Round 2, Pick 36 – Baba Miller – Florida Atlantic – Los Angeles Clippers
Coming into FAU for his junior season, anyone who had seen him play on a court knew that Baba Miller was an NBA talent, but after a single season under John Jakus, he had proven himself. The 6-foot-11 athletic big brings skill and agility to the interior. He was a highly-touted prospect coming into the draft but exceeded what many expected, getting picked just six picks into the night.
Headed to the Clippers, Miller will have to compete with players like Derrick Jones Jr. and Kobe Sanders, but as a true power forward, the former Cincinnati Bearcat will have a solid chance at cracking the lineup.
Round 2, Pick 37 – Ryan Conwell – Indiana State and South Florida – Oklahoma City Thunder (Traded to Miami Heat)
Conwell was made into a power-level talent during his time under Josh Schertz at Indiana State. While spending just one year with the Sycamores during his sophomore season after a sub-par freshman season at South Florida, the 6-foot-4 guard brough his talents to a Xavier team that immediately felt his impact. A season later, Conwell led a rejuvenated Louisville program to the AP top 25 while averaging just under 20 points per outing.
Conwell is now on his way to Miami, which is notorious for developing second-round talent to play for the recently vacated shooting guard position following Tyler Herro’s trade to the Milwaukee Bucks. All-star Norman Powell looks to serve as a valuable mentor to the four-year collegiate player.
Round 2, Pick 42 – Ja’Kobi Gillespie – Belmont – San Antonio Spurs
Gillespie looks to be the second Belmont transfer in the past three years to get NBA minutes following Will Richard’s rise with the Warriors this past season. While it has been two years since the guard has suited up for the Bruins, the 6-foot guard can credit most of his collegiate success to his development under Casey Alexander.
Joining the NBA runner-up San Antonio Spurs, it remains to be seen whether Gillespie will garner minutes with the team early on, but with a reputation of incredible development within the Spurs organization, it may be sooner rather than later that we see the Tennessee standout backing up Dylan Harper at the one.
Round 2, Pick 48 – Tobi Lawal – VCU – Dallas Mavericks
Lawal’s incredible leaping ability and athleticism had to have made NBA scouts salivate when watching him light it up at Virginia Tech, but that vertical was also on display during his time at VCU under Ryan Odom. While only starting one single game in two years with the Rams, the 6-foot-8 forward displayed enough to garner a transfer to the ACC’s Hokies and now into the NBA Draft.
Lawal comes as the second big man drafted for the Mavericks in the draft, following up Morez Johnson Jr. at pick No. 9, and he will look to stake out a claim in the now-competitive frontcourt battle headed into the 2026-27 season.
Round 2, Pick 51 – Izaiyah Nelson – South Florida and Arkansas State – Washington Wizards (Traded to Orlando Magic)
Nelson became the second player drafted straight out of a mid-major following a successful season at South Florida last year where he earned AAC Player of the Year in his first season with the Bulls. Developing under Bryan Hodgson at Arkansas State, the Marietta, Ga., native blossomed into an elite rebounder and dominant interior finisher, following his coach to USF in his final season.
The 6-foot-10 forward joins an Orlando Magic squad featuring all-star Paolo Banchero at power forward and Wendell Carter Jr. at the center position, and he will be granted the opportunity to battle for a spot in the interior under new head coach Sean Sweeney.
Round 2, Pick 57 – Jaron Pierre Jr. – Jacksonville State, Wichita State, and Southern Miss – New Orleans Pelicans
Pierre had some decently productive seasons at both Southern Miss and Wichita State, but no one in Conference USA was prepared for the 6-foot-5 guard to lead the Jacksonville State Gamecocks to the second-best record in the conference despite being picked toward the bottom in the preseason. An electric scorer that can get points at all three levels, Pierre finished off his college career at SMU this past season in the NCAA Tournament.
Pierre joins a logjam at the guard position in New Orleans but looks to fight for a position among young stars in Jeremiah Fears and Dejounte Murray.
