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SIUE Holds Off Bradley for Exhibition Road Win

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Peoria, IL – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Bradley matched up against one another in each team’s final exhibition game on Wednesday night. Both team’s defensive efforts and offensive struggles headlined the contest as SIUE snuck out a 53-48 road win. Despite only shooting 29% from the field, the Cougars won the rebounding department and forced 17 turnovers to help get the win.

SIUE 6’0 junior guard Gianni Cobb led all scorers with 16 points while shooting 5-of-12 from the field and knocking down 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Cobb got off to a hot start from the onset, scoring 13 of his 16 in the first half going 5-of-8 from the field and hitting 3 of his first 5 3-point attempts. The shifty transfer (Columbia, NIU) demonstrated his ability to attack off the dribble to finish a reverse layup via baseline over more size and drawing fouls on penetration drives.

Interior work for the Cougars was done by 6’3 sophomore forward Dehrio McCaskill who finished with a game high 13 rebounds and nearly grabbing a double-double with eight points in just 21 minutes of action. McCaskill’s vertical athleticism showed in multiple phases with timing and physicality to generate second chance opportunities. He repeatedly battled for positioning on both sides while contributing defensively with active help-side rotations and disruptive hands. He also finished an alley-oop in transition that provided a momentum spark.

2024-2025 NJCAA Division 2 player of the year 6’4 senior Tyler King provided value throughout. Last year’s Ohio Valley Conference second team member contributed seven points, four rebounds, and two assists while providing energy and quick activity from end to end. The athletic two-way guard generated four steals and multiple other deflections with anticipation and aggressive lateral movement. King finished 3 of 12 from the field but remained impactful with defensive tenacity and willingness to compete.

SIUE was also provided meaningful minutes from 6’7 freshman Brennan Miller and 6’3 senior Jordan Pickett. Miller collected seven rebounds including four on the offensive end while scoring five points and displaying persistence around the basket. Picket added eight points on just 2-of-11 but hit two three pointers during pivotal moments. Those baskets helped extend SIUE’s advantage to 12 points just under the second media timeout mark in the second half.

For Bradley, reserve 6’8 redshirt junior forward Ben Thornbrue provided an offensive spark with 11 points and seven rebounds on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting performance. Thornbrue demonstrated touch on in the interior while catching it with his back to the basket from the low block to elbow area. His late three with 22 seconds remaining also trimmed the deficit to four points keeping Bradley within striking distance.

The Braves were also supplied a strong rebounding night from 6’10 junior forward Josh Ibukunoluwa who collected a team high 12 to go along with six points and two assists. The lengthy forward displayed ability to operate as a roll man in ball screen actions while his wingspan provided defensive disruption to drivers.

In the backcourt 6’5 redshirt-freshman guard Jackson Sesatrunk added seven points while showing a combination of perimeter shot making ability and downhill attacking skills in 21 minutes of work. International 6’4 true freshman guard Max Gaspa added seven points and a game high four assists. 6’8 sophomore Xander Alarie supplied five points on a 2-of-2 shooting night to go along with seven rebounds through solid anticipation on the glass and touch in the midrange.

Both teams combined for 11-of-52 from beyond the arc while shooting 52% and 53% from the free throw line. SIUE’s 48-41 rebounding advantage including a 15 to 7 mark on the offensive end helped compensate it’s shooting difficulties. The Cougars also recorded 12 steals to help create transition opportunities and speed up pace.

Each team will tip-off their regular season openers on Monday, November 2nd.

This article was written by Michael Schneiderman of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Washington Upset at Home by Washington State in Exhibition

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Seattle, WA – Washington State, led by Ronnie Harrison won 84-80 in Seattle against their cross-state rival, the Washington Huskies. WSU scored the first basket, however UW was able to jump ahead thanks to a 17-3 run. Just when the Huskies’ Lathan Sommerville got an electric alley-oop slam in transition and it looked like they had control, the Cougars started hitting 3’s going 4-of-7 in a three-minute span giving them the lead. After some gritty back and forth action, the first half ended with WSU in front 38-37.

Turnovers and fouls defined the start of the second half, there were six combined before LeJuan Watts kickstarted the Huskies, scoring a fastbreak layup. The teams went back and forth trading baskets again before Harrison scored 10 unanswered points putting the Cougars up by four. WSU stretched the lead to eight and, thanks to all the points scored from both teams being strictly from free throws after the 3:32 mark up to the 0:39 mark, the Cougars were able to put the game away.

LeJuan Watts set the pace for UW with 28 points on 7-of-12 from the field along with six rebounds. Watts was able to get to his spots, and despite the Huskies as a team going 6-of-23 from 3 point range, he made 2 of his 4. Nikola Dzepina had a strong performance in the paint, getting 12 rebounds, seven on the offensive end. Although he shot 4-of-12 from the field in 30 minutes off the bench, he was the only player on the Huskies who finished with a positive +/-  at +6. Lathan Sommerville has made a case that he will perform at a higher level on offense this year, posting 19 points on 6-of-7 from the field and 7-of-11 from the line. He played strong inside, finishing at the rim with finesse and control. He also ran hard in transition and was rewarded by his teammates.

Ronnie Harrison found a way to lead the Cougars to this win with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks. He showed he is willing to do the heavy lifting on offense and can be an explosive scorer. Two of his three offensive rebounds were tip-in baskets that resulted from hard crashes off the perimeter and came in key moments of the game, one sparking his 10- point run and the other when the Cougars needed to keep the lead late in the second half. Lazerek Houston may not have had the best day shooting the basketball (1-of-9), however he was the initiator for WSU, finishing with four assists. Even though he was poor from the field, he made 12-of-15 from the line, a sign that this shooting performance will probably not be a trend downward. Houston was able to push through a poor shooting day and find a way to contribute to the win.

This article was written by Landon Brewer of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Marquette’s Depth Propel Them Past Michigan State in Exhibition

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Milwaukee, WI – Marquette used an efficient offensive performance and balanced scoring attack to defeat Michigan State 86-79 in an exhibition matchup at Fiserv Forum on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Eagles shot 57% from the field while hitting half of their 3-point attempts going 9 of 18. The Spartans turned Marquette over 24 times, however struggled to get going offensively in the first half going 7 for 27 (26%) and 4 of 15 (27%) from beyond the arc. Marquette’s perimeter shooting and bench production (39 points) provided to be too much to overcome.

It was a point guard story from the tip as Marquette’s returning 6’0 sophomore Nigel James Jr. and Michigan State’s returning 6’2 junior Jeremy Fears Jr. had an intriguing matchup. Fears finished with 18 points and seven assists on six turnovers while James contributed 11 points and seven assists on eight turnovers. Fears relied heavily on his speed in the open floor with change of pace and craftiness to create opportunities. On the other side of the ball James displayed a strong frame using his physicality and explosive first step burst to gain advantages. Both guards consistently pressured opposing defenses by getting paint touches, drawing fouls, and finding open teammates. They also showcased their own styles of court vision through skip passes, drive and kick options, and transition assists while pushing for tempo.

The matchup also exposed areas of development for both future professional ball handlers. Fears struggled to find rhythm with his jumper in the first half going 0-of-5 from the field and finishing 3-of-8, however compensated by converting 12-of-14 from the charity stripe. James also struggled to find consistency from outside, going 0-of-2 from three but utilized his strength and ability to finish through contact to generate offense. Ball protection was another challenge during the afternoon affair as the two combined for 14 turnovers.

Through the first half, Marquette established control taking a 43-31 halftime advantage behind great shooting efficiency and continued to knock down shots through the second. Michigan State’s 6’8 forward Jordan Scott provided one of the Spartans’ strongest two-way games finishing with 18 points on 6-of-13 including 3 treys. The versatile and lengthy wing showed confidence shooting off the dribble and spotting up in transition off Fears’ transition game. Defensively, Scott disrupted passing lanes and challenged shots finishing with four blocks in the contest.

Michigan State’s 6’4 true freshman Jasiah Jervis had the game high of 19 points and connected on 4-of-6 three-point attempts. Jervis displayed a smooth perimeter touch particularly from swing passes on catch and shoot opportunities with several of those coming from BLOB actions. His outside shooting helped keep the Spartans competitive throughout. Athletic 6’6,-237 pound senior forward Coen Carr added a quiet 11 points on 3–f 7 shooting while using his explosiveness to finish above the rim and attack in transition. Although his perimeter shot making activity remains limited, his vertical athleticism and strong finishing capability provides intriguing professional upside.

The Spartans were able to trim Marquette’s lead to 52-47 early in the second half before 6’4 sophomore guard Adrien Stevens responded with timely perimeter shooting. Stevens went 2-of-3 from beyond the arc finishing with 12 points while adding five rebounds and four assists. Marquette’s 6’5 guard transfer (St. Thomas) Nolan Minessale contributed nine points and four rebounds settling in during the second half through aggressive drives and defensive pressure. 6’9, 235-pound junior forward Royce Parham supplied a strong interior presence recording 12 points and nearly having a double-double with eight rebounds. The lengthy athletic forward consistently pursued to battle on the glass and finished above the rim to provide second chance buckets. His physical activity helped Marquette win the rebounding game 33-23.

Despite Michigan State forcing 24 turnovers and converting them into 33 points, Marquette’s big time shots, rebounding, and offensive balance ultimately provided to be deciding factors. Both programs will look to November 2nd to open up their regular season play.

This article was written by Michael Schneiderman of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Notre Dame Prevails in Exhibition Contest Against DePaul

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

CHICAGO, IL – Notre Dame received strong performances from 6’0 fifth year point guard Braeden Smith and 6’10 sophomore forward Brady Koehler as the Fighting Irish defeated DePaul 71-63 in an exhibition contest at Wintrust Arena on Friday night. Notre Dame connected on 12-of-30 from 3 point land (40%) while generating 28 second chance points and forcing DePaul into 17 turnovers.

Fifth year Gonzaga transfer Braeden Smith finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists while shooting 6-of-11 from the field and going 3-of 6 from beyond the arc. Smith displayed excellent quickness and offensive creativity off of dribble drive action. His ability to dictate pace throughout the contest gave the Irish a nearly 33-minute total lead time. Smith consistently pushed the ball in transition while utilizing skip passes to stretch the defense and create bright scoring opportunities for teammates. Although only two assists showed in the game, this number could have easily rose to five to six more. Smith’s skill set was particularly impressive as he created frequent strong connective passes that resulted in quality looks.

Notre Dame was led in the scoring department by intriguing 6’10 sophomore forward Brady Koehler who had 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting while adding five assists and three rebounds in 29 minutes of work. The versatile wing showcased an impressive offensive game while shooting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and converting on all four of his free throw attempts. Koehler demonstrated precision on his shot release as the lefty from Fishers, IN showed his ability to score it off the catch or dribble. He attacked closeouts on zero gap pressure with patience and poise while utilizing pump fakes or jab steps to create separation and finish with soft touch against DePaul’s long interior big men. Koehler also provided passing instincts and confidence operating in ball screen actions while communicating on the defensive end in denial and help positions.

Fifth year 6’5 Penn transfer Ethan Roberts provided a spark for the Fighting Irish to gain further momentum in the second half. Roberts connected on 3-of-6 three point attempts while knocking down 2-of-2 in the second half. On both ends of the floor he showed physicality while crashing the boards and securing five rebounds with four in the second half. True freshman 6’3 guard Jonathan Sanderson also showed an encouraging performance in the second half scoring 7 of his 13, grabbing four rebounds, and dishing out two assists.

For DePaul, Koree Cotton delivered an efficient offensive performance finishing with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. The left-handed 6’6 senior transfer from UTRGV had a quick offensive approach taking advantage of perimeter opportunities while utilizing effective footwork and shot fakes to attack tight lane lines. Cotton brings noticeable energy on both ends showing defensive awareness and the ability to be a playmaker on the offensive end.

Sophomore 6’6 guard Kruz McClure was another encouraging performer for the Blue Demons who had 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting and going 4–f 5 from the free throw line in 32 minutes of action. The lengthy wing provided an intriguing versatile offensive game while scoring from three levels and delivering four assists on multiple accurate lob passes to DePaul’s bigs for above the rim finishes. His wingspan provided value defensively, allowing him to disrupt passing lanes and contest opponents’ shots.

The Blue Demons’ three 7’0 plus bigs had a noticeable effect around the basket. 7’0 senior San Diego State transfer forward Magoon Gwath provides rim protection and lengthy rim running tendances who finished with six points and five rebounds. 7’2 junior center Fabian Flores led DePaul with 14 points and six rebounds while capitalizing on pick and roll scenarios and having four dunks. 7’0 junior center Wilson Jacques also contributed a bucket and two rebounds in 12 minutes of action.

This article was written by Michael Scheiderman of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Eastern Washington Tops CSUB in Exhibition

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Cheyney, WA – In a hard-fought battle to overcome a big deficit, Eastern Washington eventually found their rhythm at home and dominated the last 7 minutes after trailing most of the game in a 71-65 win over Cal State Bakersfield. Andrew Cook led all scorers with 24 points on 50% FG while Emmett Marquardt had the best day on the glass with 9 rebounds. Bryce Cofield led the way for CSUB with 19 points but the Runners could not buy a 3 pointer, going 1-of-11 on the day despite some good looks.

The game started out very clunky with both teams clearly shaking off rust. Kjay Bradley was the initiator early for CSUB, scoring their first points on a layup and creating open driving lanes with quick ball reversals after operating the pick and roll. Andrew Cooklike the rest of his team, started slow, but was able to get his shots when it mattered and finished the first half with 9 points.

The Runners looked like their defense would keep the game out of reach, however coming out of halftime, the Eagles had figured out the double teams and spread the floor much more effectively. When EWU brought the score to within one point, Bryce Cofield sparked a run that resulted in a quick 12 points, widening the gap again. However, Alan Gballou’s disruptivepresence inside changed the game late in the second half and thanks to an explosion of offense from Cook, the Eagles ultimately sealed the game.

Andrew Cook was by far the best player in the game. He finished as the top scorer, also tacking on 5 rebounds (3 offensive), and 3 assists. He came alive late in the game, scoring most of his points in the final seven minutes. Alton Hamilton IV did not have his best game today, failing to reach any of his season averages from 25-26. However, he did take what the coaches told him during halftime and applied the feedback right away, particularly when blitzed. Although he had a rough day statistically (3-8 FG, 8 points, 3 rebounds), he learned from first half mistakes.

Alan Gballou’s performance impressed. His defensive intensity and hard work shut down pick and roll efforts and caused CSUB to work deep into the clock, something they had not done all game. He was also double teamed a couple of times and he was patient, throwing a good cross-court pass to an open shooter in the corner, and drop-stepping and scoring strong despite contact as well.

For CSUB, Kjay Bradley ran the offense. He routinely slithered inside and was able to finish over Hamilton IV (6’9” 235lbs) and the other bigs, despite his size (6’1” 185lbs). When Bradley sat because of foul trouble, Bryce Cofieldtook the reigns, exploding for seven of his 19 points in a two minute span. He showed his speed and ball control as well as his strength, finishing inside through contact and driving straight into his man and giving a hard bump to create separation for an easy shot.

This article was written by Landon Brewer of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Illinois State Shows Promise in Exhibition Win Over Northwestern

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman


NORMAL, IL – Illinois State overcame a halftime deficit to defeat visiting Big Ten opponent Northwestern 70-64 in both teams’ first exhibition game Sunday evening. The matchup marked the first time Illinois State hosted a Big Ten opponent since Purdue visited Redbird Arena in 1999 nearly 27 years ago. The Redbirds forced 20 turnovers and held an 18-9 advantage on the offensive glass, outscoring the Wildcats 38-29 in the second half.

Illinois State was led by 6’9″ forward Noah Cleveland, a 2025-26 Division III 1st Team All-American and the D3hoops.com National Rookie of the Year at Illinois Wesleyan. The Bloomington native recorded a double-double with 10 minutes remaining and finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Senior point guard Johnny Kinziger added 15 points while controlling the tempo and helping Illinois State maintain its preferred pace.

Northwestern started the game off by attacking the paint behind 6’3″ sophomore guard Jake West, who finished with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and seven assists in 28 minutes of work. 6’6 Junior Guard Angelo Ciaravino scored six first half points and finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists. His aggressive drives and activity around the basket helped establish Northwestern’s early offensive rhythm.

Illinois State generated transition opportunities through defensive pressure. Cleveland’s fast-break dunk gave the Redbirds a 25-24 lead with five minutes remaining in the opening half. Northwestern then responded behind West’s play extending its advantage 35-29 before Illinois State 6’3 Sophomore Guard Mason Klabo’s hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cut the halftime deficit 35-32.

The Wildcats opened the second half aggressively extending its’ lead to 44-37 following a layup by 6’7″ graduate forward Jack Karasinski. The Bellarmine transfer finished with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Illinois State then gradually shifted momentum through volume defensive activity and second-chance opportunities. Kinziger connected on a transition three-pointer helping the Redbirds tie the game at 44 with just over 13 minutes left to play.

The Redbirds would then reclaim the lead 50-48 with 9:47 remaining following a Klabo three-pointer. Cleveland converted a contested putback before 6’9 Senior Forward Chase Walker connected from beyond the arc and finished a transition dunk providing a comeback spark. Walker’s tough physical presence provided another productive interior option. Cleveland added another putback before Kinziger converted a turnaround midrange jumper which extended the lead further 61-54 with just over five minutes remaining.

Northwestern made a final push trimming the deficit 63-60 with 2:38 to go. West exited with cramps around this time and did not return. Illinois State maintained its composure and converted free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Cleveland was arguably the game’s most impactful player. In the first Division 1 game of his career, he shot 5-of-8 from the field and demonstrated his ability to finish against Northwestern’s size, including 6’9″ junior Okku Federiko and 7’3″ freshman Symon Ghai. His offensive rebounding, ability to establish positioning against bigger defenders, and consistent rim running activities while finishing in transition were particularly valuable during the second-half comeback.

Kinziger provided valuable perimeter shooting finishing 3-of-7 from three-point range in 34 minutes of action. He showed confidence coming off Cleveland’s and Walker’s screening actions being able to draw opposing bigs away from the basket and creating tight pocket passing opportunities for diving teammates to hit them in stride toward the rim. His ability to read defensive coverage and create separation helped generate clean offensive opportunities. Walker added 11 points and six rebounds while demonstrating continued development as a floor-spacing big option.

For Northwestern, West provided productive court vision while remaining aggressive offensively. Karasinski offered efficient perimeter scoring while Ciaravino’s 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting provided another reliable offensive option.

Despite shooting 51% from the field compared to Illinois State’s 35%, Northwestern struggled with turnovers and free throws committing 20 turnovers and converting just 8-of-17 attempts. Illinois State committed only 10 turnovers, held a 40-37 rebounding advantage, and converted on 17-of-24 from the charity stripe.

Looking ahead Northwestern will host Iowa State next Sunday in its final exhibition contest while Illinois State travels to Green Bay on Saturday to face the Phoenix in its exhibition finale.

This article was written by Michael Schneiderman of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter. We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

VCU Tops Old Dominion in Exhibition Game

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Norfolk, VA – Old Dominion hosted VCU in an exhibition game that resulted with a 71–57 VCU win. ODU looked comfortable in the beginning, moving the ball well, making several good passes, and created an early lead. VCU then raised its defensive pressure and became more aggressive offensively. Lazar Djokovic’s three-point shooting stretched ODU’s defense and opened space for the Rams. VCU seized control with a 17–2 first-half run and took a 41–23 lead into halftime.

From that point, VCU maintained the lead through the final buzzer. ODU came out after halftime looking more ready and played a better second half, outscoring VCU 34–30, but the first-half gap was too large to overcome. Bubu Benjamin led ODU with 14 points, while Djokovic led VCU with 22. ODU’s overall field-goal production and work in the paint were positives, but its three-point shooting finished at 14.3 percent. VCU, by contrast, made half of its three-point attempts in the first half before its shooting cooled after the break. VCU also won the second-chance-point battle 12–6 and its bench outscored ODU’s 33–7.

The teams showed distinct offensive identities. VCU played with a flowing, wave-like rhythm, pushed the ball in transition, and spread the floor with players positioned wide. Dribble handoffs between guards and forwards were common, while VCU also looked to feed a forward when he established a good low-post position. Those actions created open space and shooting opportunities. ODU relied more on bringing the ball down into a pick-and-roll attack, looking to get into the paint and play inside-out. The Monarchs had success scoring inside, but VCU’s pace and pressure changed the game’s direction.

The matchup was highly physical and often choppy. There were frequent fouls, loose-ball battles, and dead-ball stoppages; VCU was charged with 18 team fouls and ODU with 22. The environment was good, and both teams competed hard, although the stop-start flow made the game less attractive to watch. The starting groups included returning players, with Wiggins a notable name for ODU and Djokovic and Brandon Jennings for VCU. ODU’s Italian big, Lucio Martini, was unavailable because of injury. ODU’s coach described the game as a useful learning experience, said the starting lineup was still taking shape, and expressed confidence that the team would look better this season than last year.

Overall, VCU’s defensive adjustment, early perimeter shooting, transition play, bench production, and second-chance advantage drove the win. ODU showed promising ball movement early, paint scoring, and a stronger response after halftime, while its three-point conversion and the large first-half deficit stood out as areas to address. The exhibition gave both teams a demanding physical test and left meaningful questions about how ODU’s rotation and offense will develop as the season begins.

This article was written by the staff of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter. We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Top Performances from the FIBA U17 World Cup

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Istanbul, Turkiye – Following seven intense games of action in Istanbul, the FIBA U17 World Cup concluded with many elite prospects demonstrating highly scalable, transferable skill sets. Evaluating how these pieces project requires looking past raw production and focusing on structural floor geometry, deceleration windows, and defensive processing. By analyzing the film and technical mechanics of the tournament’s top performers, a clearer picture emerges of how their games might translate to higher levels of competition.

Team USA’s 6’11” center Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje was named the MVP of the tournament. The Duke recruit’s level of play scaled up with every passing round to anchor the USA’s gold medal run. Averaging 19.6 points and a tournament-leading 10.9 rebounds per game alongside 2.1 blocks, Boumtje Boumtje established himself as a violent glass cleaner with fundamentally sound box-outs. What makes his projection tantalizing is his internal and external versatility; along with punishing teams inside on putbacks, he flashed an elite shooting stroke by connecting on 53.1 percent of his triples and was highlighted by an overwhelming 31-point, 16-rebound performance against Puerto Rico.

Serbia’s 6’9″ forward Nikola Kusturica functioned as a premier modern two-way weapon, averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game alongside a tournament-wide 24.7 efficiency rating. Utilizing his size, Kusturica applied suffocating on ball pressure defensively while demonstrating sharp weak side anticipation to block shots from the interior out to the perimeter line. Offensively, his explosive first step allowed him to win downhill reps or turn face-up out of the post, enabling him to shoot an elite 60.8 percent on two-point field goals. In the final against Team USA, he maintained high efficiency by aggressively drawing contact to get to the free-throw line 22 times, finishing with 37 points and making 17 free throws.

Türkiye’s 6’3″ point guard Omer Kutluay operated as the tournament’s premier offensive engine, finishing second in scoring with 28.4 points per game while comfortably leading the field with 9.0 assists and adding a solid 6.1 rebounds per game. Kutluay showed a masterclass in pacing and poise under heavy pressure, routinely manipulating defensive geometry out of primary actions. He consistently punished defensive hedges by making precise reads with skip passes or attacking downhill to force low-man rotations and create perimeter shooting space. His exceptional processing speed was on full display in a brilliant quarter-final performance against France, where he logged 30 points and 11 assists with remarkable finesse.

Puerto Rico’s 5’10” guard Dwight Gaines functioned as an absolute lightning bolt off the dribble and catch, averaging 25.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. Gaines weaponized elite foot speed to generate separation against longer, switchable defenders, making him incredibly tough to track through dribble handoffs and tight screen coverage. In the pick and roll, he masterfully utilized a stop-and-go change of pace, sealing the recovering defender on his back before decelerating into contact to draw and-one floaters. Defensively, his anticipation in passing lanes was predatory, leading the tournament with 4.9 steals per game, highlighted by a 36-point, 9-assist, 8-rebound, and 6-steal masterclass against Côte d’Ivoire.

New Zealand’s 6’4″ guard Jayden Cecil exploded as the tournament’s leading scorer, averaging 29.9 points along with 5.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 38.3 percent from deep on high volume. Cecil possesses an elite downhill motor, consistently probing for micro-gaps in the defense where he can explode to the rim with balance. Defensively, he used highly active hands to generate deflections and spark transition opportunities. While he recorded a tournament-high 42 points in group play, his most scalable showing came in a more efficient, lower-volume 37-point performance against Serbia.

Türkiye’s 6’7″ forward Darius Karutasu, averaged 23.3 points and a second-best 10.9 rebounds per game while shooting 43.2 percent from beyond the arc. Karutasu stretched floor geometry as a textbook modern forward, utilizing a remarkably high release point that required minimal catching windows to get his shot off over contesting wings. When defenders over-closed, he showed the functional handle to put the ball on the floor, collapse the paint, and facilitate over the top to vertical lob threats, highlighted by a tournament career-high 37 points and 6 three pointers against New Zealand.

This article was written by Zeya Benitez of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

2026 NBA Mock Draft 6.0

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Version 6.0 (June 23, 2026)

Here is the final version of our 2026 Mock Draft as of 6/23/26. This covers yesterday’s trades as well as some intel we are hearing. NetScouts Basketball’s 2026 NBA Mock Draft is one of the top ten mock drafts featured on the Consensus Mock Draft column on NBA.com. 

Round 1

  1. Washington – AJ Dybantsa, 6’9/205, SF, BYU, Freshman
  2. Utah – Darryn Peterson, 6’5/205, CG, Kansas, Freshman
  3. Memphis – Cameron Boozer, 6’9/250, PF, Duke, Freshman
  4. Chicago – Caleb Wilson, 6’10/215, SF, North Carolina, Freshman
  5. LA Clippers – Keaton Wagler, 6’6/190, CG, Illinois, Freshman
  6. Brooklyn – Darius Acuff Jr., 6’3/190, PG, Arkansas, Freshman
  7. Sacramento – Mikel Brown Jr., 6’5/190, PG, Louisville, Freshman
  8. Atlanta – Aday Mara, 7’3/255, C, Michigan, Junior
  9. Dallas – Kingston Flemings, 6’4/190, PG, Houston, Freshman
  10. Milwaukee – Brayden Burries, 6’4/205, CG, Arizona, Freshman
  11. Golden State – Yaxel Lendeborg, 6’9/235, PF, Michigan, Senior
  12. Oklahoma City – Morez Johnson Jr., 6’9/250, PF, Michigan, Soph  
  13. Milwaukee – Nate Ament, 6’10/207, SF, Tennessee, Freshman .
  14. Charlotte – Karim Lopez, 6’8/220, SF, Mexico (New Zealand) . 
  15. Chicago – Cameron Carr, 6’5/185, SG, Baylor, Soph.
  16. Memphis – Lebaron Philon, 6’4/175, PG, Alabama, Soph.
  17. Oklahoma City – Hannes Steinbach, 6’11/220, C, Washington, Freshman
  18. Charlotte – Bennett Stirtz, 6’4/190, PG, Iowa, Senior
  19. Toronto – Christian Anderson, 6’3/178, PG, Texas Tech, Soph
  20. San Antonio – Ebuka Okorie, 6’2/185, PG, Stanford, Freshman
  21. Detroit – Chris Cenac Jr. 6’11/240, PF/C, Houston, Freshman
  22. Philadelphia – Koa Peat, 6’8/235, PF, Arizona, Freshman 
  1. Atlanta – Dailyn Swain, 6’8/225, CF, Texas, Junior
  2. New York – Tarris Reed Jr., 6’11/265. C, UConn, Senior
  3. LA Lakers – Isaiah Evans, 6’6/190, SG, Duke, Soph.
  4. Denver – Meleek Thomas, 6’5/185, SG, Arkansas, Freshman
  5. Boston –   Joshua Jefferson, 6’9/240, CF, Iowa State, Senior
  6. Brooklyn – Allen Graves, 6’9/225, PF, Santa Clara, Freshman   
  7. Cleveland – Jayden Quaintance, 6’10/255, PF, Kentucky, Soph.
  8. Dallas – Henri Veesaar, 7’0/225, C, North Carolina, Junior

Round 2

  •  31. New York –  Sergio de Larrea, 6’6/200, CG, Spain
  •  32. Memphis – Alex Karaban, 6’8/220, CF, UConn
  •  33. Minnesota – Ryan Conwell, 6’4/215, SG, Louisville, Senior
  •  34. Sacramento – Baba Miller, 6’11/225, PF, Cincinnati, Senior
  •  35. San Antonio – Zuby Ejiofor, 6’9/245, PF, St. John’s, Senior
  •  36. LA Clippers – Trevon Brazile, 6’10/230, PF, Arkansas, Senior
  •  37. Oklahoma City – Richie Saunders, 6’5/200, SF, BYU, Senior
  •  38. Chicago – Jack Kayil, 6’5/195, PG, Germany 
  •  39. Houston –   Maliq Brown, 6’9/225, PF, Duke, Senior
  •  40. Boston – Ugonna Onyenso, 7’0/245, C, Virginia, Senior
  •  41. Miami – Jaden Bradley, 6’3/205, PG, Arizona, Senior
  •  42. San Antonio – Dillon Mitchell, 6’8/205, SF, St. John’s, Senior
  •  43. Brooklyn  –  Bryce Hopkins, 6’7/225, SF, St. John’s, Senior
  •  44. San Antonio – Felix Okpara, 6’11/242, C, Tennessee, Senior
  •  45. Sacramento – Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 6’1/188, PG, Tennessee, Senior
  •  46. Orlando – Tyler Bilodeau, 6’9/235, PF, UCLA, Senior
  •  47. Phoenix – Nick Boyd, 6’2/176, CG. Wisconsin, Senior
  •  48. Dallas – Braden Smith, 6’0/170, PG, Purdue, Senior
  •  49. Denver – Tobe Awaka, 6’8/255, PF, Arizona, Senior
  •  50. Toronto – Rafael Castro, 6’10/226, C, George Washington, Senior
  •  51. Washington –Kylan Boswell, 6’3/205, PG, Illinois, Senior
  •  52. LA Clippers – Keyshawn Hall, 6’7/225, SF, Auburn, Senior
  •  53. Houston – Izaiyah Nelson, 6’9/220, PF, South Florida, Senior
  •  54. Golden State – Nick Martinelli, 6’7/225, SF, Northwestern, Senior
  •  55. New York – Aaron Nkrumah, 6’6/175, SG, Tennessee State, Senior
  •  56. Chicago – Emanuel Sharp, 6’6/210, SG, Houston, Senior
  •  57. Atlanta – Bruce Thornton, 6’2/215, PG, Ohio State, Senior
  •  58. New Orleans – Tyler Nickel, 6’7/220, SF, Tennessee, Senior
  •  59. Minnesota – Quadir Copeland, 6’6/200, CG, NC State, Senior
  •  60. Washington – Trey Kaufman-Renn, 6’9/240, PF/C, Purdue, Senior

This NBA Mock Draft is the work of Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

2026 NBA Mock Draft 4.2

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Version 4.2 (May 29, 2026)

Here is the latest version of our 2026 Mock Draft as of 5/29/26. This is our mock draft after the NCAA withdrawal deadline and with many borderline first and second round prospects electing to return to college.  NetScouts Basketball’s 2026 NBA Mock Draft is one of the top ten mock drafts featured on the Consensus Mock Draft column on NBA.com. 

Round 1

  1. Washington – AJ Dybantsa, 6’9/205, SF, BYU, Freshman
  2. Utah – Darryn Peterson, 6’5/205, CG, Kansas, Freshman
  3. Memphis – Cameron Boozer, 6’9/250, PF, Duke, Freshman
  4. Chicago – Caleb Wilson, 6’10/215, SF, North Carolina, Freshman
  5. LA Clippers – Keaton Wagler, 6’6/190, CG, Illinois, Freshman
  6. Brooklyn – Darius Acuff Jr., 6’3/190, PG, Arkansas, Freshman
  7. Sacramento – Mikel Brown Jr., 6’5/190, PG, Louisville, Freshman
  8. Atlanta – Aday Mara, 7’3/255, C, Michigan, Junior
  9. Dallas – Kingston Flemings, 6’4/190, PG, Houston, Freshman
  10. Milwaukee – Nate Ament, 6’10/207, SF, Tennessee, Freshman
  11. Golden State – Brayden Burries, 6’4/205, CG, Arizona, Freshman
  12. Oklahoma City – Yaxel Lendeborg, 6’9/235, PF, Michigan, Senior
  13. Miami – Lebaron Philon, 6’4/175, PG, Alabama, Soph.
  14. Charlotte – Morez Johnson Jr., 6’9/250, PF, Michigan, Soph  
  15. Chicago – Cameron Carr, 6’5/185, SG, Baylor, Soph.
  16. Memphis – Karim Lopez, 6’8/220, SF, Mexico (New Zealand)
  17. Oklahoma City – Jayden Quaintance, 6’10/255, PF, Kentucky, Soph.
  18. Charlotte – Chris Cenac Jr. 6’11/240, PF/C, Houston, Freshman
  19. Toronto – Hannes Steinbach, 6’11/220, C, Washington, Freshman
  20. San Antonio – Christian Anderson, 6’3/178, PG, Texas Tech, Soph
  21. Detroit – Bennett Stirtz, 6’4/190, PG, Iowa, Senior
  22. Philadelphia – Luigi Suigo, 7’3/240, C, Italy
  1. Atlanta – Ebuka Okorie, 6’2/185, PG, Stanford, Freshman
  2. New York – Dailyn Swain, 6’8/225, CF, Texas, Junior
  3. LA Lakers – Isaiah Evans, 6’6/190, SG, Duke, Soph.
  4. Denver – Meleek Thomas, 6’5/185, SG, Arkansas, Freshman
  5. Boston – Koa Peat, 6’8/235, PF, Arizona, Freshman 
  6. Minnesota – Allen Graves, 6’9/225, PF, Santa Clara, Freshman   
  7. Cleveland – Tarris Reed Jr., 6’11/265. C, UConn, Senior
  8. Dallas – Henri Veesaar, 7’0/225, C, North Carolina, Junior

Round 2

  •  31. New York – Joshua Jefferson, 6’9/240, CF, Iowa State, Senior
  •  32. Memphis – Alex Karaban, 6’8/220, CF, UConn
  •  33. Brooklyn – Ryan Conwell, 6’4/215, SG, Louisville, Senior
  •  34. Sacramento – Baba Miller, 6’11/225, PF, Cincinnati, Senior
  •  35. San Antonio – Zuby Ejiofor, 6’9/245, PF, St. John’s, Senior
  •  36. LA Clippers – Trevon Brazile, 6’10/230, PF, Arkansas, Senior
  •  37. Oklahoma City – Richie Saunders, 6’5/200, SF, BYU, Senior
  •  38. Chicago – Jack Kayil, 6’5/195, PG, Germany  
  •  39. Houston –   Sergio de Larrea, 6’6/200, CG, Spain
  •  40. Boston – Ugonna Onyenso, 7’0/245, C, Virginia, Senior
  •  41. Miami – Jaden Bradley, 6’3/205, PG, Arizona, Senior
  •  42. San Antonio – Dillon Mitchell, 6’8/205, SF, St. John’s, Senior
  •  43. Brooklyn  –  Maliq Brown, 6’9/225, PF, Duke, Senior
  •  44. San Antonio – Felix Okpara, 6’11/242, C, Tennessee, Senior
  •  45. Sacramento – Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 6’1/188, PG, Tennessee, Senior
  •  46. Orlando – Tyler Bilodeau, 6’9/235, PF, UCLA, Senior
  •  47. Phoenix – Bryce Hopkins, 6’7/225, SF, St. John’s, Senior
  •  48. Dallas – Braden Smith, 6’0/170, PG, Purdue, Senior
  •  49. Denver – Tobe Awaka, 6’8/255, PF, Arizona, Senior
  •  50. Toronto – Rafael Castro, 6’10/226, C, George Washington, Senior
  •  51. Washington –Kylan Boswell, 6’3/205, PG, Illinois, Senior
  •  52. LA Clippers – Keyshawn Hall, 6’7/225, SF, Auburn, Senior
  •  53. Houston – Izaiyah Nelson, 6’9/220, PF, South Florida, Senior
  •  54. Golden State – Nick Martinelli, 6’7/225, SF, Northwestern, Senior
  •  55. New Orleans – Aaron Nkrumah, 6’6/175, SG, Tennessee State, Senior
  •  56. Chicago – Emanuel Sharp, 6’6/210, SG, Houston, Senior
  •  57. Atlanta – Bruce Thornton, 6’2/215, PG, Ohio State, Senior
  •  58. New Orleans – Tyler Nickel, 6’7/220, SF, Tennessee, Senior
  •  59. Minnesota – Otega Oweh, 6’4/220, SG, Kentucky, Senior
  •  60.  Washington – Trey Kaufman-Renn, 6’9/240, PF/C, Purdue, Senior

This NBA Mock Draft is the work of Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

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