NBA scouts are hard at work looking for their teams’ next potential stars and core pieces, as college and international seasons reach full swing and the NBA is halfway through its season. The following are wings to watch ahead of June’s draft, as part of Sports Business Classroom’s 2026 NBA Draft series.
First Round:
- A.J. Dybantsa – BYU
- Neoklis Avdalas – Virginia Tech
- Karim Lopez – New Zealand Breakers (Australia)
- Dailyn Swain – Texas
- Isaiah Evans – Duke
Second Round:
- Karter Knox – Arkansas
- Darrion Williams – North Carolina State
- Alex Karaban – Connecticut
- Nikolas Khamenia – Duke
- Dwayne Aristode – Arizona
- Milan Momcilovic – Iowa State
G League/Undrafted:
- Coen Carr – Michigan State
- Andrej Stojakovic – Illinois
- Kanon Catchings – Georgia
- Jalen Haralson – Notre Dame
A.J. Dybantsa has a chance to claim the number one spot in the 2026 NBA Draft this June, especially if he continues to play at the level he has. The 18-year-old has played better than most in the NCAA this season in terms of scoring and offensive creation.
Where Dybantsa shines is in tough shot-making and getting downhill. A common critique of Dybantsa, coming out of high school, was his tendency to settle for contested midrange pull-ups rather than attacking the paint. He has completely changed his attack style and now ranks third in the country in free throws (145). His three-point shot is still a work in progress, shooting 32.0 percent on 2.9 attempts per game, but he is showing he can be an All-NBA-caliber player without it.
Dybantsa has shown unstoppable interior scoring (51.6 percent from midrange; 76.5 percent at the rim), patience with the ball, and burst. He has also displayed strong playmaking ability for his position. He puts up 3.7 assists per game playing alongside one of the best playmakers in the Big 12, Rob Wright III. Most of his assists come off the attack, meaning he has developed an understanding of the attention he draws, avoids tunnel vision, and continues to see the floor.
Texas Longhorns junior Dailyn Swain has been shooting up draft boards this season due to his consistent and impactful two-way play. Swain is the type of gritty, high-energy player that any NBA team would welcome into its rotation. He is fearless, yet calculated, in his aggressive style. He loves to attack the basket and get out in transition, taking 61.8% of his shots at the rim and converting them at a 73.6% clip. He plays well without the ball, attacks the offensive glass, and can even fill in as a secondary playmaker, recording five or more assists on five occasions so far this season.
Defensively, Swain can guard multiple positions without fouling. He stays on his toes, allowing him to rotate and recover efficiently. He loves to help his teammates when needed, but rarely loses his assignment and ensures that his help will not be the reason the offense gets an easy shot. Swain is unlikely to become an all-star or top-three scoring option for an NBA team. However, he has a strong chance of being a reliable complementary piece for many years.
Darrion Williams is a highly-touted target in the second round thanks to his efficient and multi-layered contributions. Williams possesses one of the greatest qualities a complementary wing can have: limiting mistakes. He can shoot (42.5 percent from three on 5.0 attempts per game), make plays (3.3:1.4 assist-turnover ratio), and doesn’t demand the ball too much.
His athleticism, or lack thereof, is his draft-limiting factor. Williams will likely not perform well at the NBA combine athletic tests, but this should not stop teams from investing in his efficient skills and competitive approach to the game. He has a big body that he uses to his advantage in the post. He can play both sides of the pick-and-roll; he’s most dangerous as a playmaking roller. He will struggle to keep up with and against a fast-paced offense, but he can be a great addition to a half-court offense with his versatility.
Milan Momcilovic is the best three-point shooter in the country, shooting 53.8% on 6.9 attempts per game. The 6’8” Iowa State Cyclones junior can hit from deep in every way you can imagine – off the catch, off the dribble, off-balance, and contested. Over half of his shots have come from beyond the arc, but Momcilovic has also been an efficient scorer inside. He has converted on 17 of 20 attempts at the rim and 27 of 30 free throws.
He has enough strength to bully his way into post position and get off an effective fade-away jumper. He, like Williams, has athletic limitations. He will not beat you off the dribble, and he may have a harder time coming off screens effectively versus quicker NBA defenders. His shooting and size, along with his importance to the Cyclones’ 16-1 start, should be enough to get him drafted this year.
Coen Carr is among the most explosive dunkers in college basketball history. Carr has 32 made dunks through 17 games this season, and each one is worthy of a few replays. His athleticism gives him opportunities in transition and off cuts. However, his offensive versatility is quite limited.
Teams must decide if Carr is a freak athlete or a legitimate NBA-level player. He has a 51.5-inch vertical, which is something an NBA team will happily take a swing on, but his shooting splits are not impressive. His style reflects what Derrick Jones Jr. was coming out of UNLV, but Jones became a legitimate three-and-D player. If Carr can take this same route with his 6’10” wingspan, he can also build a real NBA career for himself.
