The noise of the NBA Combine in Chicago has finally settled, leaving scouts and front offices to sift through the data, the measurements, and the raw footage of a class that is as top-heavy as it is unpredictable. While the elite tier of the 2026 NBA Draft Big Board remains largely undisturbed, the middle of the pack has undergone a significant shake-up, driven by a combination of surprising physical measurements and the harsh reality of how college skills translate to the professional game.
For those of us who have spent decades on the sidelines of five Olympics and three World Cups, the Combine is rarely about the top three picks; those players are usually decided by their pedigree and tape long before they step onto a measuring board. Instead, the real story emerges in the “risers and fallers”—the players whose stock swings based on a wingspan measurement or a struggling shooting drill. This year, that volatility is centered on a handful of frontcourt players who are weighing the immediate security of NIL valuations against the gamble of a first-round lottery call.
The most immediate impact of the Chicago sessions has been the surge of the University of Michigan’s frontcourt. Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. Both walked away from the Combine with their stock significantly higher than when they arrived, providing a blueprint for how physical upside can override existing doubts in the eyes of NBA executives.
The ripple effect of these shifts creates a precarious situation for several players with remaining NCAA eligibility. With the NCAA’s deadline to withdraw from the draft looming on May 27, the current Big Board is less a final list and more a snapshot of a moving target. For players sliding down the rankings, the decision to stay or return to school is no longer just about development—it is a financial calculation.
The Michigan Surge: Physicality and Versatility
Aday Mara entered the Combine as a known quantity—a dominant defensive presence at Michigan—but he left as a priority target for teams desperate for legitimate size. Mara measured in at 7-foot-3 without shoes, paired with a staggering 9-foot-9 standing reach. In an era where the NBA is seeing a resurgence of “big” lineups to counter the league’s versatility, Mara’s sheer scale makes him a rare commodity.
However, the buzz around Mara isn’t just about his height. Scouts have been revisiting older tape from his time at UCLA, specifically noting his ability to switch ball-screens. This mobility suggests that Mara is not merely a “drop coverage” center who stays parked in the paint, but a modern big capable of defending multiple positions. When combined with his natural touch and passing ability, Mara has transitioned from a specialist to a high-ceiling prospect.
Beside him, Morez Johnson Jr. Has emerged as perhaps the most versatile frontcourt piece in the class. Measuring 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3.5 wingspan and a chiseled 250-pound frame, Johnson possesses the exact archetype that modern NBA teams covet: a rugged interior presence who can switch defensively and operate on the perimeter. His shooting gains at Michigan appeared sustainable during drill work, removing one of the primary questions surrounding his game.
Because Notice few alternatives with Johnson’s specific blend of strength and switchability, he has entered the conversation as a potential late-lottery pick. For Michigan fans, his success is a double-edged sword; the better he performs at the Combine, the more likely he is to bypass a return to Ann Arbor in favor of the professional ranks.
The Translation Gap: Bidunga and Peat
While Michigan celebrated, other prospects found the Combine to be a sobering experience. Flory Bidunga, the athletic lefty who was previously ranked as the top prospect in the transfer portal, has seen a notable slide. Despite making strides at Kansas and committing to Louisville, Bidunga has fallen to No. 36 on the updated rankings.
The disconnect for Bidunga is rooted in a clash between his defensive utility and his offensive identity. While he remains one of the most mobile frontcourt defenders in the collegiate game, he plays as a traditional “straight five” on offense. There are lingering concerns regarding whether he possesses the raw strength to body up against NBA-caliber centers, creating a gap between his perceived value and his actual projection.
This slide creates a significant financial dilemma. Reports indicate that Bidunga would likely need to be a top-10 pick to match the NIL earnings he is expected to receive at Louisville. Given his current slide toward the second round, a return to the college ranks seems almost certain, as the financial incentive of NIL now outweighs the risk of being a late first-round or early second-round pick.
Similarly, Arizona’s Koa Peat has seen his stock dip to No. 18. Once viewed as a lock for the lottery, Peat struggled visibly during shooting drills in Chicago. The contrast was particularly stark when he shared the court with Morez Johnson Jr., appearing a step behind in terms of professional readiness. While Peat possesses a winning pedigree and a high impact as a freshman, the questions about how his game translates to the NBA have only intensified.
The Established Order and the Top 10
Despite the chaos in the middle of the board, the “Big Three” remain untouched. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer have maintained their hold on the top three spots, their games viewed as sufficiently polished to resist the volatility of Combine measurements.
The following table outlines the current top 10 prospects following the Chicago adjustments:
| Rank | Player | School/Affiliation | Position | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AJ Dybantsa | BYUSF | Forward | 6-9 |
| 2 | Darryn Peterson | Kansas | PG | 6-5 |
| 3 | Cameron Boozer | Duke | PF | 6-9 |
| 4 | Caleb Wilson | North Carolina | PF | 6-10 |
| 5 | Darius Acuff | Arkansas | PG | 6-3 |
| 6 | Keaton Wagler | Illinois | PG | 6-6 |
| 7 | Kingston Flemings | Houston | PG | 6-4 |
| 8 | Mikel Brown | Louisville | PG | 6-4 |
| 9 | Brayden Burries | Arizona | SG | 6-4 |
| 10 | Nate Ament | Tennessee | PF | 6-10 |
The current landscape suggests a draft class that is rich in versatile wings and high-end guards, but thin on traditional center depth—which further inflates the value of players like Aday Mara. As teams look toward the 2026 season, the priority is shifting toward players who can defend multiple positions without sacrificing the physical presence required to protect the rim.
The next critical checkpoint is May 27, the official NCAA deadline for players to withdraw their names from the draft. This date will likely trigger a second wave of Big Board adjustments as players like Koa Peat and Flory Bidunga make their final decisions on whether to enter the professional league or leverage their NIL value for another year of college growth.
Do you think the physical measurements at the Combine are overvalued, or do they tell the real story? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
