One NBA draft cycle ends, and another immediately begins.
There wasn’t much Wisconsin flavor in the 2026 proceedings, with the University of Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd, Marquette’s Chase Ross and former Menomonee Falls High School standout Seth Trimble all going undrafted but signing deals that get a foot in the door of the NBA.
The lack of Wisconsin ties should change in 2027, with some intriguing prospects ready for their opportunity.
It’s hard to predict who will actually end up in this draft class, with the lure of name, image and likeness money and revenue sharing making staying in college often the more lucrative option. The always-shifting NCAA rules – including five years of eligibility for incoming players – are also a factor.
But here are some familiar names who could be relevant in the 2027 NBA draft.
Amari Allen (Alabama)
The do-everything former Ashwaubenon High School star strongly considering staying in the 2026 draft before opting to return to the Crimson Tide for his sophomore season under head coach Nate Oats, a fellow Wisconsin native.
Allen has been listed at 6-foot-8 in college, but at the NBA combine he was measured at just over 6-5 while barefoot. That probably caused NBA front offices to consider him more of a guard than a forward. So Allen will benefit from playing a more on-ball role next season after being a glue guy as a freshman.
Where does Allen land in way-too-early mock drafts? ESPN: 26th; The Athletic: 10th
Milan Momcilovic (Kentucky)
The former Pewaukee High School star also pulled out of the 2026 draft, becoming an in-demand transfer from Iowa State who landed a lucrative deal from Kentucky.
The 6-8 Momcilovic is one of the top snipers in college basketball, and sharpshooters can thrive in Kentucky coach Mark Pope’s offense. That skill should get him drafted, but NBA front offices also will likely want to see how much Momcilovic improves his defense.
Where does Momcilovic land in way-too-early mock drafts? ESPN: 39th; The Athletic: Other names to watch (mock draft is only one round)
John Blackwell (Duke)
Blackwell put his name in the draft twice during his three seasons at Wisconsin. This last time, he had already committed to Duke as a transfer, so after withdrawing from the draft, he will play for the Blue Devils.
After sharing the UW backcourt with Boyd, the 6-2 Blackwell hopes to have more reps running the offense under Duke head coach Jon Scheyer.
Where does Blackwell land in way-too-early mock drafts? ESPN: 60th; The Athletic: Not listed.
Three names to watch in college for 2026-27 season
Names emerge from seemingly nowhere in every NBA draft cycle. Here are a few players who could break out next season and land on front office’s radars.
Davion Hannah (South Carolina)
The 6-6 former Nicolet High School player spent an injury-riddled freshman season at Alabama. Now he’ll play at South Carolina under former UW assistant Lamont Paris, with Sam Dekker also on the coaching staff. Hannah’s size and athletic ability give him a high ceiling, but he’ll have to show it on the court.
Nolan Minessale (Marquette)
A true wild card. The 6-5 Minessale, who won a state championship at Marquette High School, was one of the best mid-major players as a sophomore at St. Thomas. He has extremely long arms and surprising bounce, a combination that always draws attention of NBA scouts. Now at Marquette, Minessale will have to prove himself against top-tier talent and answer questions about his shooting.
Nolan Winter (Wisconsin)
The 7-footer will be the Badgers’ only returning starter after averaging 13.1 points and 8.5 rebounds as a junior. A big man with shooting touch will always get a close look from NBA teams.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What Wisconsin-connected players could be in 2027 NBA Draft?
Reporting by Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
