The 2026 NCAA Tournament has arrived. March Madness always gives us a chance to watch some of the best college players in the world, meaning there will be a magnifying glass on some of the draft’s top guys. However, this is also an opportunity for some of the deep-cut prospects to play on the national stage. Well, in this story, you’ll find a few NBA prospects that are currently playing outside the high-major scene.
• Allen Graves, 6-foot-9, Santa Clara
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s also have some serious 2026 prospects, but those two programs have been on the national stage for years. Santa Clara, which sent superstar Jalen Williams to the Association, doesn’t get the same attention. That’s why the Broncos have two players on this list, which doesn’t feature names from the other two programs.
Graves is where this all needs to start. The talented freshman will either be under first-round consideration in the 2026 NBA Draft, or some elite programs will be offering him huge NIL deals this offseason.
Graves is big, strong, and highly skilled. He has proven to be a very efficient scorer, combining good touch around the basket with a nice-looking jumper. He’s also a good passer for a guy his size, and his rebounding is top notch. He’s genuinely tremendous on the offensive glass. Graves is also a guy that really impacts games defensively, and his high block and steal rates are going to have him highlighted by NBA front offices that really value advanced numbers. Graves just has a high floor as a high-end connective piece, along with a two-way contributor, and there’s potential for him to be a lot more than that. If he continues to develop as an athlete, he’ll make his presence felt in the pros.
• Elijah Mahi, 6-foot-7, Santa Clara
Mahi’s shooting percentages leave a little to be desired, but there’s always room in the NBA for lengthy wings that can knock down shots, create for others, and play some defense. Mahi can do all of that.
Mahi does have his question marks. His free throw percentage sits right around 70%, suggesting he might be more like the guy that’s shooting sub-35% from three this year than the one that knocked down 43.4% last year. Well, there’s a massive difference between those two numbers, and he’s going to need to be a reliable catch-and-shoot option in order to reach his potential. Mahi also needs to be a little more consistent when it comes to his effort level on defense.
There has, however, been enough flashes from Mahi to excite some NBA-level decision makers. That might mean he ends up on a two-way deal, but he’s not far off from being a pro. He’ll have his chance to prove that soon.
• Cruz Davis, 6-foot-3, Hofstra
Hofstra, the Colonial champion, is a mid-major program that has generated some early tournament buzz, and the main talking point surrounding the Pride is their strong guard play. Well, Davis is the leader of the pack, and he has flashed a pro-level skill set since leaving St. John’s and heading to Hempstead.
Earlier this year, Davis had 36 points and seven assists in a win over Pittsburgh. He also led Hofstra to a 70-69 win over Syracuse, finishing that one with 22 points and nine assists. That’s two big-time outings against big college brands. Davis is just a gifted offensive player, as he can really knock down jumpers, he takes very good care of the basketball, and he’s more efficient than most players his size.
There’s a real chance that Davis’ ability to create separation and be a spark plug on offense earns him a nice bench role in the NBA. He’ll just need to bulk up a little bit, as he’s a little too thin to defend more physical players right now — which is probably why he didn’t last long under Rick Pitino with the Red Storm. But that should come with some time in NBA weight rooms.
• MJ Collins, 6-foot-4, Utah State
Collins is a bit of an undersized two-guard, and his failures at previous high-major stops will give some talent evaluators pause. However, he has put some fantastic stuff on film this year, plus he’s doing all of his scoring with some unthinkable efficiency for a player his size.
Collins enters the NCAA Tournament with 15 performances in which he has reached 20 points, and he also had a 40-ball against Davidson back in November. It has just been very difficult to cover him, as he’s a load when he puts his head down and attacks the rim. He’s also a proven shooter that can down threes off movement.
Collins just needs to land in a situation in which he’s playing next to a bona fide set-up guy, as he shouldn’t be relied on to run the offense. And at his size, it’d be huge if he can play with a bigger playmaker. But if he does find himself in the right spot, look out. He can put the ball in the basket, and that shouldn’t change against NBA-level athletes.