Upperclassmen Watch 2026

The-Power · Post #1 » by **The-Power** » Sun Dec 14, 2025 7:55 pm

The annual Upperclassmen thread is here. I think there are some interesting ones to follow.

Otega Oweh, Bruce Thornton and especially Emanuel Sharp are three of those sturdy players that seem to fly a bit under the radar but who I think could carve out nice roles in the NBA (I'd be all over the latter if I was the GM of a playoff team). Yaxel Lendeborg is obviously very interesting, and I am also a believer in Thomas Haugh translating well to the NBA. And in a league where Quinten Post can be a valuable contributor on a winning team, I certainly would not mind taking a flyer on Henri Veesaar either.

That's far from all the players I could list here but it can serve as a starting point.

babyjax13 · Post #2 » by **babyjax13** » Sun Dec 14, 2025 9:08 pm

I think we could also include the junior and senior aged international players haha. I say that just to contribute Tomislav Ivisic, I think he is pretty good.

tmorgan · Post #3 » by **tmorgan** » Mon Dec 15, 2025 10:40 pm

Yaxel should be a solid contributor right away. Does everything well. Good size, good athlete, good instincts, good shooter.

He’ll turn 24 before the start of the NBA season, which will scare some teams away. Sure, he won’t develop like the teenagers, but he’s already there. Might even be above average starter quality with a bit of experience.

I think he should be a late lottery pick, but I don’t know if he will be. If Michigan keeps destroying everyone and makes the Final Four, the extra exposure could get him there if he shows out.

SeattleJazzFan · Post #4 » by **SeattleJazzFan** » Mon Dec 15, 2025 10:44 pm

Cameron Carr has to be the best upperclassman prospect at this point, right? in terms of the upperclassman who is on track to be drafted highest?

also, seems like for draft purposes we should consider sophomores upperclassmen. labaron philon has been pretty elite.

yaxel of course is having an insane season. a cut above.

BigGargamel · Post #5 » by **BigGargamel** » Mon Dec 15, 2025 10:45 pm

Juniors and seniors I have as possible first round or early second round picks right now.

Bennett Stirtz
Yaxel Lendeborg
Cameron Carr (rSo but he counts)
Thomas Haugh
Joseph Tugler
Henri Veesaar
JT Toppin
Aday Mara
Zuby Ejiofor
Miles Byrd
Alex Karaban
Braden Smith
Otega Oweh
Solo Ball

Post #6 » by **codydaze** » Mon Dec 15, 2025 10:54 pm

Malik Reneau is a guy I'm keeping an eye on as a second round option.

eminence · Post #7 » by **eminence** » Tue Dec 16, 2025 7:06 pm

How long does Milan have to shoot like this to get on the board?

babyjax13 · Post #8 » by **babyjax13** » Tue Dec 16, 2025 7:24 pm

eminence wrote:How long does Milan have to shoot like this to get on the board?

I imagine the entire season. He can't do anything else.

The-Power · Post #9 » by **The-Power** » Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:23 pm

babyjax13 wrote:
eminence wrote:How long does Milan have to shoot like this to get on the board?

I imagine the entire season. He can't do anything else.

I tend to agree. I suppose the poster child for someone his size who can shoot but do very little else is... Duncan Robinson? If he can be that then he'd certainly have been worth a decent pick. But it's difficult to reach (and for us to project) Robinson's level of dynamic shooting ability (plus he strikes me as a bit slower still) and even if he does reach that level the upside is ultimately just ‘solid NBA pro’. Which could be enough for a team picking in the 2nd round, though, so I suppose that would mean he's on the board.

RookieStar · Post #10 » by **RookieStar** » Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:46 pm

No one puts the Florida bigs here? I mean.. they just won it all last season..

With the apparent success of Maxime and Kalkbrenner you would think they get a mention...

babyjax13 · Post #11 » by **babyjax13** » Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:25 pm

The-Power wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:
eminence wrote:How long does Milan have to shoot like this to get on the board?

I imagine the entire season. He can't do anything else.

I tend to agree. I suppose the poster child for someone his size who can shoot but do very little else is... Duncan Robinson? If he can be that then he'd certainly have been worth a decent pick. But it's difficult to reach (and for us to project) Robinson's level of dynamic shooting ability (plus he strikes me as a bit slower still) and even if he does reach that level the upside is ultimately just ‘solid NBA pro’. Which could be enough for a team picking in the 2nd round, though, so I suppose that would mean he's on the board.

I had originally typed that he has to be Duncan Robinson in the NBA. Davis Bertans is maybe another. He is def. draftable on the 2nd if he keeps shooting.

babyjax13 · Post #12 » by **babyjax13** » Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:27 pm

RookieStar wrote:No one puts the Florida bigs here? I mean.. they just won it all last season..

With the apparent success of Maxime and Kalkbrenner you would think they get a mention...

Condon is not nearly as good as either of those guys, IMO, and Chinyelu doesn't block shots at a good rate and he will need to in the NBA.

eminence · Post #13 » by **eminence** » Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:15 pm

Another month in, Milan still clearing 50% from deep.

WargamesX · Post #14 » by **WargamesX** » Thu May 14, 2026 9:40 pm

I think the following seniors are locks for first round picks

Bennett Stirtz
Yaxel Lendeborg
Cameron Carr
Aday Mara
Zuby Ejiofor

And these two might sneak into the first or go in the 30’s

Alex Karaban
Henri Veesaar

This is just based on the combine and rumors.

Klomp · Post #15 » by **Klomp** » Fri May 15, 2026 4:51 am

WargamesX wrote:I think the following seniors are locks for first round picks

Bennett Stirtz
Yaxel Lendeborg
Cameron Carr
Aday Mara
Zuby Ejiofor

And these two might sneak into the first or go in the 30’s

Alex Karaban
Henri Veesaar

This is just based on the combine and rumors.

Carr is a sophomore, Mara and Veesaar juniors.

A few other seniors to keep an eye on in the Top 40:
Joshua Jefferson
Tarris Reed
Ryan Conwell