The 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament is down to its Sweet 16 and we’ll have a Final Four by Sunday evening. For half of the college stars taking the court this weekend, it’s one final opportuniy to impress NBA teams with their play at full game speed when the lights are brightest as this year’s draft class comes into focus.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, Michigan’s Aday Mara is expected to go in the first round. Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the center’s draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Aday Mara 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 21 overall, Philadelphia 76ers
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
Michigan center Aday Mara is one of the prospects who has helped himself the most during March Madness so far. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempt 19.9 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim.
See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here
Aday Mara player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Center
- Current Team: Michigan
- 11.6 points per game
- 6.9 rebounds per game
- 2.3 assists per game
- 67.4% field goal percentage
- 25.0% three-point field goal percentage
Philadelphia 76ers 2026 projected draft picks
