With the college basketball season well underway, players across the country are continuing to try to make names for themselves as they chase NBA dreams. This year looks to be a little different than others, with college freshmen leading the pack in most of the first round. While big names like Darryn Peterson and A.J. Dybantsa have been locked in as top-10 picks for a while now, other playmakers need to be at their best to even be considered as NBA-level talent.
Luckily, the NCAA hasn't been plagued with too many G-Leaguers (yet), with the ever-changing rules of NIL. So, below are five college-aged players rising up draft boards at this point in the season, along with the top-20 college prospects. Remember, this does not account for overseas players likely to be drafted, so the next Giannis Antetokounmpo is still out there somewhere....
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Five NBA Draft Board Risers
Flory Bidunga, F, Kansas
Bidunga has seen a huge spike in production in his sophomore season with the Jayhawks as a cemented starter and frontcourt weapon. The 6-foot-10 center is currently averaging 14.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 blocks on 30.9 minutes across 15 starts this season.
While it was predicted that he'd make at least a small jump between his first and second seasons, averaging a near double-double has smashed expectations. With that being said, the main reason he's a current riser is because of his improvements on the rebounding front, specifically. There were some concerns about the Congo native's physicality in the paint early on this season, as he was averaging just 7.7 rebounds across his first six showings. Luckily, he's made big improvements on board-snatching with an average of 10.1 in his last nine games.
All of these factors make him a likely candidate to be grabbed up by a team looking for an explosive big, with the main drawback being that he hasn't developed an outside shot.
Milan Momcilovic, F, Iowa State
Momcilovic has been on a scoring tear as of late, which has only boosted his draft stock. The 6-foot-8 forward out of Pewaukee, WI already has a great frame for a wing/forward player, and he's taken his scoring abilities to the next level this season. Through the first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign, Momcilovic is shooting 56.3 percent from the three (39.6 last season), and he's averaging 18.5 points (11.5 last season.
The main translation concern for the junior would be his ability to defend NBA talent, and his 1.2 steals per game after averaging just 0.4 last season is a step in the right direction. If Momcilovic can consistently shoot this well and combine it with some improved physicality on the defensive side, he could continue to climb draft boards.
Michael Ajayi, F, Butler
Ajayi has bounced around programs in his collegiate career, but Butler might have been the landing spot for him to start getting more attention. So far this season, the 6-foot-7 forward has returned to a level of paint play that he exhibited during his freshman campaign at Pepperdine, but only better.
Ajayi is currently averaging 16.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals along with a block per game, and he hasn't slowed down in the slightest against tough Big East opponents. The ability for a forward to rebound this consistently at his size is a trait that NBA teams won't overlook.
Ajayi taking his paint presence to the next level has given him a significant boost, but he will still need to improve on his shooting consistency and defense against more dynamic forwards than himself if he hopes to sneak into the second round of the draft.
See how these players stack up among other power conference talent in RotoWire's fantasy college basketball rankings.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie, G, Tennessee
Gillespie conveniently exploded for 34 points a day before the writing of this article, but this performance only emphasized how dominant he's been this season as the Volunteers' point guard. The 6-foot-1 playmaker transferred from Belmont to Maryland for the 2024-25 campaign, and he's now made an even bigger jump after coming into Knoxville. Gillespie is averaging a career-high 18.7 points and 5.7 rebounds across 14 games so far, and he's shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc in his last six contests.
The 6-foot-1 senior's combination of shooting and dishing on the offensive side of the ball is improving by the game, but his size and physicality raise some concerns with small guards being needed less and less each year. Still, Gillespie will be an intriguing prospect to watch as the season continues to unfold. He unfortunately used up all of his eligibility and won't have any more seasons to develop at the collegiate level, so it's now-or-never to make his mark.
Zuby Ejiofor, F, St. John's
After a breakout junior campaign with the Johnnies, Ejiofor is still finding ways to improve his game and draft stock as he barrels through his senior season. The 6-foot-9 forward was joined by Providence transfer forward Bryce Hopkins ahead of the 2025-26 bout, so there were some questions about whether he'd be able to continue his usual level of production. So far, Ejiofor has benefited greatly from the addition to the Red Storm's frontcourt, as he's increased his averages in all stat categories but rebounds.
The physical forward has continued to showcase characteristics that could make him a daunting big in the NBA. Ejiofer has improved on his defensive abilities so far this year, averaging almost one more block than last season (1.4 → 2.3) and sitting at 1.2 steals per game. However, the most impressive leaps that the 245-pound fourth-year have made so far this stretch have been in categories that weren't expected.
Ejiofor is benefitting from the addition of Hopkins and an entirely new starting lineup, as he's averaging 2.9 assists per game (1.6 last year). Additionally, the most impressive skill that can sometimes be overlooked for a regular paint player is the three-point shot, and Ejiofor currently is shooting 29.6 percent from beyond the arc. 30 percent is still a little under the mark for draft scouts, and there's still work to be done with his offensive consistency as a whole, but Ejiofor's strides on all sides of the ball so far this run have pushed him higher up in draft rankings.
Top-20 College Basketball Draft Prospects
- Darryn Peterson G, Kansas, Freshman
- A.J. Dybantsa F, BYU, Freshman
- Cameron Boozer F, Duke, Freshman
- Caleb Wilson F, UNC, Freshman
- Nate Ament, F, Tennessee, Freshman
- Mikel Brown, G, Louisville, Freshman
- Kingston Flemings G, Houston, Freshman
- Jayden Quaintance C, Kentucky, Sophomore
- Koa Peat F, Arizona, Freshman
- Labaron Philon, G, Alabama, Sophomore
- Thomas Haugh, F, Florida, Junior
- Tounde Yessoufou F, Baylor, Freshman
- Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan, Senior
- Braylon Mullins, G, UConn, Freshman
- Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas, Freshman
- Chris Cenac, F/C, Houston, Freshman
- Cameron Carr, G, Baylor, Sophomore
- Hannes Steinbach, F, Washington, Freshman
- Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa, Senior
- Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois, Freshman
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