NCAAB · 4 days ago

Top 10 CBB Stars Snubbed for the NBA Draft Combine

David Connelly

Host · Writer

1. Donovan Dent - UCLA
It feels astonishing that Donovan Dent was not invited to either the NBA or G League Draft Combine despite playing like one of the best point guards in the country down the stretch of the season. Across UCLA's final ten games of the season, he accrued 93 assists to just eight turnovers, a ludicrous ratio at the collegiate level. While his scoring isn't the strong suit of his game, his playmaking could provide a legitimate spark off the bench for an established NBA team right away.
10. Trey Kaufman-Renn - Purdue
There are few prospects more polarizing in this year's class than Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn. One scout will tell you he's got all the intangibles and ability to be an effective off-the-bench big, while another will say he is far too one-dimensional to find success at the next level. It was a bit of a drop-off from junior to senior year for TKR, but his paint presence is undeniably elite. The shooting is where his player profile gets into a bit of trouble. If he wants to find serious playing time in the NBA, he will need to improve at the free-throw line at the very least, and perhaps develop a more threatening outside jumper.
9. Graham Ike - Gonzaga
While Graham Ike lacks a bit of pop from the perimeter, he is a complete bowling ball in the paint. The former Wyoming and Gonzaga big shot 56.8 percent from the floor in his illustrious career, leading the WCC in points per game last season and earning Third-Team All-American honors as well. Ike's persistent scoring throughout his career helped him sneak into the top 25 highest-scoring players of the 21st century, sitting just 24 points behind Jimmer Fredette. Don't be surprised if he makes a roster in a Draymond Green-type role and carves out a solid NBA career in doing so.
7. Jaylin Sellers - Providence
After a preseason injury completely derailed the 2024-25 campaign for Jaylin Sellers, he returned to his old ways as a prolific scorer with Providence in his final collegiate season. The senior guard led the Big East in scoring at 18.3 points per game, displaying elite shooting splits of 47/43/86 across 33 starts. His knack for creating open looks, making the right decision, and nose for scoring make him an intriguing second-round pick as a 22-year-old who feels like a plug-and-play option off the bench as a fully developed product.
6. Isaac McKneely - Louisville
If you are an NBA team in need of a reliable sharpshooter with a lengthy track record of efficient shooting volume, Isaac McKneely is a great player to consider. Across four years in college and 795 three-point attempts, McKneely shot 41.4 percent from beyond the arc, including leading the ACC in 2024-25. He has a solid frame and size at a lean 6'4", and is no stranger to playing hard-nosed defense, entering college as a Tony Bennett recruit. Don't be surprised if McKneely becomes a three-and-D stud off the bench at the next level.
5. Tucker DeVries - Indiana
The leap to the power conference level after three seasons at Drake didn't exactly go according to plan for Tucker DeVries. After suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that held him to just eight games with West Virginia in 2024-25, DeVries followed his father, Darian, to Indiana for his final season. The Hoosiers were largely underwhelming, and DeVries's numbers dipped slightly compared to his time with the Bulldogs. The inefficiency after the step-up in competition is a bit of a yellow flag, but DeVries is talented enough across the board to at least earn a look at the next level.
4. Elliot Cadeau - Michigan
Elliot Cadeau did perhaps more than anybody else in the NCAA Tournament to boost their draft stock. The 2026 Final Four Most Outstanding Player displayed his fancy finishing at the rim, timely playmaking, and overall clutch gene in the team's win over UConn, pouring in 19 points en route to victory. Michigan fans were a bit wary of his leadership out of the backcourt through large portions of the season, but Cadeau cleaned up well once the Big Ten Tournament got underway and showed why head coach Dusty May trusted him with the ball in his hands in the biggest spots down the stretch.
3. Nate Bittle - Oregon
Perhaps due to Oregon's incredibly disappointing 2025-26 campaign, Nate Bittle slid mostly under the radar in his final collegiate season. The fifth-year senior had the most productive year of his career, averaging 16.8 points per game on 46.5 percent from the field and even knocking down 1.4 triples per outing. He even worked on his playmaking over the past few years, going from 0.8 assists per game two years ago to 2.9 last season. He is one of the most skillful bigs in this year's class, but his lack of athleticism is likely why he won't be at the NBA Draft Combine.
2. Duke Miles - Vanderbilt
After a winding road of playing at four schools in six seasons, Duke Miles's collegiate career came to a close impressively, as the second-leading scorer at Vanderbilt, who came incredibly close to reaching the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Miles does two things that every basketball purist will love: Makes free throws and plays defense. That goes a long way to solidify a roster spot in the NBA, and Miles should get a shot at the Summer League, along with a few workouts ahead of the 2026-27 season.
1. Donovan Dent - UCLA
It feels astonishing that Donovan Dent was not invited to either the NBA or G League Draft Combine despite playing like one of the best point guards in the country down the stretch of the season. Across UCLA's final ten games of the season, he accrued 93 assists to just eight turnovers, a ludicrous ratio at the collegiate level. While his scoring isn't the strong suit of his game, his playmaking could provide a legitimate spark off the bench for an established NBA team right away.
10. Trey Kaufman-Renn - Purdue
There are few prospects more polarizing in this year's class than Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn. One scout will tell you he's got all the intangibles and ability to be an effective off-the-bench big, while another will say he is far too one-dimensional to find success at the next level. It was a bit of a drop-off from junior to senior year for TKR, but his paint presence is undeniably elite. The shooting is where his player profile gets into a bit of trouble. If he wants to find serious playing time in the NBA, he will need to improve at the free-throw line at the very least, and perhaps develop a more threatening outside jumper.

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Top 10 CBB Stars Snubbed for the NBA Draft Combine

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