2026 NBA DRAFT ROLE BIGS

 

2026 NBA DRAFT ROLE BIGS

 

This year's crop of big man offers a lot of versatility based on team needs. Players like Hannes Steinbach, Henri Veesaar and Zuby Ejiofor offer good offensive skill sets. While Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, Chris Cenac and Jayden Quaintance have the potential to be elite defenders. 

Here is a breakdown of the big men in the class based on Statistical Analysis, Measurement Analysis/Comparisons, Athletic Analysis/Comparisons, and a short scouting report of players






STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

"MEN LIE WOMEN LIE NUMBERS DON'T"-Jay Z Reminder 

 

PLAYER

PTS

TRB

BLK

STL

AST

FG %

FT%

Hannes Steinbach-C-Washington

18.5

11.8

1.2

1.1

1.6

57.7%

75.9%

Henri Veesaar-C-UNC

17.0

8.7

1.2

0.6

2.1

60.8%

61.5%

Zuby Ejiofor-PF-St John's

16.3

7.3

2.1

1.2

3.5

53.6%

71.8%

Morez Johnson-PF/C-Michigan

13.1

7.3

0.7

1.2

1.2

62.3%

78.2%

Aday Mara-C-Michigan

12.1

6.8

2.6

0.4

2.4

66.8%

56.4%

Tarris Reed-C-UConn

14.7

9.0

2.0

0.9

2.3

60.7%

61.7%

Jayden Quaintance-C-Kentucky

9.4

7.9

2.6

1.1

1.5

52.5%

47.9%

Trevon Brazile-PF-Arkansas

13.0

7.3

1.6

1.5

1.6

52.5%

71.7%

Chris Cenac-PF/C-Houston

9.5

7.9

0.5

0.8

0.7

48.5%

62.1%

Luigi Suigo-C-Italy

8.5

5.3

1.0

0.5

0.9

55.8%

63.2%

 

·       Steinbach is the best when it comes to statistical rankings. He proved he can score the basketball and has two highly transferable NBA skills with elite rebounding and free throw shooting.

·         Veesaar can score and rebound although his shooting splits are confusing, he is a poor free throw shooter yet shoot 42.6% from long distance

·         Ejofor is the best passing big man in the class and is a good free throw shooter

·         Johnson has great shooting splits and also provides value as a defender

·         Mara will be asked to be an elite rim protector

·         Reed can really rebound and is a solid scorer

·         Quaintance’s numbers are from 2024-25 at Arizona St. He is an elite defender

·         Brazile provides value as a versatile defender

·         Cenac was the number 4 option at Houston so his numbers are hard to project

·         Suigo is very raw and statistically has no clear elite skill

 

MEASUREMENT ANALYSIS AND COMPARISONS

PLAYER

HT

WT

WING

LENGTH

REACH

Aday Mara-C-Michigan

Donovan Clingan-C 2024

Rudy Gobert-C 2013

7'3"

260

7'6''

3.00

9'9''

7'0"

282

7'6''

6.00

9'7''

7'1"

238

7'8.5''

7.50

9'7''

Luigi Suigo-C-Italy

Boban Marjanovic-C

7'4"

289

7'5.5''

1.50

9'6''

7'4"

290

7'10''

6.00

9'7''

Jayden Quaintance-C-Kentucky

Neemias Queta-C 2021

6'9''

253

7'5.25''

8.25

9'1''

6'10.5''

248

7'4.25''

8.00

9'4.5''

Henri Veesaar-C-UNC

Tyson Chandler-C 2001

7'0"

227

7'2''

2.00

9'3''

7'0"

224

7'3''

2.00

9'2''

Tarris Reed-C-UConn

Walker Kessler-C 2001

6'11''

263

7'4.25''

5.25

9'2''

7'0.25''

256

7'4.25''

5.25

9'5''

Hannes Steinbach-C-Washington

Greg Monroe-C 2011

6'11"

248

7'2.25''

3.25

9'0''

6'10"

247

7'2.25''

3.50

9'0.5''

Morez Johnson-PF/C-Michigan

Bam Adebayo-PF/C 2017

6'10"

251

7'3.5''

5.50

8'11''

6'10"

255

7'2.75''

5.50

8'11.5''

Chris Cenac-PF/C-Houston

Jarrett Allen-C 2017

6'10"

230

7'5''

6.00

9'0.5''

6'10"

240

7'5''

6.00

9'1.5''

Zuby Ejiofor-PF-St John's

Onyeka Okongwu-PF 2020

6'8''

245

7'2''

6.00

8'11''

6'8.5''

240

7'2''

6.00

8'10.5''

Trevon Brazile-PF-Arkansas

Damian Jones-C 2016

6'10''

226

7'3.75''

5.75

9'1.5''

6'10''

244

7'3.75''

5.75

9'1.5''

 
ATHLETIC ANALYSIS AND COMPARISONS
 

PLAYER

Agility

Shuttle

Sprint

Stand Vert

Max Vert

Trevon Brazile-PF-Arkansas

Jarace Walker-PF 2023

10.84

2.71

3.14

36.0

41.5

10.89

-

3.20

34.5

38.0

Morez Johnson-C-Michigan

Olivier-Maxence Prosper PF 2023

10.59

2.91

3.17

33.5

39.0

10.59

3.00

3.21

35.0

40.5

Chris Cenac-PF/C-Houston

Tristan Thompson-PF/C 2011

10.76

2.84

3.27

33.0

37.0

10.92

-

3.26

30.0

35.0

Hannes Steinbach-C-Washington

Mason Plumlee-C 2013

10.90

2.89

3.38

30.0

35.5

10.89

2.76

3.29

30..5

36.0

Zuby Ejiofor-PF-St John's

Trevor Booker-PF 2010

11.05

2.76

3.20

34.0

38.0

11.15

-

3.10

31.0

36.0

Tarris Reed-C-UConn

Harry Giles-PF/C 2017

11.03

2.77

3.30

29.5

33.0

11.08

3.00

3.34

27.0

32.5

Henri Veesaar-C-UNC

Enes Kanter-PF/C 2011

11.20

2.92

3.42

28.0

32.5

11.30

-

3.26

26.0

32.5

Aday Mara-C-Michigan

DeMarcus Cousins-C 2010

11.47

3.36

3.61

24.0

28.0

11.40

-

3.55

23.5

27.5

Jayden Quaintance-C-Kentucky

DNT

DNT

DNT

DNT

DNT

Luigi Suigo-C-Italy

DNT

DNT

DNT

DNT

DNT

 

Hannes Steinbach-C-Washington  
6'11"/248/7'2.25''
18.5 PTS       11.8 REB         1.2 BLK        1.6 AST                 
Fr./20.2
Hometown: Würzburg, Germany
Current NBA Comparison: Domantas Sabonis/Nic Vucevic
|Old School NBA Comparison: Tom Gugliotta
ROLE: Starting Big Man with All Star Upside
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Rebounding/Post Game/IQ

With all due respect to Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner, Steinbach is the best prospect to come out of Germany since the great Dirk Nowitzki. He has a versatile skill set with ability to score, rebound and do a bit of everything. He has the potential to be a legitimate double-double guy and All Star.
 

 

Aday Mara-C-Michigan
7'3"/260/7'6''
12.1 PTS       6.8 REB         2.6 BLK        2.4 AST         
Jr./21.2
Hometown: Zaragoza, Spain
Current NBA Comparison: Donovan Clingan/Rudy Gobert
Old School NBA Comparison: Roy Hibbert 
ROLE: Defensive Big with All Defense Potential  
BEST TOOLS: Defense/Elite Length/Passing 

Mara has the size and length of very few players in the NBA. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a force on Michigan’s national championship run. He has the chance to be a special player on the defensive end but lacks the offensive game to ever be a superstar.


Morez Johnson-C-Michigan
6'10"/251/7'3.5''
13.1 PTS       7.3 REB         1.2 STL        1.6 AST                   
So./20.4
Hometown: Riverdale, IL
Current NBA Comparison: Kevon Looney/Clint Capela 
Old School NBA Comparison: PJ Brown
ROLE: Role Playing Versatile Big Man BEST
TOOLS: Versatile Defender/Elite Length/Shooting

Johnson is a winning player that lacks one great skill set but did everything that was asked of him by Dusty May at Michigan. He has elite length and the rare ability to switch on to smaller players on defense. Johnson is one of those guys that may not get a ton of press, but will play in many NBA playoff games like Looney, Capela and Brown.


Jayden Quaintance-C-Kentucky
6'9"/253/7'5.25''
9.4 PTS       7.9 REB         2.6. BLK         1.1 STL        
So./18.9
Hometown: Riverdale, IL
Current NBA Comparison: Neemias Queta/Mitchell Robinson
Old School NBA Comparison: Hassan Whiteside
ROLE: Role Playing Big Man with All Defensive Potential 
BEST TOOLS: Elite Length/Power/Shot Blocking

Quaintance is the mystery man of the draft after sitting out almost all of the season with an injury. He is still very young as a prospect as he played a college season at Arizona St at age 17. He was a lottery lock going into the season but is now on the first-round borderline. He has the defensive skills and length to become an impact player on defense.


Henri Veesaar-C-UNC
7'0"/227/7'2''
17.0 PTS       8.7 REB         2.1 AST         
Jr./22.2
Hometown: Tallinn, Estonia
Current NBA Comparison: Kelly Olynyk/Bobby Portis
Old School NBA Comparison: Mike Muscala
ROLE: Stretch Big and Second Unit scoring option   
BEST TOOLS: Long Distance Shooting/Rebounding/Passing

In a draft with a lot defensive big men, Veesaar provides a nice offensive game with the ability to be a true stretch five. He had a breakout season at Carolina after transferring from Arizona. He has a very nice shooting stroke and shot well from behind the arc. However, his free throw shooting percentages dropped every year of college.


Chris Cenac-PF/C-Houston
6'10"/230/7'5''
9.5 PTS       7.9 REB         
Fr./19.4
Hometown: New Orleans
Current NBA Comparison: Jarrett Allen/Robert Williams
Old School NBA Comparison: Tristan Thompson
ROLE: Role Playing Versatile Big Man 
BEST TOOLS: Elite Length/Athletic Ability/Rebounding

Cenac did not meet the insanely high expectations that came with being the was the number 6 prospect coming out of the 2025. He was nowhere near as productive as the other top ten players in the class. He was the number four option on Houston and proved he could be a very good role player. The good news is that his projection as an athletic big man is pretty clear. Those guys have plenty of value in the league. Thompson was the starter on a championship team and played 13 seasons.


Zuby Ejiofor-PF-St John's
6'8"/245/7'2''
16.3 PTS       7.3 REB         2.1. BLK       3.5 AST        
Sr./22.2
Hometown: Garland, TX
Current NBA Comparison: Onyeka Okongwu/Nic Claxton
Old School NBA Comparison: Luis Scola
ROLE: Starting Power Forward
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Passing Big/Energy

Ejifor is a high energy player that is an elite passer from the low post and the top of the key.
He was the Big East Player of the Year and was really good in the NCAA Tournament. In the dance he outplayed Flory Bidunga of Kansas and more than held his own against Cameron Boozer. He is a good player, but his height will limit him to a power forward only in the NBA.


Tarris Reed-C-UConn
6'11"/263/7'4.25''
14.7 PTS       9.0 REB         2.0 BLK        2.3 AST        
Sr./22.9
Hometown: St Louis
Current NBA Comparison: Steven Adams
Old School NBA Comparison: Robin Lopez
ROLE: Physical Center  
BEST TOOLS: Elite Length/Power/Rebounding

Reed is an old school big man that knows how to use his massive frame to his advantage. He was arguably the best player on UConn’s National Title run where he averaged 19.5 PPG and 13.2 RPG in the tournament. He is a pretty easy projection as an Adams or Lopez type of role player. Both guys started over 600 games in the NBA.


Trevon Brazile-PF-Arkansas
6'10"/226/7'3.75''
13.0 PTS       7.3 REB         1.6. BLK       1.5 STL        
So./20.4
Hometown: Springfield, MO
Current NBA Comparison: Jarace Walker
Old School NBA Comparison: Gorgui Dieng
ROLE: Backup Power Forward
BEST TOOLS: Elite Athlete/Elite Length/Rebounding

Brazile proved he was the most athletic big man in the class with his showing at the combine. He will have a chance to make an impact with his ability as a rebounder and defender.


Luigi Suigo-C-Italy
/Mega Basket (Serbian League)
7'4"/289/7'75''
8.5 PTS       5.3 REB         2.6 BLK        2.4 AST         
Int./19.4
Hometown: Tradate, Varese, Italy
Current NBA Comparison: Jay Huff
Old School NBA Comparison: Mehmet Okur
ROLE: Backup Big Man   
BEST TOOLS: Elite Size/Shooting Touch

Suigo is a raw big man that is the self-proclaimed Italian Wemby. At best he could become a solid backup one day and a player with the size to matchup against Wemby in the future.

 

OTHER BIG MEN THAT MAY GET DRAFTED

 PLAYER

HT

WT

WING

Exp/Age

PTS

TRB

BLK

FG %

FT%

Ugonna Onyenso-C-Virginia

6'11''

230

7'5''

Sr./22.8

6.5

4.9

2.9

56.8%

72.7%

Izaiyah Nelson-C-USF

6'9''

219

7'3''

Sr./22.7

15.9

9.6

1.4

56.1%

72.5%

Felix Okpara-C-Tennessee

7'0"

234

7'2.5''

Sr./22.2

8.0

6.3

1.5

59.7%

63.5%

Rafael Castro-C-GWU

6'10''

226

7'2''

Sr./23.2

15.3

9.1

1.7

57.8%

66.1%

Trey Kaufman Renn-F-Purdue

6'8''

247

6'10.5''

Sr./23.8

14.2

8.3

0.2

62.8%

63.6%

Tobe Awaka-PF-Tennessee

6'8''

250

7'2.25''

Sr./22.4

9.3

9.1

0.6

58.7%

64.2%

Nate Bittle-C-Oregon

7'0"

254

7'6''

Sr./23.0

16.8

6.9

1.8

46.5%

73.2%

Graham Ike-C-Gonzaga

6'10''

251

7'5''

Sr./23.9

19.9

8.0

0.6

56.3%

79.7%

Malik Reneau-PF-Miami

6'9''

243

6'11''

Sr./23.2

18.9

6.5

1.1

54.0%

78.8%

Keba Keita-PF-BYU

6'8''

241

7'1''

Sr./22.9

6.2

7.2

1.0

68.0%

55.2%

Ernest Udeh Jr.-C-Miami

6'11''

252

7'4.5''

Sr./22.5

6.7

9.2

0.5

72.7%

51.2%

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