The 2026 NBA Draft is three-and-a-half months away. With the beleaguered Mavericks laboring through the doldrums of a lost season, many fans (and bloggers) have turned their attentions to the exciting young prospects of college basketball. After all, the free-falling Mavericks are poised to secure top-seven draft lottery odds in hopes of adding a dynamic co-star to pair with Cooper Flagg.
While Dallas is at the mercy of the lottery gods to determine its draft position, there is sure to be no shortage
of tantalizing players available wherever their pick ends up. And there’s no better time to get acquainted with these prospects than the beginning of conference tournament play, when the stakes are raised, and intensity is heightened. I’m partnering with Tyler Edsel, a fellow contributor and NBA Draft enthusiast here at Mavs Moneyball, to highlight potential Mavericks targets playing in these tournaments. I’ll focus on the SEC and Big 10 while Tyler covers the Big 12 and ACC.
Labaron Philon (G, Alabama)
Season stats: 21.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists
Once you get past the consensus top three players in this draft (Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and AJ Dybantsa), there is a bevy of ultra-talented guards on the board. And I think I’m ready to declare Labaron Philon as my favorite of this potential mid-lottery group. The sophomore guard has taken a massive leap for Alabama this season, drastically upping his usage while increasing his efficiency.
Philon’s growth is most evident in his pull-up shooting. Per Synergy, he’s shooting a perfectly solid 36.1% on pull-up threes (83 attempts), up from 32.4% on just 34 total attempts last year. Pair that with his 39.8% mark on catch-and-shoot threes (71 attempts) and the shooting improvement looks legit. Philon also has what I believe to be the best handle in this class, and he leverages that into strong rim pressure and free-throw rates.
During the SEC tourney, I’ll be keeping a close eye on Philon on the defensive end. After showing a lot of promise there as a freshman, he’s regressed in a big way with increased responsibility on the offensive side of the ball. I’m interested to see if that’s mostly due to usage and if he has an extra gear to get to. This tournament would be a great time to turn on the juice and prove he can guard and rebound. Draft Range: 7-15
Darius Acuff (G, Arkansas)
Season stats: 22.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists
Acuff is likely the most polarizing prospect in this class. Some view his masterful three-level scoring, excellent playmaking ability, and bankable shooting as proof of eventual superstardom. Others are wary of his diminutive size, dreadful defense, and middling athleticism.
The existential question: Is Acuff’s excellent offensive game enough to make up for his genuinely destructive defense? I’m not so sure. While Acuff is a lethal catch-and-shoot three-point shooter and incredible pick-and-roll playmaker, his self-creation game is good, not great. The rim finishing in particular is very worrisome:
In the tournament, I’ll be watching to see if he can make any defensive impact whatsoever. Additionally, I’ll be keeping a close eye on his driving, finishing, and pull-up shooting. If he’s going to be a ball-dominant offensive engine at the next level (and that’s really what he has to be to earn this draft value), he needs to improve in those areas. Draft Range: 6-20
Tyler Tanner (G, Vanderbilt)
Season stats: 19.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists
I’m including Tanner with this group of point guards because he’s become something of a Draft Twitter darling throughout the last few months. Some see the (maybe) 6-foot sophomore as a borderline top-10 pick in this class, while others project him to go later in the first round, closer to where the Mavericks’ late first could end up.
And I’ll admit, I need to watch more of Tanner. I’d be lying if I said his size didn’t immediately give me pause from seriously considering him as a lottery pick. But lately, Tanner’s production and impact on both ends have just been too loud to ignore.
Tanner has a wicked handle, a smooth jumper, and an incredible feel for the game. He’s an exceptional athlete, and that allows him to defend at a high level despite his size. His block rate (1.3%) is unprecedented for a 6-foot player, and he’s already thrown down 16 (!!!!) dunks this year. That’s 16 more than 6’6 Keaton Wagler. Tanner might be the player I’m most excited to watch in conference tournament play. If he can carry Vanderbilt to an impressive showing and get his game off in this environment, I might be all the way in on him. Draft range: anywhere from late lottery to end of round one.
Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)
Season stats: 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Frankly, Ament is a player I have little interest in. The former top-five high school recruit got off to a dreadful start to his freshman year, but he’s picked it up in a major way since the calendar flipped to 2026. Ament sustained a high ankle sprain on 2/28 and hasn’t played since, so it remains to be seen if he’ll play in the SEC tourney.
The sell for Ament is pretty simple: he’s 6’10 and can shoot threes. Though the percentages don’t look good this year, the shot is beautiful, and there’s little doubt that Ament will shoot. Ament can also do some things with the ball in his hands and has good feel.
The big issue here is Ament’s overall athleticism. He’s a below-the-rim player and a horrible finisher at the basket. That limits his upside on both ends, and it raises questions about how he scores inside the arc. His shot chart is ugly (per CBB Analytics):
If Ament plays in the SEC tournament, it will be a great opportunity to build on a strong February. I’m looking to see how he leverages his size on both ends, how he scores and facilitates when defenses run him off the line, and if he can start finishing at the rim and drawing fouls. Draft range: late tottery-early 20s.
Dailyn Swain (F, Texas)
Season stats: 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists
Swain is another player with a wide range of outcomes. The junior wing is enjoying a massive breakout season after transferring to Texas from Xavier, firmly cementing himself as a legitimate NBA prospect. On some boards, you’ll find him ranked in the top-10; on others, he might fall to the late first or early second round.
At 6’7, Swain is a long, athletic bucket getter. He is a one-on-one monster, leading the nation in isolation points per possession (1.44, per Synergy). Swain does most of his damage in the paint; he’s elite at the rim and has great touch on floaters and runners. Though he’s improved his jumper this season, he still takes just 2.6 threes per game, and I have serious doubts as to whether he’ll ever be a perimeter threat. Defensively, Swain is disruptive and versatile, but his alarmingly low block rate for his size (1.1%) is a bit of a red flag.
The comparison has been thrown around a bit, but Swain really does resemble a supercharged Naji Marshall— his handle, shot diet, paint wizardry, and size are all comparable. That said, Swain is a much better athlete, which gives him a higher ceiling. It’s a good baseline, but I’d really like to see him continue to up that three-point rate. Conference tournament play is a good opportunity for this; Texas is on the bubble and needs all the offense it can get from Swain, who will want to get to the Big Dance and further boost his draft stock. Draft range: anywhere after pick six wouldn’t surprise me.
