Which college hoops stars in March Madness could be Warriors' top 2026 pick?

BOSTON — So long as the Golden State Warriors are positioned to return to the Western Conference’s play-in tournament for a third straight year, the chance — and maybe the likelihood — remains that they’re bound for the lottery in the NBA draft. At 33-35 after snapping their five-game losing streak Monday, they’re currently in ninth place in the Western Conference, which means they’d need two wins to reach the playoffs. Lose in the play-in tournament, and the Warriors will garner a top-14 draft pick, one that would likely land at the back end of the lottery. There’s always a chance the ping pong balls bounce the Warriors into a top-4 pick, as happened with the Dallas Mavericks last year, soaring to the No. 1 pick overall last year after losing in the play-in tournament, giving them the opportunity to pick Cooper Flagg. In this year’s draft, the top four picks might be BYU wing AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke big man Cameron Boozer and North Carolina wing Caleb Wilson — potentially franchise-altering talents in a deep draft pool. More likely than not if Golden State misses the playoffs, however, the team’s pick will align with their finish and record. With that to consider and with the NCAA Tournament starting this week, here’s a group of prospects that could be available at the end of the lottery should the Warriors falter in the play-in round: Nate Ament, Tennessee: Ament is a wiry freshman combo forward who stands 6-foot-10 with a 7-1 wingspan and room to add mass. He shoots with touch from deep and mid-range and uses his size to get to the basket, leaning more on fluidity and craft than quick-twitch burst athleticism. The 19-year-old averaged 17.5 points (40.5% shooting, 33.1% from 3-point range) and 6.6 rebounds, embracing contact en route to 7.5 free-throw attempts per game. Defensively, he covers wings with the length and size to match bigger forwards and the potential to add more weight to his frame. Christian Anderson, Texas Tech: Anderson skews smaller as a 6-3 sophomore who plays the point but thrives off the ball as a high-volume 42.5% shooter from three. He’ll knock down jumpers off the dribble or the catch and drive through closeouts into the paint, where he’ll use a tight handle finish at the basket or drop off dimes to shooters or cutters. Brayden Burries, Arizona: A sturdy 6-4 freshman who plays on and off the ball, Burries, 20, can get to the basket, score from mid-range and score from deep, on or off the ball. He’ll bend around ball screens and snake to the basket or spot up for open jumpers from range, beating closeouts with mid-range jumpers, tear-drop floaters or above-rim finishes. Thomas Haugh, Florida: As a 22-year-old junior combo forward, Haugh is a sturdy 6-9 connector with above-the-rim punch, a penchant for contact and national championship pedigree. He’ll screen and cut his way to layups, embracing collisions at the basket while defending the frontcourt with energy and versatility. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan: The senior big man is a ready-made rotation player as a hybrid power forward-center, at 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds (with a 7-4 wingspan). He can bang with bigs, guard on the perimeter and disrupt offense as a help defender and ravenous rebounder. Braylon Mullins, Connecticut: A smooth-shooting 6-6 freshman guard, Mullins converts from NBA range while relocating, bending around screens or spotting up in space when he’s off the ball. Close out too hard, and the 19-year-old counters with drives that end in shorter jumpers, floaters or finishes.