These are not the names you are going to hear on ESPN. These are the guys who fall through the cracks on draft night, land in the right situation, and make you wonder why they were not taken sooner. CBB Headquarters has done the homework — here are seven under-the-radar prospects worth watching.
Isaiah Evans | G | 6’6″
Evans averaged 15 points per game and shot 36.1% from three on 7.4 attempts per night. Could that percentage be higher? Absolutely — but the reason it is not is actually a compliment. Evans has the confidence and the green light mentality to pull up from anywhere with a hand in his face. He is not waiting for a clean look. The team that drafts Evans is getting a scorer who is not afraid of the moment, and those are hard to find.
Zubi Ejiofor | F | 6’9″
Start with the hardware — Big East Defensive Player of the Year says everything you need to know about Ejiofor’s impact on that end of the floor. He can score in the paint, rebound at a high level, and guard multiple positions with ease. His motor never stops. Listed at 6’9″ with a 240-pound frame and elite energy, Ejiofor more than compensates for any size concerns. He has also developed as a three-point shooter over the course of his career. This is the guy you want in your locker room and on your roster.
Baba Miller | F | 6’11”
Miller is the high-upside wildcard of this draft class. He bounced around — Florida State, FAU, Cincinnati — and was productive at each stop, but his size is what separates him from the pack. At 6’11”, Miller moves and plays like a guard. He can handle the ball, create off the dribble, and operate in space in ways that most players his size simply cannot. NBA teams are going to want to take a shot on this kind of upside, and they should.
Trevon Brazile | F | 6’9″
57 dunks in a single college basketball season. Brazile is one of the best pure athletes in this entire draft class, and he is not just a highlight reel — he is developing a reliable outside shot and plays with a relentless motor. He is a safe bet as a second-round prospect with real upside, and once he gets to the league, SportsCenter’s Top 10 is going to become very familiar with his name.
Richie Saunders | G | 6’5″
Four seasons at BYU. 128 games. 530 three-point attempts. A 38.7% clip from beyond the arc over that stretch. Saunders is a proven, high-volume shooter with a sneaky 6’5″ frame and the athleticism to match — the man can jump out of the gym. He is currently recovering from a torn ACL, but that should not scare anyone off. Saunders will be back, and he will be back better than ever.
Felix Okpara | C | 7’0″
143 college basketball games. 1.7 blocks per game for his career. Okpara is an eraser, plain and simple. The seven-footer anchors a defense, protects the rim, and was one of the most dangerous lob threats in college basketball. He is the prototype of what NBA teams look for in a modern defensive center — size, timing, and the ability to change the game without the ball in his hands.
Alex Karaban | F | 6’8″
Karaban is a winner, and that is not a cliché — it is a résumé. Look at what he accomplished at UConn and the culture he was a part of. He knows how to play the game the right way, understands his role, and has one of the best basketball IQs in this draft class. Karaban can do a little bit of everything, and players with that kind of mindset and that kind of pedigree have a way of finding their place in the NBA.
