Allen Graves 2026 Draft Media Availability
Allen Graves addresses the media after being selected No. 19 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Overview
Allen Graves became the first athlete in Ponchatoula High School history to win Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year, capping a senior season that also brought home Mr. Basketball and Mr. Louisiana honors. He led Ponchatoula to a 30-4 record and a second straight Non-Select Division I state title, averaging 20.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per game while earning back-to-back state championship Most Outstanding Player awards on the strength of a 19-point, 20-rebound, 8-block title game. Graves arrived at Santa Clara and redshirted in 2024-25 before putting together one of the finest freshman seasons in program history. Across 35 games, he averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals in 22.7 minutes per game on 51%/41%/75% shooting splits. He was named WCC Freshman of the Year and WCC Sixth Man of the Year, earned First Team All-WCC and Second Team NABC All-District honors, landed as a Kyle Macy Award finalist and dropped 17 points and seven rebounds on Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.
Career Highlights
- 2025‑26 All‑West Coast Conference First Team pick, WCC Sixth Man of the Year and WCC Freshman of the Year.
- Finished second in the WCC in steals per game (1.9) and offensive rebounds per game (2.8) this past season.
- Scored a career-high 30 points and tied a personal best with 13 rebounds vs. Washington State (Feb. 7, 2026).
- 2023-24 Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year; redshirted at Santa Clara in 2024-25.
- One of three siblings to play college basketball – brother, Marshall, at LSU and sister, Amoura, at Auburn.
Analysis
Graves is a defense-first forward who is top-tier at his position in generating both steals and blocks, especially for a freshman. With his long and sturdy frame and high activity level, he profiles as a multi-positional defender. On offense, the 41% stroke from beyond the arc will likely position him as a floor-spacing four at the NBA level. Also, Graves was efficient inside the arc on putbacks and cuts, which gives him some optionality as a small-ball five for certain NBA teams. Crashing the offensive boards is a critical part of his upside as a role player. He also rarely turned the ball over at Santa Clara.
Projection
Graves projects as a high-activity defensive wing who may be used as a spacer at the NBA level more than he was in college. His frame, length and instincts as a help defender fit the modern positionless NBA game, and the offensive rebounding will help him stay in the game on the nights where his perimeter looks don’t fall. NBA comparisons can be made to players like late-career Boris Diaw, Kyle Anderson and Tari Eason. There is potential for him to make a quick impact as a role player on a playoff roster. Graves has the two-way ceiling to grow into a long-tenured NBA starter.
— Profile by RotoWire.com with additional info from the official NBA Draft Media Guide