NBA Draft Combine Day 2: Game 3 Prospects
The second day of NBA Draft Combine scrimmages featured several notable performances, as prospects looked to strengthen their stock or bounce back from earlier struggles. San Diego State’s Miles Byrd was among the most impressive, showing a mix of passing, shooting, and defense that helped him stand out. While questions linger for some, a handful of players continued to trend upward in the eyes of scouts.
Jamir Watkins, Florida State
Poured in 23 points in 32 minutes, showcasing his trademark explosiveness and relentless energy. Watkins attacked the rim with purpose, played through contact, and consistently hustled in transition, injecting emotion and fire into every possession. His motor and toughness were on full display, helping him stand out in a crowded field. While his shooting remains a question mark (0-of-2 from three) and he’ll be 24 shortly after the draft, Watkins improved his stock with this performance. His physical tools, competitive edge, and ability to impact the game in multiple ways give him a real shot at earning a roster spot and hearing his name on draft night.
Koby Brea, Kentucky
Brea stayed hot from deep, dropping 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three and continuing to solidify his status as one of the best pure shooters in the draft. His calling card is obvious — elite floor spacing — and he’s firmly on the radar as a shooting specialist who can contribute right away in a defined role. While he’s still a bit of a one-trick pony with limited shot creation and average defensive tools, that one trick is arguably the most in-demand skill in today’s NBA. For teams in need of reliable perimeter shooting, Brea presents a plug-and-play two-way option with a clearly translatable strength.
Karter Knox, Overtime Elite
Bounced back with a better showing than Day 1, scoring 10 points and looking more comfortable creating his own shot, particularly in the midrange. He showed improved confidence and a few glimpses of the scoring upside that makes him an intriguing long-term prospect. Still raw and inconsistent, Knox remains more of a developmental bet, but his physical tools and shot-making flashes continue to attract attention. Given his age and development curve, he has clear first-round potential — but with an uncertain draft outlook, a return for his sophomore year may be the best move to solidify his stock.
PJ Haggerty, Memphis
Delivered another solid showing with 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting, once again highlighting his strength, composure, and ability to finish through contact. Haggerty impressed with his poise in traffic and flashed better point guard skills than advertised, showing vision and control as a lead ball-handler. While not a pure lead guard, his downhill aggression, scoring craft, and toughness give him real potential in a combo guard role at the next level. He may ultimately opt to return to school, but he made a strong impression in Chicago and showed he belongs in the draft conversation. With his physicality, improving playmaking, and scoring instincts, Haggerty has a real shot to hear his name called.
Mark Sears, Alabama
Bounced back from a poor shooting outing with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-7 from deep. Sears looked more in control and confident, showcasing the scoring touch and maturity that helped him take a major leap as a lead guard over the past year. His improved floor game, efficient decision-making, and consistent shot-making continue to boost his stock. While he lacks ideal size for an NBA point guard, his ability to stretch the floor and create offense makes up for it to some extent. Sears remains a steady, experienced guard with second-round appeal.
Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana
Mgbako put together another efficient outing, finishing with 17 points and showing confidence and rhythm in his jumper. After two strong scrimmages, Mgbako’s draft stock is clearly trending upward, as he demonstrated he can score at all three levels and hold his own physically against top competition. His career projection has been a bit of a roller coaster, but he answered questions this week with poise and production. Mgbako was one of the more consistent performers in Chicago and clearly helped his case as a potential second-round pick.
Hansen Yang, China
Hansen continued to turn heads with his combination of size, touch, and fluidity. The 7-footer scored 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting and looked agile moving in space, getting up and down the floor well for a player his size. He finished plays around the rim and showed a very clever skill set and feel for passing and offensive flow, consistently making the right reads from the high post. While his straight-line speed is impressive, his lateral quickness remains a bit of a question mark defensively. Still, Yang’s tools, instincts, and long-term upside make him one of the more intriguing international prospects in this class.
Michael Ruzic, Croatia
Scored 5 points, going 0-of-3 from the floor but 5-of-6 from the line. Ruzic struggled to make a consistent impact in either scrimmage, failing to assert himself offensively or on the glass. While he’s shown intriguing potential as a stretch big in past Eurocamp settings, the rust and recent injuries appear to be slowing him down. He looked a step behind at times and lacked the assertiveness scouts hoped to see. Still, his size, touch, and long-term skill set could keep him in the draft conversation as a stash candidate. Another year of development overseas would likely boost his stock.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Penn State
The Swiss-born center showed promising flashes in Game 3, finishing with 12 points and 7 rebounds on 4-of-8 shooting. Possessing true center size with mobility and length, Niederhauser measured well and looked more comfortable in his second scrimmage. He shows real flashes of two-way potential, with rebounding instincts, touch around the rim, and defensive versatility. While he’s still raw in his offensive timing and can be a little hot and cold in his impact, the tools and upside are evident. With international experience and intriguing measurables, Niederhauser is a viable mid-to-late second-round or two-way candidate worth developing.
Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
Finished with 9 points on 3-of-10 shooting in Game 3, including 0-of-2 from three, and struggled at times to find a consistent rhythm. Sallis forced a few shots and had some errant passes, but he continues to show flashes as an elite run-and-jump athlete with intriguing tools. He plays with energy and has the potential to become a versatile defender, especially if he adds strength. While his offensive decision-making and consistency are still developing, his physical upside and defensive potential keep him firmly on the radar as a long-term project.
Vladislav Goldin, Michigan
Had a quiet outing with 4 points in 14 minutes, going 2-of-3 from the floor. Goldin didn’t make a major impact on the glass or as a rim protector and had trouble asserting himself in traffic. The Russian big man may have struggled to adapt to the new environment, but he put together a very solid season at Michigan, and the Combine is just one piece of the evaluation puzzle. With his size, touch, and experience, Goldin remains an interesting developmental option who could still draw second-round or two-way interest.
NBA Draft Combine Game 4 Prospects
Tamar Bates, Missouri
Played himself from the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament to the G League Elite Camp and ultimately into the NBA Combine — and made the most of every step. Bates scored 14 points, hit 4-of-5 from three, and delivered the dunk of the camp over a rotating big, putting a stamp on what’s been a breakout pre-draft run. He’s really impressed scouts with his shooting, vertical explosiveness, and improved poise, and has consistently stood out for his maturity, motor, and approach. One of the biggest winners of the event, Bates now looks like a strong bet to be drafted — possibly early on Day 2 — as teams continue to buy into his growth and translatable skill set.
Neoklis Avdalas, Greece
Delivered one of the most impressive all-around performances of the day with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, displaying solid poise and control throughout. Avdalas knocked down 2-of-6 from deep with smooth mechanics and stood out with his advanced ball-handling and passing creativity, consistently making smart, instinctive plays. Long considered a bit of an enigmatic prospect due to his inconsistency and occasional struggles with maturity, Avdalas is beginning to put the pieces together. He’s finally developed into a much more reliable spot-up shooter, and that added spacing has helped unlock his game as a big facilitator. At just 19 years old, he created real intrigue with his feel and ability to impact multiple areas. Fresh off a visit to Virginia Tech, Avdalas likely boosted interest in him considerably with this performance and left a strong impression on scouts in Chicago.
Brice Williams, Nebraska
Scored a game-high 24 points while hitting 4-of-9 from three, showcasing his reputation as a sharpshooter and scoring efficiently at all three levels. Williams brought a calm, veteran presence to the floor and showed why he’s viewed as a steady offensive contributor. Though he’s a below-average wing athlete by NBA standards and turns 24 on July 5, his good length and consistent perimeter shooting give him a real chance to be drafted. He may lack high-end upside, but the combination of size and shot-making makes him a strong candidate for a bench scoring role at the next level.
Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB
Struggled to replicate his strong Game 1 showing, finishing with just 4 points on 2-of-6 shooting and failing to make the same impact on the glass. His intensity tended to come and go, and he looked out of rhythm for stretches offensively. The inconsistency could cool some of the recent draft hype, as scouts weigh his rawness against his flashes. Still, Lendeborg’s energy, tools, and unique blend of athleticism and playmaking at his size remain highly intriguing. The upside is real — enough that a team would likely still roll the dice on him in the 20s if they’re willing to bet on long-term development.
Micah Peavy, Georgetown
Scored 9 points and once again showcased his elite vertical athleticism, finishing plays above the rim and flashing serious bounce in transition. Peavy’s physical tools stood out among his peers — he was one of the most explosive athletes at the event and consistently made his presence felt with his energy, speed, and body control. Defensively, his length and agility give him versatility on the wing, and he competed with toughness throughout. However, he struggled from outside (1-of-5 from three), and his offensive ceiling remains closely tied to the development of his jumper and half-court scoring package. Still, Peavy’s athletic profile alone has kept him firmly in the draft conversation, especially for teams seeking defensive-minded wings with upside.
Milos Uzan, Houston
Had a stronger showing than earlier in the week with 7 points and more composed play, but still failed to fully play to his ability or stand out in a crowded guard field. Uzan’s first-round buzz has cooled considerably, and more questions are surfacing about his scoring ability. While he was somewhat limited by Houston’s system, he still must prove he can create and score when needed at the next level. Unless a team was already sold on him as a first-rounder and prepared to extend a promise, a return to college — where he could take on a larger role — would likely offer a more secure payday than turning pro at this point.
Grant Nelson, Alabama
Brought flashes of shot-making and rebounding but didn’t consistently impact the game over stretches. At 6’11”, his mobility and perimeter skill set remain intriguing, but questions persist about his overall upside. Nelson is an older prospect who hasn’t added much strength over his college career and remains just an average athlete by NBA standards. He shows glimpses of being effective on both ends, but struggles to sustain that impact consistently. While the tools are there, the inconsistency continues to cloud his draft outlook.
Sion James, Duke
Scored 7 points, competed well defensively, and played a strong connective role on the wing. James brings imposing physical strength and a clear team-first mentality, consistently making the right reads and doing the little things that contribute to winning. While he’s not a great scorer or offensive creator, his toughness, defensive versatility, and unselfish approach make him a glue-guy candidate. With his physical profile and intangibles, James remains a possible draft pick for teams seeking role-ready depth on the wing.
Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Scored 8 points and hit 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, continuing to run the offense with control and poise. Nembhard’s feel for the game and decision-making are strong, but his small stature remains a hurdle in convincing scouts he can hold down a full-time NBA role. He doesn’t pass the traditional eye test for a pro guard, and history shows very few players his size stick. Still, with his pedigree, toughness, and high-level experience, it would be unwise to count him out. His bloodlines and determination give him a fighting chance to carve out a role at the next level.
RJ Luis Jr., St. John’s
Scored 16 points, including 3-of-6 from three, showing scoring instincts and the ability to take advantage of defensive breakdowns. Luis got into rhythm early and played with confidence, but his jumper remains a little unpolished, and his athleticism, while solid, isn’t elite. His decision-making and defensive consistency still leave room for growth. However, his 6 turnovers highlighted a need to protect the ball better and reinforced ongoing concerns about his decision-making and consistency.A decent showing overall that could earn him more looks in workouts, though a return to college — potentially at a new program — may help refine his game and boost his long-term stock.
John Tonje, Wisconsin
Responded well to a quiet Day 1 with a much stronger performance, scoring 17 points and showing more confidence on the offensive end. Tonje knocked down open shots, played within himself, and displayed a calm, mature approach throughout. While he still lacks top-end speed — which limits his upside in transition, shot creation, and defensive versatility — his skill level, determination, and feel for the game stood out. Tonje’s poise and shooting could help him stick with a team in the right setting, particularly in a structured system that values toughness and execution.
Jalon Moore, Oklahoma
Rebounded from a rough shooting day with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, attacking the basket with purpose and finishing through contact. Moore played with more energy on both ends and continued to flash intriguing athletic tools and defensive versatility. He’s a solid shooter with a slow release, but he’s accurate when given space. His big wingspan allows him to use his length effectively on the boards and as a disruptor defensively. With his physical tools and two-way upside, Moore remains a name to monitor in the second-round or two-way mix.
Dink Pate, Mexico City Capitanes
Had a rough outing, finishing with just 2 points on 1-of-6 shooting in a performance that echoed some of his struggles during the G League season. Pate looked unprepared for the intensity and competitiveness of the Combine setting, with sloppy ball handling, limited shot creation, and a lack of feel for the game that stood out against older, more polished players. While he has intriguing tools and occasional flashes of offensive talent, this was another inefficient showing that damages his draft stock. Still just 19, Pate remains a long-term project, but his chances of being selected this year appear to be slipping.
