In addition to skilled scorers<\/a>, the 2026 class could produce a handful of talented defenders.<\/p>\n Here is a look at a few players with the highest defensive upside in this year’s draft.<\/p>\n Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan<\/p>\n Johnson helped Michigan win the national championship with an impressive performance on defense and as a rebounder.<\/p>\n The sophomore averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 62.3% from the field.<\/p>\n At the NBA Combine, Johnson measured 6-foot-9 without shoes and recorded a 7-foot-3-and-a-half wingspan while weighing 250 pounds. The former four-star recruit’s blend of strength and mobility for a player of his size and stature make him an impressive precsence on defense.<\/p>\n Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky<\/p>\n Originially set to begin college in 2025-26, Quaintance reclassified and graduated high school a year early. <\/p>\n The former five-star recruit had a productive 2024-25 season at Arizona State, averaging 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 52.5% from the field.<\/p>\n A knee injury sidelined Quaintance for the end of his freshman and most of his sophomore seasons, as the talented big man appeared in just four games for Kentucky in 2025-26.<\/p>\n At the combine, Quaintance measured 6-foot-9 without shoes, notching a 7-foot-5-and-a-quarter wingspan while weighing 253 pounds. <\/p>\n If Quaintance fully recovers from his knee injury, the 18-year-old’s lateral quickness and other physical tools could make him an elite defender at the next level.<\/p>\n After two seasons at Xavier, Swain transferred to Texas when former Musketeers head coach Sean Miller was hired by the Longhorns.<\/p>\n In his lone season at UT, Swain averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 54.2% from the field and 34.4% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n At the combine, Swain measured 6-foot-6-and-a-half barefoot and recorded a 6-foot-10 wingspan while weighing 211 pounds. With good size and length, the All-SEC honoree was a good perimeter defender in college, and could contribute the same skill set in the NBA.<\/p>\n Honorable mentions<\/p>\n
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