Day 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft is officially in the books. The first round featured several surprises, including several talented prospects who shockingly slipped into the second round.
As the second round gets underway tonight at 8 p.m. ET, who are the best available players? Here are five prospects to watch entering Day 2.
Isaiah Evans is a 6'6″ wing with a knack for catching fire and taking over games as a shooter. He brings confidence, microwave scoring, and NBA-caliber range. At Duke, he stood out with his ability to hit 3s from deep and in bunches.
Evans has the tools of an elite floor-spacer, with a quick release, smooth shot, and a feel for scoring off movement or attacking closeouts. His length and agility give him the upside to grow into a multi-level creator as he rounds out his game. Some mock drafts projected that Evans would go in the early 20s, so it was a bit surprising that he slipped to Round 2.
It seems the main reasons that Evans slipped into the second round are his slight frame and underwhelming athletic testing at the NBA Combine. Evans still needs to get stronger, and he may take time to adjust to the NBA's physicality.
However, his energy, confidence, and willingness to defend could make him an immediate-impact player. He flashes disruptive hands and length on defense, with room to improve his consistency as he grows into his frame. If he continues to refine his shot selection, playmaking, and off-ball focus, Evans could quickly become a valuable scoring wing.
As a sophomore, he averaged 15.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 3-pointers, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks, while shooting 43.3% from the field, 36.1% from 3-point range, and 86.0% from the free-throw line.
Henri Veesaar is a 7-footer known for his advanced footwork, rim protection, and improved offensive versatility. He combines a high motor with good hands and quick leaping ability, making him an effective lob threat and rim protector. Despite a lean frame (227 lbs.) and limited explosiveness, Veesaar compensates with impressive footwork and fundamentals, allowing him to create advantages in the post and show strong shot-blocking instincts. He also shows promising shooting touch and efficient finishing around the rim.
Veesaar has overcome injury setbacks, and his progress is notable from his time at Arizona to North Carolina. He displays intelligent decision-making, skillful passing, and defensive versatility, though he needs to improve his strength and foul discipline to reach his full potential. Projected as a developmental NBA prospect, Veesaar's size, smarts, and touch make him a modern rim-protecting big with upside for an evolving frontcourt role.
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Veesaar is 22 years old, so he's older than many of the prospects who went in the first round; this was likely a major reason why he slid into Round 2. As a junior, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 3-pointers, 1.2 blocks, and 0.6 steals, while shooting 60.8% from the field, 42.6% from 3-point range, and 61.5% from the free-throw line.
Meleek Thomas stands out as a scoring guard known for his smooth and versatile offensive skills. He has a quick first step and can finish well through contact. At 6'4″, he brings good size and length, along with a scorer's mindset that helps him create shots off the dribble, hit deep threes, and make runners in traffic. Thomas is also a skilled playmaker with strong ball-handling, uses both hands well, and thrives in fast-paced play. His assertiveness and confidence help him take tough shots and score in clutch moments.
On defense, Thomas works hard and anticipates plays well, often getting his hands on the ball and helping out as a rebounder, even though guards are usually not known for their size. His focus on scoring can sometimes make him inefficient or streaky, but he is improving at attacking the rim and setting up teammates. If he keeps improving his shot selection and efficiency, Thomas could become a dynamic guard who makes an impact on both ends of the floor in the NBA.
After becoming a full-time starter on Jan. 20, he scored in double figures in 15 of the Razorbacks' final 18 games. He emerged as the team's second-leading scorer while helping Arkansas reach the Sweet 16 and capture the SEC Tournament championship. He finished his freshman year with averages of 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.2 3-pointers, and 1.5 steals, while shooting 43.5% from the field, 41.6% from 3-point range, and 84.3% from the free-throw line.
Ryan Conwell is a tough, physically built guard whose game is defined by shooting and competitiveness. With broad shoulders and a compact frame, he's comfortable absorbing contact on both ends and plays with an edge. Offensively, Conwell is one of the most dangerous shooters in his class, boasting deep range, a quick, smooth lefty release, and proven high-volume efficiency from three. He can score in multiple ways and generally plays within himself, making simple reads and minimizing mistakes.
While Conwell isn't an explosive athlete or advanced playmaker, his physicality and mentality help him compensate. He lacks vertical pop at the rim and doesn't project as a primary on-ball creator, but he can attack closeouts, get to the basket with craft, and finish over length. On defense, his strength and willingness to body up opponents make him a physical guard who walls off drives and forces difficult shots. If the shooting translates, Conwell profiles as a reliable floor-spacing, hard-nosed rotation guard at the next level.
Last season, Conwell averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3.3 3-pointers, and 1.1 steals, while shooting 40.8% from the field, 34.5% from 3-point range, and 83.2% from the free-throw line.
Braden Smith is a cerebral, ultra-competitive point guard whose greatest strength is running an offense with poise and precision. He controls tempo, keeps his dribble alive, and rarely gets sped up, constantly probing until he finds an advantage. Smith is a high-level pick-and-roll operator and entry passer who can make a wide variety of reads. He also brings real shooting value, with deep range as a pull-up threat and the ability to come off screens or spot up off the catch.
Smith is undersized by NBA standards, but he offsets this with toughness, wiry strength, and a competitive edge on both ends. He is a smart team defender who is better off the ball, using positioning and effort to compensate for limited size and athleticism at the point of attack. Refining his shot selection, adding versatility as an off-ball guard, and proving he can defend bigger, quicker guards will be crucial. If those areas develop, Smith has a pathway to stick as a reliable backup point guard with potential to grow into more.
Smith became the only player in NCAA history to record at least 1,500 points, 1,000 assists, and 500 rebounds. He capped off his collegiate career by earning first-team All-American honors for the second consecutive season in 2025-26.
His size (5-foot-10) and age (22 years old) are the biggest knocks against him, but he projects as a solid role player at the next level. As a senior, Smith averaged 14.3 points, 8.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.6 3-pointers, while shooting 44% from the field, 36.2% from 3-point range, and 82.5% from the free-throw line.
