2026 NBA mock drafts project HBCU underdog story as second round pick

An HBCU basketball player is projected to be taken in the 2026 NBA Draft

Multiple mock drafts released ahead of Wednesday night’s second round are converging on the underdog story of Tennessee State guard Aaron Nkrumah.

Nkrumah, a senior who rose from Division III Worcester State to become Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, has been projected across several outlets to hear his name called somewhere in the back half of the draft.

Where Aaron Nkrumah might be drafted

On3 projects Nkrumah going No. 51 overall to the Washington Wizards, while ESPN slots him slightly higher at No. 47 to the Phoenix Suns via Philadelphia. Sports Illustrated’s final mock draft places him at No. 49 to the Denver Nuggets, underscoring a growing consensus that the versatile guard has firmly entered the league’s radar.

Once considered a long shot even to be evaluated by NBA decision-makers, Nkrumah’s pre-draft rise has been swift. After being initially overlooked for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, he earned a late invitation to the NBA G League Elite Camp. From there, his performance was strong enough to secure a coveted call-up to the NBA Draft Combine — a turning point that prompted scouts to take a closer look.

Evaluators have been drawn to Nkrumah’s physicality, defensive versatility, and advanced feel for the game. At Tennessee State, he developed into a multi-positional wing capable of guarding across the perimeter while contributing as a secondary playmaker.

“He’s one of the draft’s true hidden gems,” the Sports Illustrated scouting report noted, pointing to his unusual developmental path and steady improvement against higher levels of competition.

Nkrumah is arguably the draft’s best underdog story. He began his career at Division III Worcester State, then transferred up and blossomed into Ohio Valley Player of the Year at Tennessee State. Then, after a snub from the Portsmouth Invitational, he got a late invite to the G League Elite Camp, which he then parlayed into an NBA draft combine call-up that had scouts scrambling for more information about one of the draft’s true hidden gems. He’s a physical wing with excellent feel for the game and the ability to guard multiple positions.

Nkrumah had a magical senior season. He was named the 2025-26 OVC Player of the Year after averaging 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 steals per game while shooting 35.1% from 3-point range.

His efforts under first-year coach Nolan Smith helped Tennessee State reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 32 years.

What Aaron Nkrumah being drafted would mean

While his exact landing spot remains uncertain, the clustering of projections in the late second round suggests Nkrumah has moved from fringe prospect to legitimate draft candidate.

For Nkrumah, Wednesday night represents the potential culmination of a journey that has defied conventional pathways to the NBA. Regardless of where he is selected, his trajectory has already made him one of the more intriguing names to watch as the draft unfolds.

He would be the first Tennessee State basketball player in the NBA since former Tigers great Robert Covington. If drafted, Nkrumah would be the first HBCU draft pick since Kyle O’Quinn of Norfolk State in 2012.