Take an all-access dive into this year’s AWS NBA Draft Combine, where every drill, measurement, and breakout moment tells a story about the league’s next wave of talent.
CHICAGO — There were 73 players participating in agility testing, shooting drills, team interviews and two days of scrimmages all week at the AWS NBA Draft Combine. Not all players joined in the 5-on-5 scrimmages but there were a few players who played extremely well in front of NBA executives and scouts from all 30 teams.
The 2026 NBA Draft order was determined on May 10 when it was revealed that the Washington Wizards will have the No. 1 pick in June. The Utah Jazz will pick second, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies (3), Chicago Bulls (4) and LA Clippers (5). Collectively, this group of players delivered on the high exceptions and some players stood out and were at the top of their game all week long.
Here are the 10 top performers from the AWS NBA Draft Combine.
Cameron Carr | G | Baylor
Carr played in the first day of 5-on-5 scrimmages and came in with something to prove. Baylor came up short this season and Carr carried a lot of the offensive load along with freshman guard Tounde Yessoufou. During scrimmage play, he shot lights out from behind the arc, connecting on six 3s and finishing with 30 points and 7 rebounds.
He was by far the best prospect on the court out of both games and showed enough to sit out Day 2 of scrimmage play.
“I’m a competitor,” Carr told NBA.com. “In my head I feel like I’ve been a little overlooked. When I hear someone’s better than me, I gotta go out there and show them who’s the best. That’s all I can do and I’m going to give it my best each and every time.”
Carr measured at 6-foot-4 1/2 without shoes with a 7-foot wingspan. During the shooting drills he went 14-for-25 in the spot up shooting and 22-for-30 off the dribble. Carr said he met with the Lakers, Trail Blazers, Suns, Bucks, Cavaliers, Hawks and Pistons during the week.
Morez Johnson Jr. | F | Michigan
Cameron Carr, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara are among those to emerge as risers following the AWS NBA Draft Combine.
The sophomore Michigan forward is coming off an NCAA championship and looked incredible during the agility testing while measuring better than expected. His height in socks was 6-foot-9 (after being listed as 6-foot-10 at Michigan) and he has a 7-foot-3 1/2 wingspan. He recorded a max vertical of 39 inches and showed off a stronger frame. Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 25 minutes on the court and was efficient playing alongside other bigs, notably Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg.
Johnson won a gold medal with Team USA last summer at the U19 FIBA World Cup and was a primary connector on the team given the way he played on both sides of the ball, including an ability to defend the switch and drop coverage. There is a lot of one-and-done freshman talent projected towards the top of the Draft and with his measurables at the combine, Johnson could be one of the first non-freshman off the board.
Mikel Brown Jr. | G | Louisville
Brown entered the week with a lot of question marks. He missed the final seven games of the season with a back injury and many scouts and executives were wondering how he would perform this week. Brown looked 100% healthy, showing no signs of the lingering stiffness or pain that was apparent during the season.
“I feel great,” Brown told NBA.com. “I’m moving like I did before the season at the U19 FIBA World Cup and I’m just here to control what I can control and show teams I’m ready to come in and make an impact and I’m fully healthy.”
The Association discusses the AWS NBA Draft Combine with Mikel Brown Jr.
Brown was the best guard on Team USA and averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 46.7% from 3-point range. Team USA captured the gold medal with a stacked roster that included AJ Dybantsa, Koa Peat, Morez Johnson Jr., Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith Jr. and Caleb Holt.
During the combine he shot the ball well with splits including 15-for-25 in the star shooting drill and 18-for-25 in spot-up shooting. At his pro day with agency Seros Partners, scouts and executives were reminded of his explosiveness and how well he can shoot it from long range.
Cameron Boozer | F | Duke
Coming into his freshman year at Duke, Boozer had won at every level of high school basketball: four straight Florida state championships, three consecutive Nike Peach Jam titles, three gold medals for Team USA (including MVP honors at the U17 FIBA World Cup) and a Chipotle Nationals championship. It carried over to Durham, where he was named ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year and also the Naismith National Player of the Year. As a unit, Duke claimed the ACC Tournament title and finished up with a run to the Elite Eight.
Boozer measured a solid 6-foot-8 1/4 with a 7-foot-1 1/2 wingspan and proved quicker in the speed drills than people expected. He had a faster pro lane sprint and shuttle drill than Caleb Wilson (and Cooper Flagg last year); he looked physically stronger than he did during the season at Duke. Boozer also shot 19-for-25 in the spot-up drill and 18-for-30 in the dribble pull-up segment, giving teams a lot to think about at the top of the draft.
Baba Miller | F | Cincinnati
Miller went through combine testing two years ago with the G League, and seemed comfortable going through all the drills this time around and played with confidence during the 5-on-5 scrimmages. He measured well at 6-foot-10 1/2 with a 7-foot-1 3/4 wingspan and tipped the scale at 289 pounds.
In the first scrimmage, Miller posted 20 points (6-for-10 FGs, 2-for-5 3PM), six rebounds, two assists and 2 steals in 20 minutes. He showed improvement in the pick-and-pop and the lateral foot speed to guard the switch and retreat in the drop. Miller averaged 13.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists during his senior season at Cincinnati.
Bennett Stirtz | G | Iowa
Stirtz was the best guard during the shooting drills on Day 1 of combine testing. The senior point guard measured at 6-foot-2 1/2 with a 6-foot-6 wingspan.
Stirtz was one of the leaders in on-court action, shooting 20-for-25 in the spot-up drill, 21-for-28 in the side-mid-side drill, 23-for-30 in the off-the-dribble drill and 16-for-25 in the 3-point star shooting drill.
Stirtz averaged 18.3 points and 3.5 assists in postseason play, but the most impressive stat line was playing 40 minutes and averaging 0.8 turnovers in four tough NCAA Tournament games. Stirtz is consistent and there’s nothing super flashy about his game, but he runs the offense well and has good positional size.
Matt Able | G | North Carolina
Matt Able drives to the basket during the game during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
North Carolina fans watched with nervousness as Able went through all facets of the Combine and he performed at a very high level. Able played his freshman season at NC State and averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21.7 minutes.
He entered the transfer portal and committed to North Carolina after the Tar Heels hired former Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
“The conversations with Coach Malone have been great and we call or text every day,” Able told NBA.com. “I know if I do decide to go back to school for another year I’ll have a coach that’s already won a NBA championship and I can learn a lot from him.”
He measured at 6-foot-3 3/4 without shoes with a 6-foot-8 3/4 wingspan. He didn’t shoot the ball great during drills but came alive during 5-on-5 scrimmage play. In the first game, he was cutting off the ball and getting to his spots, finding open looks from behind the arc.
During the season, Able shot 35% from 3-point range; he looked more confident in his shot at the combine. The first game he finished with 15 points (3-for-5 3PM) and in the second game he had 17 points (4-for-9 3PM). “I wasn’t able to fully showcase the player I am last season and I just wanted to come out here and compete and show that I can play in space and knock down shots.” Able said.
He has a big decision to make before May 27 at midnight, and met with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers last week.
Aday Mara | C | Michigan
Mara was the driving force behind Michigan’s frontcourt dominance this season; his rim protection helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship. He measured in at a staggering 7-foot-3 without shoes, along with a 7-foot-6 wingspan. Mara moved through the agility drills surprisingly well for a guy his size and shot 16-for-25 in the continuous star shooting drill, showing scouts his potential range from behind the arc.
Mara spent two seasons at UCLA prior to the Michigan transfer, and finished his junior year averaging 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.4 assists in 24.5 minutes. He doubled his points and usage from his sophomore season at UCLA and has a projected upside as a mobile NBA center. Mara could be the first center off the board.
Allen Graves | F | Santa Clara
Each NBA Draft cycle, a mid-major prospect quietly makes a jump during the pre-draft process. This year, it’s Graves. The 6-foot-9 freshman forward trimmed down from the season and was more mobile during the agility drills. Graves has solid shooting mechanics and his best on-court drill was the star shooting drill, in which he connected on 14-for-25, including six in a row.
In one season at Santa Clara, Graves averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 22 minutes. He truly shined in a first-round overtime loss during the NCAA Tournament. He came off the bench and was everywhere defensively. On offense, Graves got to his spots with ease, finishing with 17 points and 7 rebounds in 27 minutes. Graves screams NBA upside; an established team in the mid-to-late first round should have the freedom to develop him in their system while remaining patient with his development.
Tarris Reed Jr. | C | Connecticut
Tarris Reed Jr. joins NBA TV live during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
Reed was instrumental in the Huskies run to the NCAA Championship game, notably making things difficult down the stretch for Duke in the Elite Eight and Illinois in the Final Four. During the game against Duke, he had a season-high 26 points and added nine rounds, four blocks and two steals.
Reed had some first-round buzz coming into the Combine and it took him a little bit to get settled during scrimmage play. He fouled out in the first game, finishing with 9 points, five rebounds and two assists. In the second game, he proved the best big on the court, shooting an efficient 7-for-9 from the field and totaling 17 points. He added five rebounds and two blocked shots in the win.
“I just wanted to come out here and compete against some of the best in college basketball and show teams I have what it takes to contribute and be a winner at the next level,” Reed told NBA.com. “I learned a lot from Coach (Dan) Hurley and he and the staff do a great job at preparing us for the next level. Just look at what Donovan is doing in the league and me and AK (Alex Karaban) are ready to do the same thing.”
