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Allen Graves Remains in the 2026 NBA Draft

He is foregoing remaining NCAA eligibility after pre-draft feedback pushed him into mid-to-late first‑round projections.

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Santa Clara Broncos forward Allen Graves (22) shoots the ball against Kentucky Wildcats forward Brandon Garrison (10) during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Mar 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Christian Anderson (4) goes to the basket against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Graves confirmed his decision to stay in the draft on Tuesday, signaling he will not return to Santa Clara or use remaining college eligibility.
  • The 19-year-old averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a reserve for the Broncos and won WCC Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year honors.
  • Scouts and mock drafts have moved Graves into the mid-to-late first round, with recent placements around picks in the low-to-mid 20s.
  • Graves improved his stock during workouts despite underwhelming combine athletic testing, a profile that has appealed to teams valuing shotmaking and analytics.
  • Players with remaining eligibility must withdraw by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday to return to school, and the NBA Draft is set for June 23 in New York where Graves will learn his draft fate.