The Midwest region of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament features several future pros and likely first round draft picks in this summer’s NBA Draft. The trio of Michigan bigs are the headliners in this region, but the depth here is not to be underestimated. Let’s dive into a few of those guys that have something to prove in this region.
If you missed, check out our West regional primer!
Labaron Philon Jr. (G, Alabama)
Before the tournament even started, the job in front of Labaron Philon got even harder, as backcourt mate
Aden Holloway was arrested on Monday. Per sources, Holloway will not be travelling with the team to Tampa, where they will face Hofstra on Friday.
That puts even more of a responsibility on the shoulders of Philon, who has taken the leap that many had hoped for when he opted to return to Alabama last summer. Philon has improved all facets of his game, from shooting to playmaking and finishing. On nearly double the volume, Philon is up to 51% from the floor and 40% from deep, marking steep improvements from his freshman season. Philon has also added some playmaking duties to his game, nearing five assists on the season.
Already a favorite of many on this very site, this is a big opportunity for the sophomore guard to firmly entrench himself in the lottery this summer. The back half of the lottery features a lot more variance than the top, with a lot more names in the running to be selected. A good run in this tournament for Philon would go a long way in solidifying that.
First tournament game: Friday vs Hofstra
Amari Allen (F, Alabama)
Sticking with the Alabama theme here, Amari Allen stands to gain a ton from his performance during the tournament. This draft class, while elite, does lack the forward depth that you would hope to see. Because of that, guys like Allen, Dailyn Swain or Joshua Jefferson could easily be pushed up the board.
Allen is a really promising three and D wing. This year as a true freshman, the 6’7” Green Bay native is shooting 37% from deep on over four attempts per game, which accounts for over 51% of his total shot diet. Beyond that, he’s been very effective as a rebounder, averaging over seven per contest from the forward spot. And even on the wing, Allen is averaging 3.1 assists per game, while averaging better than 2:1 on the assist to turnover ratio.
Consistency is going to be the name of the game for Allen, who has been streaky. When he runs hot, it looks fantastic. In his last five games, he’s had an eight for ten and an eight for twelve, including when he made six threes against Mississippi State. But the other three games in that stretch were the cold side of the streak, as he combined to shoot just 4/22. If he can find a groove in the tournament, I don’t expect Allen to make it to where the Mavs are picking in the late first round.
First tournament game: Friday vs Hofstra
Christian Anderson Jr. (G, Texas Tech)
Without JT Toppin in the fold, the Red Raiders have fully leaned into being Christian Anderson’s team. This thing will go as far as he takes them in March. Luckily for them, there are far worse shoulders to rest your hopes on than his. Anderson is one of the best three-point marksmen in the country, shooting 42.5% on eight attempts per game.
Anderson was lethal when he had Toppin in the two-man game. Without him around, Anderson has been far more reliant on his pull up out of the PnR in late clock scenarios. Turnover issues have crept in a bit as well, as he had a three-game stretch after Toppin went down where he had 18 total turnovers to go along with 23 assists.
One thing that could boost Anderson’s stock this March? Handling pressure. Anderson has been elite against drop coverage and switching, but when he sees blitz and hard hedging, Anderson has seen those turnover issues crop up. It’s been far more frequent after the Toppin injury, so he has seen the looks. Remember, this is a guy who excelled in FIBA this past summer, earning all-tournament honors. He can handle the physicality, and better execution will go a long way towards him solidifying an early selection.
First tournament game: Friday vs Akron
Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)
No prospect has taken more of a perception hit than Ament, who came into the year in the tier of Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson. Now, perhaps the lottery might even be a stretch for Ament. To his credit, Ament has stayed the course and really played well for the last six weeks or so, although he was a chilly one of thirteen in the SEC Tournament against Vanderbilt.
The main issue with Ament has been efficiency and shot selection, which can be expected from a true freshman. Ament is shooting just 44% on twos this season, a truly paltry number. That tells me he isn’t getting downhill to finish closer to the basket. These are things that can be fixed, but when you come in with the expectations that he had, it is a bit of a disappointment.
There’s a lot to both like and dislike about Ament, and depending on what argument you want to make, you can find things that prove your point. A strong tournament run could cure a lot of those wrongs that are out there. I expect a good showing from Ament to secure his spot in the Draft Lottery.
First tournament game: Friday vs SMU or Miami (Ohio)
