The upcoming 2026 NBA Draft class is loaded with intriguing prospects, and many of them will be on display during the NCAA Tournament. For the Sixers, March Madness offers a prime opportunity to evaluate players who could become future pieces alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Here are some of the top prospects Sixers fans should watch during March Madness:
Amari Allen may honestly be best off returning to school next year, where he could potentially work his way up to a lottery or even top-10 prospect in next year’s presumed weaker draft class. However, with an NBA skill set and a high basketball IQ, there should be no concern about the freshman being too raw to draft.
Allen boasts strong passing instincts and a developing shot, paired with quality positional size that helps him succeed as a rebounder and defender. Allen looks to be the ideal prototype forward for the modern game and would be an ideal type of player to eventually replace Paul George. An impressive tournament performance could either convince him to bolt for the draft or head back to school to improve his position next year.
After losing JT Toppin to a torn ACL last month, Christian Anderson became the lone focal point for opposing defenses, but he has hardly missed a beat in his new role. The 2026 Draft class is very deep, especially at point guard.
Anderson is more often grouped with the Bennett Stirtzs and Labaron Philons of the NCAA world, but that’s no insult considering the depth of talent in this class. He even stands out among them as a well-rounded guard who can play both on and off ball, the kind of versatility NBA contenders have learned to model their teams around.
Sixers fans may not initially think guard when it comes to what the team needs, but despite the team’s decision that Jared McCain wasn’t the right fit, the Sixers have a clear and obvious need for ball-handling guards who are versatile, and that’s the exact image of Christian Anderson.
Like Allen, Chris Cenac Jr. is another member of this terrific freshman class who may opt to remain in school in hopes of ending up a bit higher on draft boards in the 2027 draft class. Showcasing a blend of mobility and shooting touch at his natural size and length, teams will be more than happy to draft him on potential and, ideally, allow him the time to develop.
While he is raw and currently has some notable shortcomings, including a lack of blocked shots and free-throw attempts, those should improve in time as he builds strength and confidence. Perhaps that’s an argument for him to return to college, but it will likely also soothe the worry of teams willing to bank on that potential.
Isaiah Evans may never be named to an All-Star game, but he is a skilled shooter with solid positional size; he could easily have a successful 10-plus-year NBA career. Evans has grown tremendously in his second year at Duke, largely working in an off-ball role alongside star Cameron Boozer.
Joel Embiid’s long-term outlook may not be guaranteed, but with him firmly in Philadelphia’s foreseeable future, Evans could find early success as an off-ball specialist, thriving as a movement shooter, somewhat filling the void left by the Jared McCain trade.
Another exciting freshman who may or may not declare, there is a possibility that a quality tournament performance and the excitement of playing in the NBA could keep Allen Graves in the draft pool, with enough interest from teams. Graves is not among the most well-known prospects in the league, but the largely under-the-radar prospect has as much potential as any player outside this draft’s lottery.
A metrics darling, Graves is among College Basketball’s top performers in Win Shares per 40 minutes, Wins Above Replacement Player and Player Efficiency Rating. He projects to be a high–level shooter, currently shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and 41.6 percent from three on 2.6 attempts per game.
Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas is a mountain of a player who has grown to become one of college basketball’s most impactful defenders in his third year at Arizona. The Sixers have seemingly settled their backup center position for the future with the emergence of Adem Bona, but the reality of the Joel Embiid situation is that the Sixers will need to be a three-center team as long as he is a primary contributor on the team.
Bona thrives while playing with pace and is an excellent shot blocker, but the Sixers could still use an imposing rim protector who not only sends shots flying the other way but also intimidates opponents into not even attempting them. That is where Krivas could fit. He would also be a massive help as the team will hopefully look to their strong rebounding ways after this season.
Joshua Jefferson has flirted between first and second round projections over the past month or so. This has been partly due to his perceived lower ceiling as a 22-year-old senior and, in part, to concerns about his long-range shooting ability, though he has shown potential for an NBA-level shot this season.
Jefferson profiles as a point forward, not entirely different than current Sixer Trendon Watford. Where they differ is that Jefferson’s improvements as a shooter this season have given hope to continued growth, which would make him a valued prospect as a capable dribble-pass-shoot forward and defensive playmaker.
What will help Jefferson rise or fall more than anything in this tournament is the effectiveness of his three-point shot.
Like Krivas, Aday Mara is an imposing inside force defensively. Where they differ is that Mara is a bit more finesse in contrast to Krivas’ power-style approach. Both are impressive shot blockers, but Mara’s ability drastically outshines not only Krivas but most in college basketball, as he ranks fourth in the league in blocks per game (2.6). He isn’t all pizzazz as a paint protector either, as his size and shot-blocking ability deter opponents from even attempting shots, which the Sixers need outside of Joel Embiid.
Mara is also a more skilled offensive option at center, thanks to a potentially developing three-point shot, but far more so because of his knack for passing, which has impressed both in the half-court and in transition.
A non-shooting 6-foot-nine combo big in this day and age? It’s no longer commonplace, but Morez Johnson Jr. is a special case. His offensive shortcomings do not come from a lack of touch or ability, but simply a lack of attempts. Johnson has not often imposed his will offensively at Michigan, which is a concern in some regards, but there is hope that with proper coaching, Johnson will be more willing and able to take and make shots from range, which he’s hitting at a 39.3 percent rate, but only on 0.8 attempts per game.
With an imposing 7-2 wingspan, Johnson could be a special defender in a league that has already seen many teams return to a two-big-man lineup. All he needs is to make defenses honor his three-point shot, and he could have the potential to become an impactful starter and even make an All-Defense team one day.
Dailyn Swain has impressed in his first season in Texas after transferring from Xavier. He’s proven himself as a legitimate two-way wing and has the skill set to succeed in the NBA. Between his physical traits and his high basketball IQ, there’s a lot to like in Swain, but there remain two primary concerns when it comes to his game.
Swain is a fantastic downhill driver, but as a shooter, he leaves a bit to be desired, and he’s aware of it. Swain will need to commit to improving as a shooter, but more importantly, to at least remaining willing to take the shots needed to spread the floor.
Profiling as a complementary connective piece to Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, it’s not hard to see his fit in Philly, but the Sixers are already tremendously short on shooting. He will need to continuously work on not only making, but also taking shots from beyond the arc to maximize his potential.
Unless otherwise stated, all stats included in this article are via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass, Basketball Reference or Team Rankings. All salary information via Spotrac.
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