The 2026 NBA Draft Combine has gotten underway, but six draft prospects have already seen their stock rise.<\/p>\n
The NBA Draft Combine is the Association’s annual meat market where the top prospects in the upcoming draft class<\/a> get measured, tested, analyzed and prodded. The week-long event, which takes place in Chicago, began Sunday and runs through May 17.<\/p>\n Before this week’s NBA combine, the NBA G League hosted its Elite Camp, featuring players not considered elite NBA prospects. However, each year, the top performers from the G League camp earn an invite from the league<\/a> to participate in the NBA Combine.<\/p>\n Since 2019, 34 players who participated in the G League Elite Camp have gone on to play in the NBA. Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard<\/a>, New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado<\/a>, Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin<\/a>, Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann<\/a>, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus<\/a> are among notable players who have participated in the Elite Camp.<\/p>\n Aaron Nkrumah<\/a> (Tennessee State), Rafael Castro<\/a> (George Washington), Jacob Cofie<\/a> (USC), Bryce Hopkins<\/a> (St. John’s), and Trey Kaufman-Renn<\/a> (Purdue) are the players who impressed the NBA’s scouting department at the G League Elite Camp enough to earn a trip to this week’s Draft Combine. Here is a look at each of the five players, plus Kentucky freshman Malachi Moreno<\/a> and Iowa sharpshooter Bennett Stirtz.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nkrumah had a breakout senior campaign at Tennessee State after spending his first two seasons at Division III schools (Nichols College, Worcester State). The 2026 OVC Player of the Year averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 steals. He also made 1.6 threes with shooting splits of 43.8\/35.1\/78.6.<\/p>\n 24 years old, Nkrumah is a developing 3-and-D prospect who is long and a disruptive wing defender, able to switch onto bigger players. He has a high motor and thrives in transition, though he needs to improve as a passer.<\/p>\n Nkrumah, who didn’t receive an invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, totaled 31 points on 52.7% shooting in two G League Elite Camp scrimmages. The 6-foot-5 forward scored a game-high\u00a0 22 points in Game 2 of the May 9 scrimmage to lead all scorers on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including 2-of-6 from the 3-point line and 6-of-9 from the free-throw stripe. He added two rebounds, two assists, and two steals.<\/p>\n “Scouts and evaluators were impressed by his athleticism, defensive activity, and ability to create offense against high-level competition,” said Tolly Carr of HBCU Gameday<\/a>. “Nkrumah also measured well during combine testing. He checked in at 6-foot-5 without shoes and recorded a wingspan of 6-foot-10.25 inches – measurements that fit the mold of an NBA wing defender.”<\/p>\n Nkrumah is projected as a potential late second-round draft pick. Whether Nkrumah gets selected in the 2026 NBA Draft or not, he will likely not be on an NBA’s 15-man roster. Rather, he will get a two-day way deal.<\/p>\n Castro has steadily improved during his four collegiate campaigns. Castro started his career at Providence but transferred to GW for his final two years. The 6-9 forward produced a career season in 2025-26, averaging 15.3 points on 62.7% shooting while grabbing 9.1 rebounds (2.7 offensive). He produced nine double-doubles in his 29 appearances while also recording 1.8 steals and 1.7 steals per contest.<\/p>\n Castro is a highly efficient yet limited offensive prospect who is known for his defense. Offensively, Castro excels as a cutter and roll man. While the 23-year-old is excellent at drawing fouls, he needs to be more effective at finishing at the rim, especially through contact.<\/p>\n Castro is also an elite rebounder on both ends. But it is on defense where the New Jersey native thrives, as he is a high-level rim protector who excels as a help defender. He also communicates very well on that end of the floor.<\/p>\n Castro performed well at the 2026 NABC-Reese’s Division I Senior All-Star Game<\/a> and the PIT (Portsmouth Invitational Tournament<\/a>). He is a potential late-round selection.<\/p>\n “<\/span>Rafael Castro may be a hair undersized positionally at 6\u20199\u201d barefoot, but 7\u20191.25\u201d wingspan and outstanding 36.5\u201d max vertical leap should go a long way in covering for that,” Maxwell Baumbach of No Ceilings<\/a> said about Castro’s performance at the Elite Camp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cofie is still deciding whether to keep his name in the 2026 NBA Draft. 20 years old, Cofie showed growth in his second collegiate season and first with the USC Trojans. In 2025-26, he averaged 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds along with 1.8 blocks while shooting 51% from the floor and 31.8% from the 3-point line. He also registered five double-doubles.<\/p>\n Cofie is a long, mobile big man who possesses two-way potential. The 6-10 forward is a versatile physical defender, a strong rim protector, and able to defend in space. After his performance in the G League Elite Camp, Draft Express analyst Jonathan Givony had this to say<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n “The 20-year-old had an eye-opening two days in Chicago, showing intriguing two-way versatility and long-term talent.”<\/span><\/p>\n Cofie is expected to be picked if he remains in the draft. Currently, he is considered a late-first or early second-round pick.<\/p>\n Hopkins has battled injuries throughout his collegiate career. Still, he is a polished 6-foot-7 wing who has an NBA body. Rated as the consensus No. 31 recruit in 2021, Hopkins began his career in Kentucky, then spent three seasons at Providence before finishing his career at St. John’s. He averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals with shooting splits of 46.9\/36.3\/71.3 this past season.<\/p>\n Hopkins is a power wing who thrives playing bully ball, mid-post, and short-roll situations. The 24-year-old is an outstanding rebounder who has shown flashes of playmaking. However, he doesn’t have elite lateral quickness or athleticism and needs to improve his 3-point shooting.<\/p>\n Hopkins earned an invitation to the NBA Draft combine as a result of his performance in the two G-League Elite Camp scrimmages, totaling 28 points and 11 boards. He is a potential second-round pick.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kaufman-Renn saw his offensive production drop after a breakout junior campaign. But the consensus No. 37 recruit in 2021 was fantastic on the glass this past season with the Boilermakers. He averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds (2.9 offensive), and 2.5 assists while shooting 57.8% from the field.<\/p>\n Kaufman-Renn is a physical interior scorer, albeit somewhat limited offensively, who knows how to get open in the post and is an outstanding finisher through contact. He is an outstanding rebounder and has improved as a passer. Besides not having much of a perimeter game, he doesn’t move well laterally and isn’t really a rim protector.<\/p>\n The 6-9 forward is a potential mid-to-late second-round pick. He averaged 12.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in his two G-League Elite scrimmages, including producing a 17-point and 12-rebound double-double in his first scrimmage.<\/p>\n Moreno, the consensus No. 25 recruit in 2025, had a modest offensive freshman campaign, though he was great on the offensive glass and as a rim protector. The 7-footer also showed a soft touch and promise as a playmaker<\/a> this past season. He averaged 7.8 points on 58.2% shooting from the field, 6.3 rebounds (2.4 offensive), and 1.5 blocks in 22.6 minutes.<\/p>\nAaron Nkrumah, Tennessee State<\/h4>\n
Rafael Castro, George Washington<\/h4>\n
Jacob Cofie, USC<\/h4>\n
Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s<\/h4>\n
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue<\/h4>\n
Malachi Moreno, Kentucky<\/h3>\n