NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance is expected to go in the first round after declaring on Tuesday. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Jayden Quaintance 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 17 overall, Charlotte Hornets (via Suns)

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 10.0 here

Jayden Quaintance player profile

(all stats as of April 8)

• Position: Forward
• Current Team: Kentucky
• 5 points per game
• 5 rebounds per game
• 0.5 assists per game
• 57.1 field goal percentage
• 0.0 three-point field goal percentage

Charlotte Hornets 2026 projected draft picks

• No. 14 and No. 17 (via PHX)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jayden Quaintance NBA mock draft projection: Where Kentucky star is expected to land after March Madness

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