TITLE: Johnson Joins 2026 NBA Draft Pool; Daniels, Atamna, Ruzic and Faye Stay Put
SLUG: 2026-draft-johnson-bagayoko-ishchenko-daniels-atamna
CONTENT:
Ann Arbor, MI — Michigan forward Morez Johnson declared for the 2026 NBA draft while preserving his college eligibility, days before Friday’s early-entry deadline.
The 6’9” sophomore averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks this season after transferring from Illinois. Johnson started every game for the Wolverines, capping the year with 12 points, 10 boards and two blocks in the national championship win over Connecticut. He sits No. 27 on ESPN’s Jeremy Woo big board and No. 24 in Jonathan Wasserman’s Bleacher Report mock draft, praised for his strength, versatility and high motor.
Prospects bypassing the 2026 draft
Four international prospects have opted against entering this year’s draft, according to Draft Express’ Jonathan Givony:
- Dash Daniels (NBL, Australia) — Ranked No. 49 by Woo and No. 42 by Wasserman. The 6’6” guard, brother of Atlanta Hawk Dyson Daniels, averaged 4.2 points but shot just 37.9% from the foul line.
- Adam Atamna (ASVEL, France) — No. 58 for Woo, No. 40 for Wasserman. The 6’4” guard posted 8.1 points and 2.1 assists in 15.6 minutes per game, flashing shot-making and playmaking upside.
- Michael Ruzic (Joventut, Spain) — No. 63 on ESPN’s board. The 6’8” power forward improved his perimeter touch during the season.
- Mouhamed Faye (Paris, France) — Rated No. 82 by Woo and No. 48 by Wasserman. The 6’9” center averaged 5.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 14.9 minutes a night.
Additional early entrants
Bassala Bagayoko, a 6’9” Malian big man with Spain’s Bilbao, has declared. The 19-year-old logged 13.4 minutes per game in Liga ACB, averaging 4.3 points and 3.6 rebounds. Though unranked by ESPN and Bleacher Report, he owns a reported 7’1” wingspan and is lauded for his energy.
Russian forward Vsevelod Ishchenko has also entered the draft. The 6’8” wing recorded 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 22.8 minutes per contest for Lokomotiv Kuban. While unranked by major boards, scouts note his blend of size and versatility, highlighted by a 7’0” wingspan.
The NBA’s early-entry deadline arrives Friday night, after which the league will publish the full list of applicants.
Source: Hoops Rumors
