing stood out as the clear-cut winner in the entire combine. Teams asked him to elevate his play and be the best player on the floor, and he delivered. Carr dropped 30 points on six threes during the first scrimmage and posted the second-best vertical at the combine.
His ability to create his own shot and score over defenders with such ease was on full display throughout the combine. His game resembles Trey Murphy a bit, pulling up from deep and finishing above the rim. His performance and momentum could lock him into the first round.
The measurements of the Michigan center are impressive, with him standing at 7-3 with a standing reach of 9-foot-9, tied with Mark Williams for second in Combine history. However, Mara was dead last in the sprint and second-to-last in the shuttle times, but Donovan Clingan was the same in his respective combine measurements not too long ago and he turned out fine. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Mara go off the board in the Top 10 now.
In a draft thin at the center position, Cenac made his mark. The Houston big man measured in at over 6-foot-10 with a wingspan of 7-5, and a standing reach of 9-0.5 He also crushed the vertical leap testing, and talent evaluators are impressed with his ability to guard on the perimeter. Cenac did not participate in scrimmages, but his offensive skill set is similar to Kel’el Ware’s, albeit with a lower ceiling.
The Cincinnati big man was the best big man who played at the Combine. Miller led the first scrimmage with 20 points, six rebounds, and two threes, a critical development given he shot just 29 percent from deep over four college seasons. He followed that up with 13 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in Game 4.
At 6-foot-10.5 with a 7-foot-1.75 wingspan, Miller has the size and skill set that earn players time to develop in the NBA.
Mitchell posted the kind of all-around versatility that translates directly to the NBA level. He finished Game 3 with 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting, good for a game-high plus-22 rating. Earlier in the week, he recorded a plus-17 rating with 10 rebounds and eight assists.
His multi-positional ability and willingness to do the dirty work make him the type of connector piece that playoff teams covet, especially with his athleticism reminiscent of Derrick Jones Jr. Mitchell was arguably the most complete performer among the forwards who participated in scrimmages.
Reed rose from being a backup to Donovan Clingan to legitimate first-round pick draft conversation with a dominant scrimmage performance. His ability to rebound, finish around the rim and maximize his limited possessions made him stand out among bigs. His massive 7-5 wingspan makes him an enticing potential contributor for a contending team.
Smith controlled Game 4 from start to finish, orchestrating a blowout win with nine points, eight assists, and a plus-21 rating. The former Purdue guard displayed the vision that separated him from a field short on pure point guards. He played his way into the late-first-round conversation.
The North Carolina guard shot himself into back-end first-round consideration with consecutive strong performances. Able scored 15 points in under 20 minutes on 3-of-5 shooting from three in Game 1, then followed up with 17 points on four threes in Game 3, even in a 24-point loss. According to ESPN, he's back and forth on whether to stay in the draft, but his shooting performances may have made the decision easier. His stock has risen from early second round to potential guaranteed first-round territory.
The Big 12 Player of the Year posted 10 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in his first scrimmage, playing steady, winning basketball. Bradley excelled defensively against former Purdue guard Braden Smith, showing the kind of floor general skills that help teams from day one. Though he struggled in Game 3 with a minus-19 rating, his opening performance generated buzz.
The Michigan forward surprised NBA teams by measuring 6-foot-9 barefoot, which was taller than expected, with a 7-foot-3.5 wingspan and 8-foot-11 standing reach. He also posted the best lane-drill time in his group, and his spot-up shooting mechanics flash floor-spacing potential. Johnson is making a case for the top 20.
Throughout the week, Peat was reworking his jump shot, which definitely isn’t a good look, especially in front of talent evaluators. He admitted during media availability that his shot was a bit flat and was working on it. He shot 36.2 percent on three-point drills during the combine and measured under 6-foot-7 and posted dead last in shuttle time.
For now, as he repeatedly said in interviews with both the media and teams, he plans to stay in the draft process, but he may have to reconsider if his struggles continue.
Peat didn't participate in scrimmages, missing the opportunity to offset his poor shooting performance. A return to Arizona is now a real possibility before the May 27 deadline.
The potential Top 10 pick posted strong testing numbers, but his measurements were worse than expected, a development that could create real complications for his draft position. While Flemings' athleticism and agility drills impressed, the height number may have teams wondering if a true Top 5 pick can be this small?
If Flemings slides, the Nets at 6, the Kings at 7, and the Hawks at 8 are all teams that could go bigger instead, and suddenly a top-five lock is looking at late-lottery as a real floor.
The Vanderbilt guard's measurements were underwhelming. He came in under 5-foot-11 with a wingspan just over 6-foot-4 and weighed in at under 166 pounds, a threshold only five NBA players have ever fallen below.
With a profile like that, he needed to dominate the scrimmages, but unfortunately, he didn't. Tanner shot 4-of-11 in his first game with five assists, then regressed in the second, going 1-of-7 with five assists. If things don't improve through the rest of the pre-draft process, returning to school may be an option.
Jefferson posted the slowest pro lane agility time at the combine, along with bottom-third verticals and sprint times. He then chose to skip both scrimmage days entirely. For a fringe first-rounder, missing the opportunity to compete was a costly decision.
All the momentum Suder garnered by leading his Miami (Ohio) team to a 32-2 record and becoming a standout at the Portsmouth Invitational likely evaporated during his time at the Combine.
Suder told HoopsHype during a media availability that he fully expects opponents to pick on him for his lack of lateral quickness and hopes his shooting will do the talking at the next level. Well, he just couldn’t find his shot. The MAC Player of the Year shot 0-for-8 in his first scrimmage, and then followed that up by going 1-for-11 in the second one. One scout told HoopsHype that he wasn't able to do anything right.
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Winners and Losers of the 2026 NBA Combine
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WINNERS
Cameron Carr
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The Baylor wing stood out as the clear-cut winner in the entire combine. Teams asked him to elevate his play and be the best player on the floor, and he delivered. Carr dropped 30 points on six threes during the first scrimmage and posted the second-best vertical at the combine.
His ability to create his own shot and score over defenders with such ease was on full display throughout the combine. His game resembles Trey Murphy a bit, pulling up from deep and finishing above the rim. His performance and momentum could lock him into the first round.
Aday Mara
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The measurements of the Michigan center are impressive, with him standing at 7-3 with a standing reach of 9-foot-9, tied with Mark Williams for second in Combine history. However, Mara was dead last in the sprint and second-to-last in the shuttle times, but Donovan Clingan was the same in his respective combine measurements not too long ago and he turned out fine. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Mara go off the board in the Top 10 now.
Chris Cenac Jr.
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In a draft thin at the center position, Cenac made his mark. The Houston big man measured in at over 6-foot-10 with a wingspan of 7-5, and a standing reach of 9-0.5 He also crushed the vertical leap testing, and talent evaluators are impressed with his ability to guard on the perimeter. Cenac did not participate in scrimmages, but his offensive skill set is similar to Kel’el Ware’s, albeit with a lower ceiling.
Baba Miller
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The Cincinnati big man was the best big man who played at the Combine. Miller led the first scrimmage with 20 points, six rebounds, and two threes, a critical development given he shot just 29 percent from deep over four college seasons. He followed that up with 13 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in Game 4.
At 6-foot-10.5 with a 7-foot-1.75 wingspan, Miller has the size and skill set that earn players time to develop in the NBA.
Dillon Mitchell
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Mitchell posted the kind of all-around versatility that translates directly to the NBA level. He finished Game 3 with 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting, good for a game-high plus-22 rating. Earlier in the week, he recorded a plus-17 rating with 10 rebounds and eight assists.
His multi-positional ability and willingness to do the dirty work make him the type of connector piece that playoff teams covet, especially with his athleticism reminiscent of Derrick Jones Jr. Mitchell was arguably the most complete performer among the forwards who participated in scrimmages.
Tarris Reed Jr.
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Reed rose from being a backup to Donovan Clingan to legitimate first-round pick draft conversation with a dominant scrimmage performance. His ability to rebound, finish around the rim and maximize his limited possessions made him stand out among bigs. His massive 7-5 wingspan makes him an enticing potential contributor for a contending team.
Braden Smith
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Smith controlled Game 4 from start to finish, orchestrating a blowout win with nine points, eight assists, and a plus-21 rating. The former Purdue guard displayed the vision that separated him from a field short on pure point guards. He played his way into the late-first-round conversation.
Matt Able
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The North Carolina guard shot himself into back-end first-round consideration with consecutive strong performances. Able scored 15 points in under 20 minutes on 3-of-5 shooting from three in Game 1, then followed up with 17 points on four threes in Game 3, even in a 24-point loss. According to ESPN, he's back and forth on whether to stay in the draft, but his shooting performances may have made the decision easier. His stock has risen from early second round to potential guaranteed first-round territory.
Jaden Bradley
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The Big 12 Player of the Year posted 10 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in his first scrimmage, playing steady, winning basketball. Bradley excelled defensively against former Purdue guard Braden Smith, showing the kind of floor general skills that help teams from day one. Though he struggled in Game 3 with a minus-19 rating, his opening performance generated buzz.
Morez Johnson Jr.
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The Michigan forward surprised NBA teams by measuring 6-foot-9 barefoot, which was taller than expected, with a 7-foot-3.5 wingspan and 8-foot-11 standing reach. He also posted the best lane-drill time in his group, and his spot-up shooting mechanics flash floor-spacing potential. Johnson is making a case for the top 20.
LOSERS
Koa Peat
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Throughout the week, Peat was reworking his jump shot, which definitely isn’t a good look, especially in front of talent evaluators. He admitted during media availability that his shot was a bit flat and was working on it. He shot 36.2 percent on three-point drills during the combine and measured under 6-foot-7 and posted dead last in shuttle time.
For now, as he repeatedly said in interviews with both the media and teams, he plans to stay in the draft process, but he may have to reconsider if his struggles continue.
Peat didn't participate in scrimmages, missing the opportunity to offset his poor shooting performance. A return to Arizona is now a real possibility before the May 27 deadline.
Kingston Flemings
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The potential Top 10 pick posted strong testing numbers, but his measurements were worse than expected, a development that could create real complications for his draft position. While Flemings' athleticism and agility drills impressed, the height number may have teams wondering if a true Top 5 pick can be this small?
If Flemings slides, the Nets at 6, the Kings at 7, and the Hawks at 8 are all teams that could go bigger instead, and suddenly a top-five lock is looking at late-lottery as a real floor.
Tyler Tanner
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The Vanderbilt guard's measurements were underwhelming. He came in under 5-foot-11 with a wingspan just over 6-foot-4 and weighed in at under 166 pounds, a threshold only five NBA players have ever fallen below.
With a profile like that, he needed to dominate the scrimmages, but unfortunately, he didn't. Tanner shot 4-of-11 in his first game with five assists, then regressed in the second, going 1-of-7 with five assists. If things don't improve through the rest of the pre-draft process, returning to school may be an option.
Joshua Jefferson
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Jefferson posted the slowest pro lane agility time at the combine, along with bottom-third verticals and sprint times. He then chose to skip both scrimmage days entirely. For a fringe first-rounder, missing the opportunity to compete was a costly decision.
Peter Suder
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All the momentum Suder garnered by leading his Miami (Ohio) team to a 32-2 record and becoming a standout at the Portsmouth Invitational likely evaporated during his time at the Combine.
Suder told HoopsHype during a media availability that he fully expects opponents to pick on him for his lack of lateral quickness and hopes his shooting will do the talking at the next level. Well, he just couldn’t find his shot. The MAC Player of the Year shot 0-for-8 in his first scrimmage, and then followed that up by going 1-for-11 in the second one. One scout told HoopsHype that he wasn't able to do anything right.
This content may be blocked in parts of Europe due to GDPR. To use it, connect your VPN to a non-EU country and try again.
We highly recommend you add HoopsHype as a preferred source on Google. You just have to click here.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Winners and Losers of the 2026 NBA Combine
Continue reading...
