March Madness is officially over — once again delivering and serving as the main showcase for future NBA prospects, and this year’s class more than upheld the expectations throughout the 2025-26 season.
Reminder: May 10th will be a crucial day for the draft cycle, as it is draft lottery night, and the Oklahoma City Thunder owns the Philadelphia 76ers‘ (top-four-protected) first-round pick. They also own (swap rights) with the Clippers’ first-round pick. Making it a storyline to check on throughout the draft process.
Here are four names to know and watch for the Thunder — post: March Madness.
Thunder Prospects to Watch
Dream Fit: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
After spending the beginning of his collegiate career in Juco and then a couple of years at UAB, he led No. 1-seeded Michigan to a National Championship. Lendeborg is the latest transfer success story. He’s averaged 15.1 points on 52.3% shooting from the floor, 6.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.4 stocks. He shot 38.3% from beyond the arc on 4.5 attempts per game. The 6-foot-9 super senior is the oldest prospect in lottery discussions. His size, versatility, and feel make him the dream target for the Thunder in their current projected range.
Sleeper Pick: Darrilyn Swain, Texas
Slowly working his way up, Swain has had quite the jump, with his draft stock unquestionably rising during the final few months of the season. He’s now being talked about in the lottery range, despite being a junior. The production and efficiency can’t be ignored. He’s averaged 17.3 points on 54.2% shooting (60.3% from two) from the floor, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. He’s shot 81.5% from the free-throw line on 5.6 attempts. The 6-foot-7 junior showcased his all-around skill set. Ultimately, being one of the leaders who led Texas as the lone double-digit seed to a Sweet 16 in the West region.
Dark-horse Pick: Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers
Stepping away from the tournament and into an International prospect. Here’s a name that many will become familiar with throughout the draft process. Lopez played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL. He showed the ability to handle physicality against grown men. He averaged 11.9 points on 49% shooting from the floor, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 stocks. The 6-foot-8 18-year-old is in late lottery/mid-first round talks. His combination of upside, size, physical tools, versatility, and positional flexibility makes him an ideal prospect for the Thunder’s system.
Highest Ceiling Pick: Nate Ament, Tennessee
It was an up-and-down season; however, as it progressed, Ament showed why he was a projected lottery pick, becoming more comfortable. He’s averaged 17.5 points on 40.5% shooting, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. He’s shot 33.1% from beyond the arc on 4.1 attempts per game. The upside, as a three-level scorer and positional versatility, is what stands out for him. The 6-foot-10 freshman will likely be one of the highest ceiling prospects. The numbers and film back it up. He was one of the driving forces behind Tennessee’s Elite Eight run in the Midwest region.
Main Image: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
