The 2027 NBA draft cycle is underway, and college basketball tips off this week. NBA teams expect this to be a down draft cycle, chiefly because this year’s incoming freshman class is considered weaker than recent ones. The class is headlined by projected No. 1 pick Tyran Stokes of Kansas, and it will test NBA scouts’ patience as most prospects are unlikely to play positive minutes right away.
Teams will still prioritize young talent early in the draft, as they usually do. The weaker freshman group, however, leaves more room for older prospects to rise and for returning players to solidify their standing. The NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule has also loaded college rosters with older players, so teams will need especially careful evaluations of the younger prospects as the season progresses.
Most players on this list will likely return to college next season. Division I programs can now pay top players well above the contractual value of a first-round pick, and that shift in incentives should thin out the first round by spring. The extra year of eligibility is also expected to change the overall depth of the second round significantly.
The 2027 draft will be the first held under the NBA’s new lottery rules, which are designed to curb tanking. The new system adds more variance to pick positions. The worst teams can now fall outside the top 10, and play-in teams have more upward mobility. Together with the changing college landscape and the flatter talent curve of this class, those changes could make this draft unusually unpredictable. This board is expected to shift considerably in the coming months as players emerge and separate themselves.
This ranking reflects player evaluations and intel gathered from around the NBA and college ranks. It represents the eligible player pool and shows how league executives and scouts value the class. It is not a mock draft and does not account for team fit or potential draft order.
Top prospects
1. Tyran Stokes, SF/PG, Kansas. Stokes has a significant chance to establish himself as the No. 1 prospect, and Kansas’ success will depend heavily on how quickly he adjusts to college. He is a do-it-all perimeter talent who can take over games on both ends and fits the big, modern playmaker profile that NBA teams covet. He creates advantages for teammates as a passer and attacks mismatches with his handle and physicality. His decision-making and jump shooting remain works in progress. Evaluators want better efficiency, consistency and maturity, and his emotions can occasionally hurt his competitiveness. Improvement in those areas could move him toward stardom. No consensus exists at No. 1, but his skill set gives him an edge as the season begins.
2. Stefan Joksimovic, PG, Baskonia. Joksimovic moved into early No. 1 pick discussions after he led Slovenia to gold at the under-18 EuroBasket over the summer. He looks like a jumbo on-ball maestro who could eventually run an NBA offense. His size, instincts as a pick-and-roll operator and creative passing give him strong long-term upside. He is still developing as a perimeter shooter, and scouts question his ability to create without a screen. He fits an attractive oversized point guard archetype that should draw consideration early in the draft. Entering the fall, scouts wondered how big a role he would have at Baskonia. He has played well recently, and his minutes have increased since the club changed coaches in mid-October. He is also among the youngest players in the class.
3. Bruce Branch III, SG/SF, BYU. Branch III has outstanding physical tools, including a 7-foot-1 wingspan and a strong build that should allow an immediate defensive impact. He is a capable floor spacer and an unselfish ball mover with good vision, but he does not create his own shot well off the bounce. Becoming more assertive as a scorer is his next step, and whether he can become a go-to player is the key long-term question. Scouts have lamented his occasional passivity and tendency to drift through games. Still, his defense and catch-and-shoot ability give him a strong foundation. With continued growth in what appears to be a good development situation at BYU, he could become one of the first names called and a possible No. 1 candidate.
4. Jordan Smith Jr., SG/PG, Arkansas. Smith was a top high school player who made his mark with tenacious perimeter defense and explosive downhill and transition play. He has excellent speed, strength and length for his size, and he plays with great effort. He is an inconsistent jump shooter and not a natural point guard. He will need a significant leap as a shot creator to become a high-level NBA scorer, and scouts question how his half-court offense will translate. Arkansas will use him in a fast-paced system that provides valuable decision-making reps. NBA teams value his intangibles and winning background, which raise his long-term floor. He may need to show real offensive progress to contend for the very top of the draft.
5. Caleb Holt, SG/PG, Arizona. Holt combines slashing ability, disruptive defense and a relentless motor. His ball pressure and perimeter chasing have always been his calling card, and his explosive potential as a secondary playmaker adds intrigue. He will be the de facto replacement for Brayden Burries at Arizona. He is not yet a polished offensive player and does his best work when playing with energy. His shooting and ability to create off the bounce remain inconsistent, and that growth will likely determine how high he rises. He has a promising long-term profile either way, and his two-way impact and intangibles fit a valued NBA archetype.
6. Quentin Coleman, SG/PG, Illinois. Coleman has trended sharply upward over the past year and has placed himself in the one-and-done conversation after building momentum with NBA scouts in the spring and summer. He does not carry the same national profile as Smith or Holt, but he is not far behind considering his all-around progress. He is stylistically different from Keaton Wagler, whose minutes he will replace at Illinois, and he will play a major role. He is a disruptive defender, an outstanding rebounder and an improving perimeter scorer. He must keep refining his handle and shot creation to earn a major on-ball role in the pros, but his growing confidence as a shooter and his passing point to long-term offensive upside.
7. Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona. Krivas was trending toward the first round of the 2026 draft before he chose to return to Arizona, and he now has a path into the lottery. Teams continue to prioritize size, and many scouts consider him the most NBA-ready college center. He averaged 10.4 points and 8.2 rebounds last season. He is an outstanding paint protector and offensive rebounder who moves well for his size. His offensive game is unflashy, but he shot 78% from the foul line last season, which suggests real touch. He is expected to become a bigger offensive focus for the new-look Wildcats. If he builds on last season’s growth, he could be the first big off the board.
8. Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn. Mullins ranks among the best shooters in college basketball and should have a big sophomore season. Injuries affected his past year, and his freshman season fell short of expectations. He averaged 12.0 points and shot 42.1% from the field over 29 starts. He now has a chance to break out on a new-look UConn team that will make him an offensive focal point. He has good size for a 2-guard, competes defensively and shoots well off movement, which projects him as a valuable off-ball player in the pros. He must string together consistent high-level play to maximize his stock.
9. Thomas Haugh, SF/PF, Florida. Haugh turned down a chance to be a first-round pick to return to Florida, where he will again be the face of a title contender. He is old for a draft prospect and lacks the ceiling of many players in the class, but he should be as NBA-ready as anyone. He can plug into lineups as a high-energy team defender and rebounder. He will not command heavy offensive usage in the pros, but he is a good off-ball cutter and an opportunistic scorer. He needs to improve his 3-point shooting, which is 32% for his career, to maximize his draft position. Win-now teams searching for plug-and-play prospects could also push him higher than in past years under the flatter lottery odds.
10. Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke. Duke’s preseason games showed a slimmer, more aggressive Ngongba, a potentially major development given his history of foot injuries. He does much of what NBA teams ask from centers. He is a great passer who handles ball-screen actions and perimeter play well, and he has good feet and defensive instincts. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes last season, and he is poised to improve across the board. With Cameron Boozer headed to the NBA, Duke will run much of its offense through Ngongba, who could be among the best players in college basketball in his third season.
11. Ivan Kharchenkov, SF, Arizona. If his usage in Arizona’s opener is any indication, Kharchenkov is on the verge of a breakout. He scored 38 points on 20 shots and is taking on heavy offensive responsibility. He is an exceptionally strong, physical player who was Arizona’s top perimeter defender as a freshman. He averaged 10.4 points in 28.4 minutes. He will likely shoot more this season, and a more consistent jumper is the missing piece. He shot just 31.7% from range in a low-usage role last season. If he remains efficient with a larger workload, his stock will rise. His ability to guard multiple positions and play across the floor is his most likely NBA calling card.
12. Obinna Ekezie Jr., C, Louisville. Ekezie carries positive buzz after a strong preseason showing against Kansas, where he showcased shot blocking and a strong shooting touch. His role on a crowded Louisville roster anchored by veteran center Flory Bidunga is still an open question. He reclassified to join Louisville a year early and played through shoulder surgery earlier this year. He has added significant muscle since arriving, and his potential to protect the rim, space the floor and clean up around the basket gives him long-term intrigue. He is not the most dynamic lateral mover and is young enough that inconsistency is expected. He is unlikely to be featured offensively, but he could reach the lottery with continued growth.
13. Austin Goosby, SG/PG, Texas. Goosby is a natural connective perimeter player who should take on a big role at Texas. His feel and vision make life easier for teammates. He is still developing as a primary ball handler and will get chances to play point guard, but he projects more comfortably as a bigger combo guard and secondary handler. His 3-point shooting is a question mark because of his longer release. His tools, defensive playmaking and unselfish style offer strong role potential. With a good season, he can work his way into the one-and-done mix.
14. Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky. Moreno is another returner expected to make a leap as a defensive anchor and improving offensive option. As a freshman he averaged 7.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 22.6 minutes, and he will be a bigger part of the team this season. He has a soft touch around the rim, excellent passing vision for a center and solid rebounding. Kentucky will run much of its offense through him in the post and as a screener. He does not stretch the floor yet and is not an explosive athlete, but his skills should matter in the NBA. He could break out and firmly establish himself in the draft.
15. JJ Andrews, SG/SF, Arkansas. Andrews is a versatile prospect with a strong winning history, an excellent frame and a well-rounded profile for a complementary wing. He is a powerful athlete and a plus positional rebounder who can defend multiple positions. His offense is still a work in progress. He is developing as a decision-maker and is not an advanced ball handler or a consistent jump shooter. His defensive impact should earn him a strong role at Arkansas, and his draft readiness depends on improvement on the offensive end.
16. Anthony Thompson, SF/PF, Ohio State. Thompson arrives at Ohio State with high expectations, but he is a long-term prospect who will likely endure growing pains. He is a perimeter scorer with great size and long-range ability, and he uses his excellent length well on defense. He is an inconsistent producer right now, and scouts find him most intriguing conceptually. As an especially young freshman, he could benefit from multiple years of college. He struggles to create his own shot and handle physicality, and his high center of gravity may limit him to straight-line drives and jumpers. Scouts have also been frustrated by his relaxed approach at times. He will draw heavy NBA interest early, but he has work to do to become a true one-and-done prospect.
17. Sayon Keita, C, North Carolina. Keita arrives in Chapel Hill after developing in FC Barcelona’s system. He is set for a critical role with the Tar Heels as a defensive eraser and rim runner who can catch lobs and cover ground. His 7-foot-7 wingspan, rim protection and excellent mobility have put him on the radar as a potential one-and-done prospect. His ball skills are raw, and he needs to add strength to his lanky frame. He understands his role well for a center his age. He profiles as an attractive NBA project, but he will need time to fill out and improve his rebounding and physical play.
18. Dame Sarr, SG/SF, Duke. Sarr is a long, disruptive perimeter defender with an NBA-ready frame and excellent tools. He is still developing offensively. He struggled to make shots as a freshman, averaging just 6.4 points in 23.5 minutes. He remains intriguing if his shot comes along, and his body type and feel for the game are worth a look. Duke did not give him much offensive responsibility last season. Picking his spots to be aggressive and improving his shooting splits, which were 40.4% from the field and 32.3% from 3, would be a step forward for a player with 3-and-D potential. The open question is whether that growth comes quickly enough to make him a 2027 draft pick.
19. Amari Allen, SF, Alabama. Allen is expected to handle the ball more often this season, as Alabama lacks a true point guard and Labaron Philon has gone to the NBA. He averaged 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 24 starts last season and is a centerpiece of the team. He is a versatile perimeter player with solid feel who rebounds well for his position and can defend multiple spots. He is a capable ball mover who benefits from Alabama’s up-tempo style, but he lacks an elite offensive skill. He is not a high-level half-court creator and is an average shooter. How he handles the expanded role will determine his draft case.
20. Alijah Arenas, SG, USC. Arenas appears poised for a step forward as a sophomore after a difficult 2025 that included a car accident in April and a torn meniscus in July. He played just 14 games last season, averaging 14.1 points while shooting 34.1% from the field and 21.3% from 3. He has excellent positional size and intriguing shot-creation skills, but many scouts have struggled to move past his decision-making, shot selection and inefficiency. He looked more comfortable in the Trojans’ preseason, and he could rise on the board in a wide-open draft if he leads USC in a major role.
21. Jason Crowe Jr., SG/PG, Missouri. Crowe is a talented offensive guard set for a productive season on a Missouri team built around him. His 3-point shooting and microwave scoring will draw scouts all year. His defensive shortcomings and his ability to create for teammates have drawn scrutiny. Evaluators want to know whether he can grow into an on-ball role and be efficient enough to handle significant volume in the pros. The NBA has become increasingly unforgiving for shoot-first guards like him, but scouts will watch him closely.
22. Alex Condon, PF/C, Florida. Condon is a proven winner with a clear path to the NBA. He adds value on both ends with his size, mobility, passing and motor. He is athletic enough to switch between the 4 and 5 defensively, which lets him fit different lineups and provide size and rebounding. His jumper has been a question since he arrived at Florida in 2023, and improving it would significantly raise his NBA ceiling. He made just nine of 53 3-point attempts last season, a 17% clip. He has still developed enough of an all-around game to succeed in a useful pro role regardless.
23. Caleb Gaskins, PF/SF, Miami. Gaskins is a long-term project with NBA-level tools and developing offensive skills. He is caught between forward spots and is slightly undersized for the 4, his likely long-term position. He projects as a versatile defender with plus length, but he must provide consistent spacing. So far he has relied more on his midrange game and physical strength as a scorer. He should have the role at Miami to make a one-and-done case, but he is young and may need time.
24. Brandon McCoy, SG, Michigan. McCoy could be a wild-card prospect in the 2027 draft. He is set to miss the entire season after tearing his right ACL during Michigan’s summer tour of Lithuania and Croatia. Before the injury, he was playing well and drawing NBA interest, beginning with a strong showing at the Nike Hoop Summit that displayed his explosiveness, physical tools and tenacious defense. Long-standing questions about his shooting and ballhandling will go unanswered this season. If he decides to enter the draft in the spring, he could benefit from the flatter nature of this class.
25. Miikka Muurinen, PF, Arkansas. Muurinen has been a confounding player for scouts. He is a physically fluid, bouncy 7-footer who shows perimeter skill, but he has been an inconsistent producer and decision-maker. He has a good platform to prove himself at Arkansas, where he fits well into an up-tempo system. He has played with a motor so far and has shown his NBA-level tools. He will remain polarizing for teams, but this wide-open draft year gives him a chance to change that perception.
Remaining big board
- Colben Landrew, SG/SF, UConn (18.7)
- Christian Collins, SF, USC (19.1)
- Hugo Yimga-Moukouri, SF, Nanterre (18.3)
- Luigi Suigo, C, Villanova (19.8)
- Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt (20.8)
- Cameron Williams, PF, Duke (19.0)
- David Mirkovic, PF/SF, Illinois (20.8)
- Abdou Toure, SG, Arkansas (19.2)
- Miles Sadler, PG, West Virginia (19.3)
- Dash Daniels, PG/SG, South East Melbourne (18.9)
- Billy Richmond III, SG/SF, Arkansas (20.6)
- Baba Oladotun, SG/SF, Maryland (17.9)
- Matt Able, SG, North Carolina (20.3)
- Trey McKenney, SG, Michigan (20.2)
- Najai Hines, C, UConn (19.6)
- Milan Momcilovic, PF, Kentucky (22.1)
- Juke Harris, SG, Tennessee (21.3)
- Jeremy Fears Jr., PG, Michigan State (21.5)
- Tounde Yessoufou, SF, St. John’s (20.5)
- Davis Fogle, SG, Gonzaga (20.4)
- Cheickh Niang, SG, Trento (18.1)
- Rueben Chinyelu, C, Florida (23.1)
- Shelton Henderson, SG/SF, Miami (20.0)
- Amare Bynum, PF, Ohio State (19.8)
- Nik Khamenia, SF/PF, UConn (19.9)
- Miles Byrd, SG/SF, Providence (22.3)
- Joseph Tugler, PF/C, Houston (21.8)
- Moustapha Thiam, C, Michigan (20.7)
- Eric Reibe, PF/C, USC (20.4)
- Cameron Houindo, PF, Cedevita Olimpija (18.8)
- Michael Ruzic, PF/C, LSU (20.1)
- Stefan Vaaks, SG/PG, Illinois (21.5)
- Pryce Sandfort, SG/SF, Nebraska (21.8)
- Andrej Stojakovic, SG/SF, Illinois (22.2)
- Paul McNeil Jr., SG, NC State (20.5)
- David Punch, F, Texas (20.3)
- Matas Vokietaitis, C, Texas (22.0)
- Johann Grunloh, C, Virginia (21.2)
- Cayden Boozer, PG, Duke (19.3)
- Flory Bidunga, C, Louisville (21.5)
- John Blackwell, SG, Duke (21.9)
- Neo Avdalas, SF, North Carolina (20.7)
- Daniel Jacobsen, C, Purdue (20.5)
- Massamba Diop, C, Gonzaga (21.8)
- Jacob Cofie, PF, USC (20.7)
- Xavier Edmonds, PF, TCU (22.5)
- Nolan Winter, PF/C, Wisconsin (22.0)
- Jaden Toombs, C, SMU (19.4)
- Sam Lewis, SG, Virginia (21.8)
- Collin Chandler, SG, BYU (22.7)
- Jayden Ross, SG/SF, UConn (22.3)
- Dillan Shaw, SG/SF, Arizona State (20.6)
- Bryson Tiller, PF, Missouri (21.0)
- KJ Lewis, SG, USC (22.3)
- Tomislav Ivisic, C, Illinois (23.2)
- Zvonimir Ivisic, C, Illinois (23.2)
- Pharrel Payne, C, Maryland (22.2)
- Tre Singleton, SF, Iowa State (20.0)
- Jalen Haralson, SF, Tennessee (19.5)
- Elliot Cadeau, PG, Michigan (22.2)
- Tahaad Pettiford, PG, Auburn (21.3)
- Amani Hansberry, PF, Virginia Tech (22.1)
- Robert Wright III, PG, BYU (21.0)
- Nigel James Jr., PG, Marquette (20.8)
- Kanon Catchings, SF, Georgia (21.2)
- Kayden Mingo, PG/SG, Baylor (19.7)
- Braden Huff, PF/C, Gonzaga (23.2)
- Mouhamed Faye, PF/C, Paris Basket (21.7)
- Pavle Backo, C, OKK Beograd (19.3)
- Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada, PG/SG, ASVEL (20.0)
- JT Toppin, PF/C, Texas Tech (21.4)
- Aiden Tobiason, SG/SF, Syracuse (20.5)
- Mason Falslev, Utah State (25.0)
- Kwame Evans Jr., PF, Villanova (22.3)
- Paulius Murauskas, PF, Arizona State (22.7)