Throughout each NBA Draft cycle, franchises compile a big board. These are, of course, private and not visible to the public; however, the key point is that each one is unique. Usually, the top of the class has a similar ranking; for example, Victor Wembanyama was likely No. 1 on every team’s board because of his exceptional skillset. However, some draft boards from major media outlets often list a certain player too low. In this article, I will review my three prospects who are higher on my list than the consensus, and explain why I believe they will succeed at the NBA level.
Bennett Stirtz: Iowa Hawkeyes, Point Guard
Bennett Stirtz, as of right now, is my most confident flag plant for the 2026 NBA Draft. He was close to staying in the 2025 class after an exceptional season at Drake, but instead decided to bet on himself in an attempt to raise his stock even more in his final college campaign. One of the coolest parts about Stirtz is that he was a D2 player just two years ago with his current coach, Ben McCollum, at Northwest Missouri State. They both moved on to Drake last season, where they had a successful season and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Now at Iowa, Stirtz and McCollum are continuing to put their names on the map with a hot 7-0 start to their season.
Why is Stirtz one of My Guys?
In my most recent Draft Guide, I had Stirtz at the top of my third tier of prospects (Quality Starters). He is currently No. 6 on my board and firmly in place as a top-10 player in this class from my perspective. Bennett Stirtz is the system. He displayed this at Drake and now at Iowa, where he is tasked with a heavy workload every matchup. Stirtz is responsible for handling pressure and initiating all different types of action, while still having to consistently lead his squad in scoring on a nightly basis. One thing I do want to mention is how slow Iowa plays. They are currently 356th in Adjusted Tempo in all of College Basketball. A mark that may seem shocking to some, but this style of play works, and truly allows their star player to be conditioned well enough for the end of games. Anyways, Stirtz’s game is obviously what makes it so intriguing for me at the NBA level. He is essentially programmed to make the right play offensively. Stirtz plays with excellent pace out of the PnR, finishes at the rim at a very efficient clip, and has drastically improved as a perimeter shot-creator with his subtle change of direction and patience as a creator. As a playmaker, the Hawkeyes’ PG always seems to make the right play. His eyes are always up coming off screens as the handler, and he has a knack for finding an open window to rip a pass through to an open shooter. His efficiency and simple style of play, especially in a half-court setting, are why I am so confident in his transition to the NBA. When you think about the NBA playoffs, defenses are constantly trying to adjust and slow the game down for some teams. Bennett Stirtz is used to this environment and could truly become a major contributor on a playoff team down the road.
How will Stirtz translate to the NBA?
There are always going to be questions about a prospect’s translation to the NBA. It is common for rookies and young players to have to adjust to the speed and physicality of the game, but also the spacing. For Bennett Stirtz, I can see the concern that some may have because of how slow his team plays, as well as the screen reliance from a creation standpoint, but I also think that Stirtz is way too smart and good a player to not be able to adjust to NBA tempo. I mentioned it before that Playoff basketball is a completely different game. Teams will start slowing their game down to adjust to the atmosphere of the moment, but also to make sure they don’t turn these games into a track meet. Stirtz is built for a slow-paced style of play where it matters the most. His processing speed is off the charts with the ball in his hands, and with NBA spacing, he will be able to operate out of the PnR at an even higher level due to the talent that he will be surrounded by. Stirtz can be an excellent player in any type of scheme. Let’s not put a limitation on him as a player due to the system that he is in.
Key Metrics:
• Ball Security: (2.86 AST/TO Ratio at Drake)
• Rim Finishing: (72.1% at the rim at Drake on 147 attempts)
• Impact Defender: (3.2 STL% in his career)
• Improved 3-point scoring: (61-154, 39.6%, only 36.1% were assisted makes at Drake)
Iowa statistics through 7 Games:
• 18.6 PPG - 5.4 APG - 2.9 RPG - 1.7 SPG - 1.6 TOPG
• 50.0 FG% - 45.7 3FG% - 84.2 FT% - 37.9 MIN
• 65% TS - 10.1 BPM - 46.3 FTR - 22.5 % USG
Pro Comparison:
Tough to pinpoint a replica for Stirtz, but think of the 2000s style point guards. Kirk Hinrich is a solid one.
Labaron Philon: Alabama Crimson Tide, Point Guard
My next bet for the 2026 class is Labaron Philon from Alabama. Philon is another prospect who was in the draft last year and could have very well been a first-round selection, but went back to a Crimson Tide squad where he would be the focal point for a year. The Alabama sophomore is a high-feel, high-impact guard who has flourished with an increased workload early on in this campaign and will continue to raise his stock throughout the draft process.
Why is Philon one of My Guys?
Labaron Philon is No. 8 on my current board and also resides in the Quality Starters tier. Last season, I was a fan of Philon’s game with his quick burst, flexible handle, and defensive creation ability. However, this season, he has clearly taken a step as a creator with his increased usage and responsibility. In his freshman season, he posted a 21.4 USG%. Through his first 7 games as a sophomore, that number has taken a massive leap to 31.8%. Now, it makes sense that this number jumped from last year, considering he was playing alongside Mark Sears, one of the nation’s best players. But if you have tuned in to any of the Alabama games this year, Philon’s creation pops off the screen even more. He shifts gears effortlessly and does an excellent job of using angles to create just enough separation to get his shot off. For a lighter-weight guard, Philon has been surprisingly efficient at the rim through these first 7 games. He has great body control when getting downhill and shows off his ability to decelerate and finish with euros, touch floaters, or right over the front of the rim. Defensively, I feel like Philon has become underrated to an extent. He is not going to be some consistent guard stopper, but with his IQ and 6’6 wingspan, he will have the ability to be a disruptor in passing lanes and out on the perimeter with his foot speed to discourage any penetration to the paint. He is simply a good basketball player who knows how to play, makes the right decisions, and can scale his role up and down depending on what his team needs.
How will Philon translate to the NBA?
Labaron Philon is an NBA-level guard playing in the NCAA right now in my eyes. I think he projects best as a secondary handler who can take on an increased role when he needs to. Alabama plays at a higher speed than most teams in the nation, so I am not too worried about his early translation to the game, but I do wonder about the physicality and 3-point shooting. He is not a bad shooter by any means, but I would like to see the consistency of the perimeter shooting increase and be an asset that his future team can rely on. His arsenal of feel, craft, and improved scoring bag will be viewed as extremely valuable to any team picking in the lottery come draft time.
Key Metrics:
• Rim Finishing: (32-40, 80.1%. Only 28.1% are assisted)
• Defensive Impact: (2.9 STL%, 1.2 BLK% as a Freshman)
• Boasting a 37.1 AST% through 7 games. Excellent.
• Efficiency with the increased workload: (63.3% TS, 62.9 EFG%)
Alabama statistics through 7 games:
• 20.6 PPG - 5.7 APG - 2.9 RPG - 1.3 SPG - 3.3 TOPG
• 56.4 FG% - 38.2 3FG% - 63.0 FT% - 28.1 MIN
• 63.3% TS - 8.8 BPM - 26.7 FTR - 31.8 % USG
Pro Comparison:
Andrew Nembhard has been the main one I have seen, and I agree.
Kingston Flemings: Houston Cougars, Combo Guard
Kingston Flemings rounds out my early flag plants for the 2026 class. Flemings was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school and was expected to be a rotation guy under Kelvin Sampson, but he has completely turned heads so far this season with his play. Houston will always be under the microscope due to the history of the program; however, Flemings can flat out play and has been their best freshman, and arguably their best player through 8 games. I am excited to see how the rest of his probable lone season at UH shapes out.
Why is Flemings one of My Guys?
Kingston Flemings is No. 12 on my board and another guy in my Quality Starters tier. He has showcased smooth movement as a handler with some quietly special acceleration downhill, allowing him to effortlessly finish above the rim. Flemings is labeled as a PG, but most of those “point guard duties” are him bringing the ball up and initiating action. He can really play either of the guard positions, which is great for the NBA. When you turn on Houston games, he really pops. Flemings has a complementary game off the ball because of the way he attacks closeouts aggressively and how he always seems to be looking for an open man. He fits the mold as an off-guard that can get his own, knock down an open shot, but also create for others. He is off to a highly efficient start in his freshman campaign, and while the numbers should eventually balance out, it is really encouraging to see someone his age be able to do this type of work against good competition this early in the season. Athletically, he is excellent. He seems to move a little bit differently than everyone out on the floor (good thing). Flemings’ long strides and twitch combination could be lethal at the next level with all the space he is going to be able to work with. The midrange game is solid as well. In the games that I have watched, Flemings does an effective job of quickly decelerating and rising for the jumper. When I think about the potential for him as a scorer down the road, it truly is enticing. A smooth athlete that glides, but can also hit a step back three, stop on a dime, and hit the jump shot, or get all the way to the rack and finish well above the rim. Sounds to me like it could be a star in the making, and that this guy should already be higher on my board.
How will Flemings translate to the NBA?
Kingston Flemings’ game is going to fit like a glove in the league. I previously mentioned his potential as an off-guard, and that is exactly what playoff teams need in the NBA today. A 6’4 guard that can defend, hit an open shot, attack a closeout, but also play off of other great players. Think of guys like Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, or Quentin Grimes. These guys are all high-level two-way guards that make winning plays on a nightly basis. What really gives me the confidence that Flemings could end up similar to this archetype is the fact that he is playing for Coach Sampson as well. Houston has a rich history of guard play and a winning culture that will surely carry over to the NBA. Flemings fits this mold, and I fully expect him to fulfill his potential in the league.
Key Metrics:
• Rim Finishing: (25-33, 75.8%, only 24% are assisted. Self Creation!)
• Strong passing indicators. Downhill creation is real. (34 AST%)
• Defensive Impact: (1.5 BLK%, 2.5 STL%)
• Highly efficient overall thus far. (68.6 % TS)
Houston statistics through 8 games:
• 15.3 PPG - 5.0 APG - 3.6 RPG - 1.3 SPG - 1.8 TOPG
• 60.8 FG% - 52.4 3FG% - 71.4 FT% - 30.4 MIN
• 68.6% TS - 14.0 BPM - 26.6 FTR - 22.2 % USG
Pro Comparison:
Cason Wallace comes to mind for Flemings, as well as Quentin Grimes. I believe that Flemings’ scoring ceiling could be higher, though.
We’re still in the early stages of a long draft process, and there are more flags still to be planted, but these three are the prospects I’m especially betting on to become impact players at the next level. I fully expect them to keep elevating their stock as we approach March, and I’ll continue tracking their progress as the college season unfolds.