2026 AWS NBA Draft Combine Scrimmages Standouts

The 2026 AWS NBA Draft Combine scrimmages provided NBA front offices with something far more valuable than measurements, vertical leap numbers and shooting drills — they offered real basketball context. In a league increasingly searching for versatile two-way contributors, connective role players and guards capable of making quick decisions under pressure, the 5-on-5 sessions in Chicago became a proving ground for prospects looking to separate themselves from the middle of a deep draft class. Some players confirmed what scouts believed all season, while others dramatically boosted their stock by showing skills that weren’t always fully displayed in their college or international roles. From explosive scoring performances and elite defensive versatility to high-IQ playmaking and physical interior dominance, several prospects left the combine looking like legitimate NBA rotation pieces. With teams such as the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers via Indiana holding key positions in the draft order, organizational fit now becomes just as important as talent evaluation. These scrimmages gave executives a clearer picture of which players can realistically help NBA teams win, what roles they project into long term and where their names could ultimately be called on draft night.

Cameron Carr, Baylor, Guard

Carr delivered the loudest 5-on-5 statement of the group. At 6-foot-4.5 with a 7-foot-0.75 wingspan, elite athletic testing and a 42.5-inch vertical, he checked the physical tools box before exploding for 30 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while shooting 6-of-12 from three. That combination of shot-making, positional size, vertical pop and defensive upside makes him more than a combine hot hand.

Carr projects as a microwave scorer who can also scale into a two-way wing/guard role. He can punish defenses off movement, spot up in transition, attack closeouts and defend multiple perimeter spots because of his length.

Best fits: Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder.

Draft range: Late first to early second round. His combine likely pushed him into serious top-40 consideration, with first-round upside if teams buy the shooting and athletic defense.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee, Point Guard

Gillespie’s 24-point first half was one of the defining scoring bursts of the scrimmages. He showed NBA-level shot versatility: pull-ups, transition threes, pick-and-roll scoring, off-ball screen work and spot-up confidence. Public reporting also noted that he finished with 28 points, five assists and three steals, boosting his second-round case.

At 5-foot-11.75, size will be the question. But Gillespie plays stronger than his frame, competes defensively and already has a season-long playmaking résumé. The combine helped reinforce that he is not just a college guard; he has a realistic NBA bench-scoring pathway.

Best fits: Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors.

Draft range: Second round, roughly 35-55.

Baba Miller, Cincinnati, Forward

Miller may be one of the more intriguing upside bets from the combine. At 6-foot-10.5 with a 7-foot-1.75 wingspan and 9-foot-3 standing reach, he has true frontcourt size but moves like a perimeter player. His 20-point opener showed the appeal: ball handling, shooting range, defensive versatility, rebounding and fluid open-floor movement.

The key with Miller is role flexibility. He can be a connective forward, weak-side rim protector, switchable defender, trail shooter and secondary handler. The shot mechanics looked clean, and his ability to thrive without dominating touches should appeal to teams building modern frontcourts.

Best fits: Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder.

Draft range: Late first to mid-second round.

Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s, Wing

Mitchell’s value is not built around shot volume. It is built around winning plays. He nearly posted a triple-double with seven points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, then followed with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists on perfect 6-of-6 shooting. His plus-minus impact backed up the eye test.

At 6-foot-6.5 with a 6-foot-10.5 wingspan, Mitchell profiles as a glue wing who defends multiple positions, rebounds, cuts, runs the floor and keeps the ball moving. He is the type of prospect playoff teams often value more than casual draft boards do.

Best fits: Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons.

Draft range: Second round, with a chance to climb into the 30s.

Tarris Reed Jr., Connecticut, F/C

Reed was one of the most reliable interior players in the scrimmages. At 6-foot-9.75 and 263.6 pounds with a 7-foot-4.25 wingspan, he has NBA size, strength and reach. His second game — 17 points, five rebounds and two blocks on 7-of-9 shooting — showed a big who understands his lane: seal, catch, finish, absorb contact and protect the rim.

Reed’s hands and interior positioning stood out. He is not a stretch big, but he has a clear role as a physical backup center who can screen, rebound and punish switches.

Best fits: Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers.

Draft range: Mid-to-late second round.

Emanuel Sharp, Houston, Guard

Sharp brought the Houston edge. He defended, competed, hit spot-up threes and made winning rotations. His first game — 17 points and two steals while hitting three threes — showed his best NBA pathway: tough combo guard, floor spacer, secondary handler and point-of-attack defender.

The streaky shooting remains part of the evaluation. He went 2-of-10 from deep in the second game, but the defensive motor, strength and competitive consistency give him a role-player foundation.

Best fits: Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns.

Draft range: Second round to priority two-way candidate.

Matthew Able, NC State, G/F

Able’s scoring package translated well. At 6-foot-3.75 with a 6-foot-8.25 wingspan and 8-foot-7 standing reach, he has useful wing length despite guard height. He scored at all three levels, hit threes off the catch and bounce, attacked the rim and flashed athleticism in transition.

His two-game scoring output — 15 points, then 17 points — showed repeatability. Teams looking for bench shot creation will have interest.

Best fits: Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls.

Draft range: Late second round to undrafted/two-way.

Jaden Bradley, Arizona, Point Guard

Bradley looked like one of the steadier floor generals in the event. His 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds on 3-of-5 shooting reflected a guard who can organize offense, touch the paint and defend with strength.

At 6-foot-2.5 and 205.4 pounds with a 6-foot-6.75 wingspan, he has a strong physical profile for a point guard. His court vision, paint pressure and rebounding give him a real backup lead-guard case.

Best fits: LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic.

Draft range: Second round to priority two-way.

Maliq Brown, Duke, Forward

Brown’s production was efficient and role-friendly. He finished 4-of-4 in the first game, then grabbed seven rebounds in the second. His defensive intelligence stood out: hedging, recovering, using his hands and making guards work around ball screens.

At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-0.75 wingspan, Brown fits the modern defensive forward mold. He may not be a high-usage scorer, but his passing feel, finishing, toughness and defensive versatility give him a path.

Best fits: Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics.

Draft range: Late second round to two-way.

Reuben Chinyelu, Florida, F/C

Chinyelu’s measurements jump off the page: 6-foot-9.25, 259.4 pounds, 7-foot-7.5 wingspan. He plays to that frame with strength, motor and physicality. His 14-point, 15-rebound second game was one of the best big-man performances in the scrimmages.

He profiles as a dirty-work center: screen, roll, finish with either hand, rebound and defend the paint. The reported 5-of-8 from three in Game 1 appears unusual for his profile, but if there is even a hint of shooting growth, his value changes.

Best fits: Atlanta Hawks, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers.

Draft range: Second round.

Felix Okpara, Tennessee, F/C

Okpara’s first game was derailed by fouls, but his response mattered. He bounced back with 15 points and seven rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting, showing his value as an explosive finisher, rim protector and pick-and-roll target.

At 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and 9-foot-4 standing reach, Okpara has the physical tools teams want in a vertical-spacing backup big. The swing factor is discipline: if he controls fouls, he has an NBA role.

Best fits: Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, LA Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors.

Draft range: Late second round to two-way.

Trevon Brazile, Arkansas, Forward

Brazile helped himself by showing more than athleticism. He finished, rebounded, defended, attacked in transition and even knocked down a couple of threes in his second game. At 6-foot-9.5 with a 7-foot-3.75 wingspan, he has real frontcourt tools.

His best NBA role is an energy forward who can run, finish above the rim, guard in space and occasionally stretch the floor. The more believable the jumper becomes, the more draftable he is.

Best fits: Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns.

Draft range: Second round to priority two-way.

Braden Smith, Purdue, Point Guard

Smith’s size — 5-foot-10.25 and 166.6 pounds — will be the central concern. But he helped himself by pressuring the ball, creating space and showing knockdown shooting touch. His second game was more convincing: nine points, seven assists and three steals on 4-of-8 shooting.

Smith’s NBA pitch is backup table-setter with shooting, toughness and defensive pressure. He will need to prove he can survive switches and finish through NBA length.

Best fits: Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns.

Draft range: Late second round to undrafted/two-way.

John Blackwell, Wisconsin/Duke Commit, Guard

Blackwell’s first game showed the appeal: 16 points, five rebounds, 6-of-11 shooting and 2-of-4 from three. He is strong, physical, can score at three levels and uses contact well to create space. His frame and lateral quickness also give him defensive potential.

But the decision-making concerns are real. Consecutive four-turnover games and a rough second shooting performance leave teams asking whether he is a scorer only or a guard who can process quickly enough at the next level.

Best fits: Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons.

Draft range: Late second round to return-to-school candidate/undrafted if he stays in.

Noam Yaacov, Oostende, Point Guard

Yaacov’s shooting numbers were rough, but his athletic testing, strength and defensive intensity kept him interesting. A 38-inch max vertical, 10.56 pro lane time and strong frame give him more physical intrigue than many guards his size.

He showed feel, toughness, ball handling and passing vision, posting seven assists in the second game despite poor shooting. The question is whether teams believe the mechanics enough to project growth.

Best fits: Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, LA Clippers, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs.

Draft range: Undrafted/two-way or stash consideration.

Overall takeaway

The biggest stock risers were Cameron Carr, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Baba Miller and Dillon Mitchell. Carr gave teams the cleanest mix of scoring explosion, athleticism and positional tools. Gillespie answered questions about high-level scoring. Miller flashed the rarest size-skill combination. Mitchell looked like the kind of low-maintenance connector who can help NBA teams win.

The bigs — Reed, Chinyelu, Okpara and Brazile — all gave teams usable role-player arguments. In a draft where teams picking outside the lottery will be hunting for cost-controlled rotation pieces, those performances matter.