After Michigan won the NCAA tournament over UConn on Monday, the focus will shift to the 2026 NBA draft. AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas) and Cameron Boozer (Duke) will likely battle for the No. 1 spot, but analysts see some surprises following the highly entertaining and thrilling March Madness.
Names who were just blips on the radar could demand more attention after eye-opening performances for their respective teams.
Elliott Cadeau, the newly crowned Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, could top that list of players who could shake up the draft board. After struggling in North Carolina for two years, Cadeau didn’t even make it to ESPN’s mock draft before the collegiate season started.
A few under-the-radar players like Cadeau could make the 2026 NBA draft even more exciting and unpredictable.
Prospects Who Could Make Major Splash in 2026 NBA Draft
#5. Yaxel Lendeborg
Most mock drafts, before March Madness started, predicted Yaxel Lendeborg to be a mid or late-round lottery pick. The 6-foot-9 forward’s NCAA tournament performance might have just improved his stock for the upcoming 2026 NBA draft.
One could easily argue that the Wolverines would not have even made the Final Four without their versatile senior. Lendeborg, who has an excellent handles, gave Michigan coach Dustin May enviable positional flexibility on both ends of the floor. Lendeborg could shoot, defend and even direct the occasional pick-and-roll play. He did everything May asked of him and then some.
Although not really a sleeper, Yaxel Lendeborg surprise some by landing in the top 10 of the 2026 NBA draft.
#4. Alex Karaban
If people doubted Alex Karaban’s big-game ability, the UConn senior proved that he can be counted on in the big moments. In the Huskies’ 73-72 upset of Duke in the Elite 8, it was Karaban’s pass to Braylon Mullins that led to a shocking game-winning 35-footer.
Besides the pass, the versatile 6-foot-8 forward made multiple clutch plays, including a late 3-pointer. Karaban isn’t an elite athlete, but he is a savvy scorer and playmaker.
ESPN predicted Alex Karaban to be a mid-second-rounder in November. Following his March Madness exploits, he could be squarely in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft.
#3. Morez Johnson Jr.
After a reserved role for Illinois last season, Morez Johnson Jr. has turned heads in Michigan. The 6-9 forward with a 7-2 wingspan had his fingerprints on the Wolverines’ dominant championship-winning campaign.
Johnson does the dirty work, excels in defense across multiple positions and has a knack for disrupting the opposing team’s flow and rhythm.
Most mock drafts saw him as an early second-rounder, but he might just have pushed his way to the first round of the 2026 NBA draft.
#2. Andrej Stojakovic
Andrej Stojakovic is the son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic. The younger Stojakovic has played for three schools in three years.
Never the shooter that his father was, the 6-7 forward excels on the defensive end. He can guard 1-4 positions with efficiency, and despite his lanky frame, relishes contact under the boards.
Andrej Stojakovic averaged 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in the NCAA tournament, underscoring his importance to the Fighting Illini.
From rarely being mentioned in mock drafts, he should be clearly on the radar for teams with a late first-round or early second-round asset in the 2026 NBA draft.
#1. Elliot Cadeau
Some call Elliot Cadeau’s 2026 NCAA tournament the redemption story of college basketball. After two years averaging 8.3 ppg, 5.1 apg and 2.5 rpg at North Carolina, Cadeau is now the Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 Final Four.
The biggest jump in Cadeau’s game is his leadership and 3-point shooting. After averaging 27.4% from deep at Chapel Hill, he is shooting 37.9% with the Wolverines.
The 6-1 Cadeau is undersized, but he does not lack heart, becoming Michigan’s heart and soul. With UConn keeping the pressure, the Wolverines looked up to him to lead them.
The 2026 NBA draft could see him become at least an early second-round pick.
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