Mock Draft Monday 5/25 '26
4422
4422
- NBA Draft ‘26 Prospects
- NFL Building a Board
-YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Drake’s 4422 because it’s next up on his discography.
This interlude song is sung by Sampha, who also provided some vocals on Too Much on Nothing Was The Same. Come to think of it, 66, 33 or 88, 44 just don’t have the same ring to it.
On to the ball…
Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford
Ebuka Okorie is from Nashua, New Hampshire. He was the state’s high school Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. While attending Brewster Academy, Okorie averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game and shot 39% from three-point range. Overlooked a bit as a 4-star recruit, Okorie chose to play for Stanford. His freshman season for the Cardinals was historic as he shattered many of the program’s all-time single-season records, such as points, field goals, and free throws. He averaged 23.2 points per game with 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals, while becoming the first freshman in program history to score 40 points in a game. The AP All-American honorable mention and All-ACC 1st Teamer always had the green light to shoot from deep, plus an exceptional finisher around the rim. This one is a 2000s point guard deep cut, but I think Okorie has a similar play style to peak prime Jeff McInnis with more upside and longevity.
Yaxel Lendeborg, SF, Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg was born in Puerto Rico. By the time he was in high school, his family had settled in Pennsauken, New Jersey. Lendeborg tried out for his high school basketball team but was cut for poor academics. He entered Camden Community College in 2019, where he played 11 games before being noticed by Arizona Western. After three seasons playing at the National Junior College Athletic Association, Lendeborg transferred to UAB in ‘23. In his two seasons with the Blazers, Lendeborg averaged 15.8 points, 11 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game. The graduate senior transferred to Michigan this past season and led the Wolverines to a National Championship. Lendeborg has averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He showed plenty of guts by playing through an MCL and left ankle sprain in the Final Four. For someone with power forward size and frame, Yaxel Lendeborg has excellent guard skills and can create his own shot exceptionally well. The only reason I could see him falling into the teens of the NBA Draft is that he’s a bit older than most of the guys he was playing with. He clearly looked like an NBA player on a college court, so it’ll be interesting to see if certain aspects of his game translate against a league of all grown men.
Labaron Philon Jr., SG, Alabama
Labaron Philon Jr. is from Mobile, Alabama. He attended Baker High School, where he was named Mr. Basketball of Alabama in ‘23. That season, Philon averaged 35.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.6 steals per game before finishing his high school days at Link Academy in Missouri. As a freshman at ‘Bama in ‘24-’25, Philon played a combo guard role next to Mark Sears. The first-year starter averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. This earned him a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team as ‘Bama reached the Elite 8. Once Sears graduated, Philon Jr. took on the starting point guard responsibility, and ‘Bama clearly became his team. The sophomore guard averaged 22 points, 5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. This earned him AP 3rd Team All-American and 1st Team All-SEC accolades as he led ‘Bama to the Sweet 16. Ultimately, I think his game in the NBA translates better to a combo guard role, where he can work off a primary PG but handle some ball-handling responsibility in a pinch. Rod Strickland type of hooper with finesse to his game.
Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington
Hannes Steinbach is from Würzburg, Germany. He came up through the ranks in Würzburg Baskets’ youth development program in the German Bundesliga, the same top league Dirk Nowitzki once played in during the ‘90s. Steinbach led Germany’s squad to a silver medal in the ‘25 U19 World Cup, averaging 17.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Before entering the NBA from Europe, he decided to stop in Seattle at the University of Washington. As a freshman with the Huskies last season, Steinbach averaged 18.5 points, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks, and led the nation in rebounds at 11.8 per game. The 6’11” power forward recorded 22 double-doubles and was named 2nd Team All-Big Ten. Being that he is only 20 years old, he could very well become a 7-footer and one day be a center in the NBA. His comp to me is Nikola Vučević during his Orlando Magic days.
Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas
Flory Bidunga is from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He moved to Kokomo, Indiana, when he was 15, as a high school sophomore. During his junior and senior years at Kokomo High School, Bidunga won the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year, concluding his high school career with 1,609 points, 1,132 rebounds, and 402 blocked shots. A McDonald’s All-American, Bidunga was a valuable bench big man for Kansas in ‘24-’25. In 34 games, Bidunga averaged 5.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. This past season, the 6’10” center has developed into a starter. He’s improved to 13.3 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game while being named the Big 12 Player of the Year. Given that Flory Bidunga has only been playing basketball since he was 14 years old, he still has plenty of untapped potential. At this point in time, his game reminds me of Robert “Time Lord” Williams, and he should be an impactful defender in the paint immediately.
Building A Board ‘27
Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
Carter Smith is from Powell, Ohio. He attended Olentangy Liberty High School, where he played offensive tackle in the fall and volleyball in the winter. After redshirting at Indiana in ‘22, Smith took on the Hoosiers’ Left Tackle starting role in ‘23, allowing just two sacks, 3 QB Hits, and 14 QB Hurries. With the arrival of HC Curt Cignetti in ‘24, Carter Smith retained his starting duties at blindside tackle. He allowed just two sacks, 4 QB Hits, and 6 QB Hurries, which earned him an All-Big Ten honorable mention. This past season has been Smith’s best one yet. He was named a consensus 1st Team All-American as he hasn’t allowed a single sack or QB Hit all season. Carter Smith has graded out as one of the top pass-blocking tackles in all of the land by PFF College. With three seasons’ worth of starting snaps in the Big Ten, the Hoosier Left Tackle is an experienced technician, and my early choice for the best blindside tackle in the nation.
A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
A’Mauri Washington is from Detroit, Michigan, but he moved to Arizona during high school. A 4-star prospect out of Chandler HS, Washington saw plenty of offers from all over the country as the state’s best defensive lineman. As a true freshman with Oregon in ‘23, Washington saw limited playing time on a crowded defensive line group. His defensive snaps took a bump in ‘24 as Washington played in all 14 games with the Ducks, compiling 10 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 14 total pressures generated, and 2 pass deflections. This past season was Washington’s most productive. In 15 starts on the Ducks’ defensive front, Washington had 33 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and 8 pass breakups at the line of scrimmage. In addition, he generated an extra 22 pressures and graded out as a well-above-average run defender. With another season of starting experience, Washington could very well jump into the 1st Round draft conversation as one of the top defensive tackles in the country.
Anto Saka, Edge, Texas A&M
Anto Saka is from Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Loyola Blakefield, where he played football and ran track. During his senior season, Saka ran an 11.5-second 100-meter dash and recorded nine sacks. After redshirting in ‘22, Saka made his football debut at Northwestern in ‘23. In 11 games played, Saka finished with 13 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. During his redshirt sophomore season in ‘24, Saka again played in 11 games, registering 15 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and 16 QB Hurries. This past season was Saka’s last with Northwestern, which he finished with 4 TFLs, 3 sacks, 17 QB Hurries, and 7 QB Hits. While his collegiate production for the Wildcats doesn’t jump off the page, Saka has NFL traits at 6’4” and 250 lbs. This offseason, Saka transferred to Texas A&M and will try to replace the production of Cashius Howell. While this may sound a bit hyperbolic, Anto Saka could be the next David Bailey of this upcoming draft class. Like Bailey, Saka had some very positive underlying pass-rush production at a Big Ten school that hovers around the .500 mark, and could very well flourish on a better defense.
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Trinidad Chambliss is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Forest Hills Northern High School, where he starred at QB on the football field and point guard on the basketball court. Chambliss didn’t get many college recruiting offers because face-to-face visits were so restricted during his senior year due to COVID. He chose to play for Ferris State, a DII school just an hour north of his hometown. A very competitive program that won the Division II National Championship twice since ‘22, Chambliss didn’t get an opportunity to start at Ferris State until his junior season. He served as a backup as a freshman during their first National Championship, before leading the Bulldogs to a title in ‘24. During his lone season as the starter for Ferris State, Trinidad Chambliss threw for 26 TDs and ran in another 25. Along with his 51 TDs, Chambliss accounted for nearly 4,000 total yards on the ground and through the air. Last spring, he entered the transfer portal and chose to play for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. He began the season on the Rebels’ bench, but was inserted into the starting lineup once opening day starter Austin Simmons got hurt. Once he took over the Rebels’ starting duties, he was terrific, leading the SEC in passing yards with 3,937 while throwing for 22 TDs to only 3 INTs. Chambliss was especially money last season down the stretch of the College Football Playoff, emerging as a clear leader once Kiffin ditched the program for LSU. After going to court over his NCAA eligibility this spring, Chambliss was granted another season of college ball. Standing at 6’ tall, Trinidad Chambliss will have his detractors over whether he can successfully play in the NFL, but for now, he’s an electric college QB with a chip on his shoulder.
Cam Cook, RB, West Virginia
