Two college basketball standouts have committed to pursuing professional careers by remaining in the 2026 NBA Draft pool.
Christian Anderson, a sophomore guard from Texas Tech, and Allen Graves, a freshman forward from Santa Clara, have both chosen to keep their names in the draft rather than return to college basketball.
Draft analysts project both players will be selected in the first round.
Anderson significantly boosted his professional prospects during this month’s scouting combine, where he demonstrated reliable performance and exceptional shooting range in workout sessions.
The Red Raiders guard posted impressive numbers last season, scoring 18.5 points per game while ranking tied for fourth nationally with 7.4 assists per game. ESPN’s draft projections place him as a potential lottery selection (top 14 overall) for next month’s draft. The third-team All-American connected on 41.5% of his three-point attempts.
Standing 6-foot-3, Anderson compensates for his height with aggressive drives to the basket, aided by his impressive 40.5-inch vertical leap that was confirmed at the Chicago combine.
Anderson made his draft intentions public through social media on Tuesday.
Multiple media outlets report that Graves has also decided to remain eligible for the draft.
The 6-foot-9 forward made a significant contribution at Santa Clara following a redshirt season. Coming primarily off the bench, Graves posted 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Broncos last season.
His playing time increased during the latter portion of the season, and Graves delivered what seemed to be a game-winning three-pointer against Kentucky during the NCAA Tournament’s first round in March. However, Santa Clara and Graves watched in disbelief as Otega Oweh connected on a half-court buzzer-beater less than a second later, sending the game to overtime. The Wildcats ultimately won 89-84.
College players who still have eligibility must decide by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday whether to withdraw from this year’s draft and return to their schools. The draft will take place in New York beginning June 23.
