Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that former Santa Clara forward Allen Graves will keep his name in the 2026 NBA draft, opting against a return to college basketball.
The 6-foot-9 Louisiana native had entered the transfer portal last month but has now shut that door, ending speculation that he might suit up for another school next season. LSU was widely viewed as the favorite if he returned to the NCAA, and Graves confirmed at the NBA draft combine that he had spoken with LSU and Duke while Kentucky contacted his representatives.
Graves, 20, emerged as one of last season’s biggest surprises after arriving on campus as an unranked recruit and redshirting his first year. Coming off the bench in 2025-26, he averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals in fewer than 23 minutes per game. He shot better than 40% from beyond the arc and finished in the national top 20 in offensive rating, top 60 in offensive rebound percentage and top 10 in steal rate, according to advanced metrics.
The forward produced several standout performances, including 18 points and nine rebounds against Gonzaga in January, a 30-point outburst versus Washington State in February and 17 points with seven boards in an NCAA tournament first-round loss to Kentucky.
ESPN’s latest mock draft projects Graves as the No. 22 overall pick. His decision, first reported by DraftExpress, positions him as one of the top analytics-favored prospects in the 2026 class.
Source: ESPN
