Aday Mara emerged as the standout big man prospect ahead of Tuesday’s NBA draft, following his prominent role in leading Michigan to its first NCAA championship since 1989. The 7-foot-3, 260-pound center from Spain is expected to be a lottery pick, showcasing elite defensive potential alongside efficient scoring and rebounding.

Mara impressed at the pre-draft combine, ranking first in standing reach at 9 feet 9 inches and second in wingspan at 7 feet 6 inches. Over his junior season, he averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game in just under 24 minutes, while shooting an efficient 66.8% from the field. His game is built around finishing inside, with post-ups accounting for nearly 35% of his offensive possessions, and he demonstrated strong pick-and-roll and cutting abilities. Notably, Mara scored a career-high 26 points with nine rebounds and two blocks in Michigan’s Final Four victory over Arizona. However, his free throw shooting at 56.4% and limited offensive range remain concerns, despite a modest attempt at three-pointers last season.

Other notable big men include Washington’s Hannes Steinbach, Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance, and Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. Steinbach, a 6-foot-10, 248-pound freshman from Germany, averaged a team-leading 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds, including a standout 24-rebound performance against USC. His inside-out game shows promise with 18 made three-pointers at 34%, and he logged 1.2 blocks per game with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. Steinbach’s main drawbacks are limited athletic explosiveness and a turnover rate higher than his assists, raising questions about his playmaking.

Jayden Quaintance’s draft outlook is clouded by injury. The 6-foot-9, 253-pound forward suffered a torn ACL in February 2025 while at Arizona State and later transferred to Kentucky, where he played only four games due to ongoing knee issues. Prior to his injury, Quaintance posted averages of 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in 24 games. At the combine, he impressed with a wingspan better than 7 feet 5 inches and large hand size, but his health status makes his professional projection uncertain.

Chris Cenac Jr., a 6-foot-11 freshman from Houston, brought a versatile skill set to a top-10 program under coach Kelvin Sampson. The McDonald’s All-American led the Cougars in rebounding with 7.9 per game and demonstrated some outside shooting ability by making 30 three-pointers. His 7-foot-5 wingspan ranks among the best in the draft, but Cenac’s offensive impact was inconsistent, and he recorded more turnovers than assists in limited playing time.

Other prospects of note include Henri Veesaar of North Carolina, who averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds and projects as a floor-running, space-creating big; Tarris Reed Jr. of UConn, a strong interior presence with career highs of 14.7 points and nine rebounds who posted a historic 31-point, 27-rebound game in the NCAA tournament; and Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s, known for his physicality and defensive potential. Virginia’s Ugonna Onyenso is regarded as a rim protector and second-round candidate after a standout performance in the ACC tournament, where he recorded a tournament record 21 blocked shots.

The NBA draft’s first round is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday.