Last week, we checked in on several Bucks 2026 draft prospects as March Madness got underway, including where you could watch them in their conference tournaments. The NCAA tournament begins today, and we’re back with more on those guys, plus a few more. But before we dive into prospects playing in the tournament, we have to get the complicated situations of three late-lottery prospects who will likely be absent from this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Who isn’t playing?
Hannes Steinbach wrapped up his season and likely his stint
with the Washington Huskies with a conference tournament loss to Wisconsin last Thursday. Washington, which hovered around .500 throughout the season, wasn’t selected in the field of 68 and declined an invitation to the College Basketball Crown Tournament, ending their season. Steinbach finished the season averaging 18.5 points and 11 rebounds per game, attesting to his dominance around the rim. The 6’11” center has finesse and immense strength, and although he needs to improve his relatively weak defense and inconsistent three-point shooting form, Steinbach will be one of the best centers in the 2026 draft class. Projected to go in the late lottery to the middle of the first round, Steinbach is a solid big with a high ceiling.
Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky) is also a question mark when it comes to his tournament availability. Although his Wildcats face the 10-seeded Santa Clara Broncos on Friday afternoon, his knee injuries could keep him out of the tournament. He’s been ruled out for the opening weekend, which would likely entail a difficult game against Iowa State.
Quaintance’s season will likely end up as a what-if; his extended absences due to a meniscus issue and knee swelling left us with limited game film. He’s an amazing athlete who blows up plays on defense through his 7’5” wingspan, and he’s an S-tier shot-blocker and rebounder. Quaintance comes off as unfinished on the offensive end. His production is limited to transition plays and buckets inside the rim. He’s shown few signs of developing a jump shot, and his injury concerns are a major red flag for a prospect whose value is predicated on his athleticism. Despite his high ceiling, Quaintance could slip to as low as the late first round due to those concerns.
Louisville officials also recently announced that Mikel Brown Jr. will miss the opening weekend of tournament play with a back injury that also kept him out of the ACC tournament. Brown’s Louisville squad will face a tough match-up against 10 seed South Florida. It’s similarly unclear if Brown will play Louisville’s round of 32 game against Michigan State/North Dakota State. Brown will likely end his freshman season with a whimper, averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists per game for an on-and-off Louisville squad.
Despite his injuries, Brown should remain at the late end of the lottery. He’ll need to bulk up in the off-season, but he’s still a suave shot-creator who remains lethal off the ball. He shows an advanced understanding of offensive tempo and defensive awareness, and he has a solid foundation to become a great combo guard in the league.
Yaxel Lendeborg
The Big Ten Player of the Year has immensely grown his draft stock, going from an underrated mid-major prospect at UAB to a candidate for this year’s Wooden Award. Lendeborg has leaped up draft boards, landing at a mid-to-late lottery pick ahead of this year’s tournament. With Michigan a one-seed in a manageable region, Lendeborg’s signature offensive production will be vital for the Wolverines.
A natural power forward, Lendeborg has spent significant time at both small forward and center. The first-team All-American is a complete player: a solid shooter who can rebound the ball, defend the perimeter and paint, and use his handle to create separation at key points. He’s a solid athlete, and his approach to the game separates him from the typical underclassman big. Lendeborg’s profile is versatile, productive, and genuinely one to get excited over. He can make plays, score, defend, and rebound in a way few prospects can do all at once.
Lendeborg and Michigan will have to face Howard in the first round and would face the winner of Georgia/St. Louis over the weekend. Looking ahead to a stacked Midwest region that includes Alabama, Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Virginia, they’ll need Lendeborg’s 14.6 points per game and seven rebounds per game to progress.
Watch: Thursday at 6:10 p.m. CDT on CBS/Paramount+
Labaron Philon
Although losing backcourt mate Aden Holloway to a felony drug arrest has captured the nation’s attention, don’t forget about Labaron Philon. The 6’4” sophomore is averaging 21.7 points and 4.7 assists per game on .509/.402/.787 shooting splits with one of the nation’s most entertaining teams. Philon’s ball-handling and playmaking strengths make him one of the most appealing point guards in this year’s draft class.
Philon’s craftiness is the part of his profile that stands out the most. He has an extremely tight handle, and he uses absurd agility and change of direction to toy with defenders. This craftiness and burst have allowed him to finish consistently at the rim while torching defenders from the mid-range and three-point areas. Despite his relatively small build, scouts argue Philon has genuine All-Star potential because of his skill. In Alabama’s shocking conference tournament loss to Ole Miss, Philon scored from all areas, scoring 28 points on 75% true shooting.
With Philon leading, the Crimson Tide are the X-factor of this year’s tournament. Losing Holloway makes their Friday matchup against Hofstra a bit more challenging, but Philon could see even more of a spotlight as he navigates a challenging Midwest Region.
Watch: Friday at 2:15 p.m. CDT on truTV
Nate Ament
Ament’s inconsistency was on full display in the SEC tournament. Ament put up 27 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 7/15 shooting against Auburn, showing a mix of smooth shooting and a surprising level of physicality. Only a day later, Ament shot just 1/13 from the field, managing 12 points (10 free throws) in a forgettable quarterfinal game against Vanderbilt. That inconsistency has been the story of Ament’s season, as he’s struggled to adapt to a more physical brand of SEC basketball and has issues on offense.
Ament shows legitimate potential as a creator on the ball and a scorer off the ball. He uses guard-like agility with a 6’10 frame to tower over defenders and knock down shots from range. With enough time, Ament could grow into one of the NBA’s great point forwards. His shooting is somewhat underdeveloped, and his strength remains a question mark, but Ament is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. His process of putting his skills together starts with a first-round matchup against Miami-Ohio.
Watch: Friday at 3:25 p.m. CDT on TBS
Braylon Mullins
Mullins’ red-hot shooting ran cold in the Big East Championship against St. John’s. He shot just 2/9 from the field, including 1/5 from three-point land in UConn’s 72-52 loss. Although he shoots north of 44% (!!) from three, there are concerns that his game isn’t refined enough to enter the draft in 2026, and a second season with the Huskies may be necessary.
Regardless, NBA executives and analysts are high on Mullins regardless. He’s a three-level scorer with a solid feel for the game, and his ability to be a threat both on and off the ball makes him one of the best scorers in this draft class. Although his wiry 6’6” build garners questions over his strength, Mullins has an extremely high floor and could immediately contribute to an NBA offense.
Mullins and UConn will seek to avoid an early first-round upset against Furman. Their continued success in the tournament will depend on minimizing turnovers and keeping up their overall hot shooting.
Watch: Friday at 9:00 p.m. CDT on TBS
Keaton Wagler
Wagler is the prospect who would benefit the most from a breakout March Madness performance. The three-star guard exploded onto the collegiate scene with his elite shooting and dynamic scoring. His place in the lottery remains tenuous, as mock drafts have dropped him to as low as the eighth or tenth pick. Recent performances like quiet wins over Maryland and Oregon and an unexpected conference tournament loss to Wisconsin haven’t reinforced Wagler’s status as a top-five player.
Wagler blends high basketball IQ and fierce leadership with playmaking and shot-making. His late growth spurt through his later years of high school means there is untapped physical potential and signs of a dynamic athlete adjusting to his new frame. He’s a great scorer, and the ceiling is as high as the sky. Wagler’s relatively mediocre handle and athleticism are legitimate concerns, but his impressive scoring (17.9 PPG, .446/.402/.805) is enough to dismiss them.
Wagler and Illinois look to make a deep run in the tournament, starting against Ivy League champs Penn.
Watch: Thursday at 8:25 p.m. CDT on TNT
Brayden Burries
Burries is another prospect who has rapidly gained steam ahead of the tournament as the face of the 32-2 Arizona Wildcats. The freshman has turned around an unremarkable start to the year into an historic one, leading Arizona to a 23-game win streak while posting 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on .489/.366/.794 shooting splits.
Burries’ 6’4”, 205-pound frame allows him to muscle past larger defenders in the interior, but his awareness allows him to consistently make correct reads and change the game on both sides of the ball. Additionally, he’s a three-level scorer and a solid defender who is always a huge factor on both sides of the ball. Burries’ ceiling is lowered by his relatively short height, lack of athleticism, and age (he’ll turn 21 before the 2026–27 season). But Burries figures to be an instrumental piece in Arizona’s championship run starting on Friday.
Burries and Arizona will face Long Island in the round of 16 before taking on a relatively manageable West region.
Watch: Friday at 12:35 p.m. CDT on TNT
