The NBA is known for its extensive list of accolades, from the Most Valuable Player to the best executive, teammate of the year, and even All-Summer League selections. There’s certainly no shortage of recognition. However, participants in the NBA Draft Combine typically receive no specific honors—beyond, of course, the potential for being drafted and securing lucrative contracts that could establish generational wealth. Nevertheless, let’s acknowledge some outstanding performances from this week by presenting awards to 10 top individuals:
The House Money Award: Cameron Carr, Baylor junior wing
In my initial post-lottery mock draft, Carr was projected to go 21st to the Pistons. There was no real expectation for him to participate in scrimmages. Yet, he opted to play anyway, and following his showing in Chicago this week, his chances of landing in the lottery have significantly increased.
Carr’s measurements included a 6-foot-5 height with an impressive 7-foot-1 wingspan, along with a 43-inch max vertical leap and the fastest pro lane agility time. Then, during Wednesday’s scrimmage, he exploded for 30 points, hitting 6 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc and driving powerfully to the rim for three dunks—two of which were self-created on fast breaks and one an alley-oop finish. His decision to play proved highly beneficial. While a poor performance could have negatively impacted his standing, he emerged as the dominant player on the court, leading even Mavericks supporters to consider him for the ninth pick.
After two seasons at Tennessee, Carr transferred to Baylor, where he refined his ability to score with the ball in his hands, achieving 37% shooting from long range and tallying 47 dunks—the third-highest among guards nationally, according to CBB Analytics. In many respects, Carr’s performance in Chicago mirrored his established game. However, it offered valuable reassurance for teams to witness him perform at such an elevated level against his peers, especially given his 65% shooting against Quad 3 and 4 teams compared to only 43% against Quad 1 and 2 teams. That 22% field goal percentage difference ranked as the ninth-largest in the country, per CBB Analytics.
A strong showing in Chicago solidified the belief that he could be far more than just a typical 3-and-D specialist.
Best Audition of the Week: Tarris Reed, UConn senior center
Reed’s impressive 7-foot-4 wingspan was recorded on Monday, and he subsequently showcased the rest of his abilities during the scrimmages. On Wednesday, he contributed 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in 19 minutes, demonstrating his interior dominance and adeptness at switching on defense. His performance on Thursday was even more notable, with 17 points, 5 boards, and 2 blocks, coupled with the same remarkable agility.
Exhibiting defensive prowess in open space was precisely what NBA teams hoped to observe from Reed. While his effectiveness as a drop defender is widely acknowledged, elite all-around defenders must also be comfortable switching onto smaller players after a screen and holding their own, or extending out to guard shooting bigs beyond the arc.
Reed successfully demonstrated all these attributes across the two scrimmages, building on his impactful year at UConn and solidifying his profile as a potential late-first-round pick.
Sixth Man of the Week: Ryan Conwell, Louisville senior guard
Conwell stood out as one of college basketball’s most electrifying shooters. He converted 41% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, often hitting these shots off screens with tight defensive pressure. He also consistently made challenging shots off the dribble. Therefore, it was encouraging to see Conwell translate this skill to the Draft Combine’s shooting drills—he sank 28 of 30 shots off the dribble, placing him first, and connected on 19 of 25 shots in the 3-point star drill, tying for the top spot.
Coming off the bench in both scrimmage games, he recorded five assists on Wednesday before unveiling his scoring ability on Thursday with 21 points, including five made 3-pointers, fully embracing his role as a quick-scoring “microwave” offensive threat.
Although Conwell measures only 6-2, he registered a 6-7 wingspan, which was arguably the most significant positive development this week. This length, combined with a broad frame supporting 215 pounds, allows him to play with a level of physicality uncommon for most guards. Teams in search of immediate offensive production from their bench will consider his shooting, strength, and a consistent track record of improvement at every program he joined, seeing him as a worthwhile bet for a late-first or early second-round selection.
Quote of the Week: Cameron Boozer, Duke freshman big
“If a team wants to hang a banner in the rafters, I’m definitely the guy.”
Cameron Boozer was one of the big winners at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Melissa Tamez)
Boozer delivered that statement to Andscape. It’s an exceptionally bold claim. And, remarkably, it could prove accurate, especially considering his measurements: 6-8 barefoot with a 7-2 wingspan and a 253-pound frame. This represents ideal size for a power forward, with sufficient length and bulk to effectively play small-ball center when needed. Concerns had been raised about his ability to defend in open space. However, Boozer recorded a lane agility score superior to both Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson, and equal to AJ Dybantsa. While he doesn’t appear overtly fast, his movements are so streamlined that he achieves quicker results than his counterparts.
This is just one data point, but it’s part of a growing pattern where Boozer consistently refutes his skeptics. Underestimating his capacity to translate his talents to the court could be a significant error.
Resurrection of the Week: Baba Miller, Cincinnati senior forward
Miller’s journey has been arduous and circuitous. Once hailed as a favorite among Draft Twitter circles after his freshman year, Miller moved from Florida State to Florida Atlantic and then to Cincinnati. His college career concluded disappointingly with a four-point, 0-for-6 shooting performance, coupled with seven turnovers, in a crucial Big 12 tournament overtime loss.
However, if you had previously counted him out, his impressive showing this week might just bring you back in. He measured at 6-11 and then delivered two strong scrimmage performances, tallying 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals on Day 1, followed by 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists on Day 2. Notably, he committed zero turnovers overall, while exhibiting the same ball-handling, shooting, and defensive versatility that have long captivated draft enthusiasts.
The Who-He-Play-For Award: Aaron Nkrumah, Tennessee State senior wing
What a remarkable progression for the native of Worcester, Massachusetts. Nkrumah began his collegiate career at a Division III institution, Worcester State, before spending two years at Tennessee State, where he developed his game into that of a versatile shooter, reliable passer, and disruptive defender.
Although Nkrumah did not receive an invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational, he secured a last-minute chance to attend the G League Combine, where he excelled and subsequently earned a spot at the Draft Combine. In Chicago, he measured at 6-5 with a 6-10 wingspan, then proceeded to accumulate 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists across two scrimmages, while maintaining a high-energy defensive presence.
It is highly probable that Nkrumah will secure an NBA two-way contract this coming autumn.
The See You In 2027 Award: Matt Able, NC State freshman wing
Able appeared in 34 games off the bench, averaging only 8.8 points and shooting 36% from beyond the arc. So, why is he participating in the NBA Draft Combine?
Scouts largely regard him as a prospect who, in just one year, could become a lottery selection. Despite being only 6-4, he demonstrates fluid ball-handling and possesses exceptional shot-making abilities. These skills were prominently displayed with 15 points on Day 1 and 17 points on Day 2 of the Combine. He can shoot effectively off movement, absorb contact in the paint, and exerts strong effort on defense.
Whether he remains in the draft pool or transfers to North Carolina next season to play under former NBA head coach Michael Malone remains to be seen. However, his current production appears more likely to be a promising preview for next year.
The Wait, Can He Shoot? Award: Morez Johnson, Michigan sophomore forward
Johnson’s measurements were 6-9 in height, 251 pounds in weight, with a 7-4 wingspan and an 8-11 standing reach. No one required these specific measurements to recognize Morez as an extraordinary natural athlete. However, seeing the numerical confirmation reinforces initial observations and contributes to the growing evidence that Johnson could evolve into a rare five-position defender.
Nonetheless, the most significant trend to observe with Johnson is his shooting progression. As an Illinois freshman, he did not attempt a single 3-pointer and made only 62% of his free throws. Subsequently, at Michigan, he improved to 78% from the free-throw line and 34% from three-point range on just one attempt per game. Then, at the Combine, he impressively converted 17 out of 25 shots in the 3-point star drill.
Should Johnson continue to excel from long range in pre-draft workouts, he could solidify his status as a guaranteed lottery pick.
The International Riser: Luigi Suigo, Mega center
Suigo’s measurements were an impressive 7-3 height and 289 pounds, accompanied by a 7-6 wingspan. These figures are remarkable, especially considering he is not merely a slow, traditional center. Suigo exhibits some agility in open court, flashes promising shooting talent, and possesses an excellent knack for passing. Several bigs are currently ranked ahead of him in this year’s class, partly due to limited immediate exposure to Suigo’s play overseas for Mega—the renowned basketball big man factory that has developed talents like Nikola Jokić, Ivica Zubac, and Goga Bitadze.
There is a strong likelihood that Suigo will withdraw his name from the draft to attend BYU or Villanova, as he has indicated he would likely need to be a top-20 selection to remain in the draft. This is because he could easily become a top-10 pick in just one more year.
The Fred VanVleet Award: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee senior guard
Gillespie measured just under 6-feet, at 5-11 3/4, which did not particularly surprise NBA teams. However, he then delivered an outstanding performance in the first scrimmage, scoring 28 points and thoroughly outplaying Tyler Tanner of Vanderbilt, another small guard aiming to be drafted.
Tennessee’s offensive rating stood at 122.5 with Gillespie on the floor this season, compared to just 93.6 when he was off, marking the second-largest impact tied to any player in the country, according to CBB Analytics. The Draft Combine environment allowed him to demonstrate these same attributes through his 3-point shooting, his ability to dissect a defense, and his talent for minimizing turnovers.
Each year, a senior guard emerges who either gets selected in the second round—or even goes undrafted, as VanVleet once did—and subsequently surpasses expectations for his draft slot. Gillespie possesses all the characteristics to be that individual in this current cycle.
