CHARLOTTE, N.C. (TheACC.com) – Eight Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball players were picked Wednesday in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, which was held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. In all, 12 ACC players from nine league schools were selected in the 2026 draft, the league’s most since 13 were chosen in 2019 and the 19th time in which at least 10 ACC players were picked in the draft.
Duke’s Isaiah Evans was the first ACC player to come off the board on Wednesday, going No. 33 overall to the Brooklyn Nets, who then traded his rights to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Louisville’s Ryan Conwell then was chosen with the 37th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who then packaged him in a trade to the Miami Heat.
Duke’s Maliq Brown was picked No. 44 overall by the San Antonio Spurs, and Virginia Tech’s Tobi Lawal followed at No. 48, selected by the Dallas Mavericks.
ACC players comprised three straight picks from 52 to 54. North Carolina’s Henri Veesaar was chosen No. 52 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, who then traded his rights to the Atlanta Hawks. Virginia’s Ugonna Onyenso was selected next at No. 53 by the Houston Rockets, with his rights then traded to the Detroit Pistons. Florida State’s Lajae Jones was picked No. 54 overall by the Golden State Warriors.
SMU’s Jaron Pierre Jr. was the final ACC player to be selected, going No. 58 overall to the New Orleans Pelicans.
On Tuesday, four ACC players were selected in the draft’s first round. Three ACC freshmen standouts were chosen among the top six players in the draft, marking the first time in which three ACC players were chosen in the top six of the NBA Draft since 2019.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer was the No. 3 overall selection, going to the Memphis Grizzlies. North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson was selected No. 4 overall by the Chicago Bulls, and Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. was chosen No. 6 overall by the Brooklyn Nets. He is the Cardinals’ highest draft choice since Felton Spencer was selected sixth overall in 1990.
Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie was drafted No. 17 overall by Oklahoma City, with the Thunder then trading his rights to the Detroit Pistons.
The ACC boasts 214 NBA Draft selections since 2000, by far the most of any conference.
ACC in the 2026 NBA Draft:
Round/Selection, Player, NBA Team
1/3, Cameron Boozer (Duke), Memphis Grizzlies
1/4 Caleb Wilson (North Carolina), Chicago Bulls
1/6, Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville), Brooklyn Nets
1/17, Ebuka Okorie (Stanford), Oklahoma City Thunder (proposed trade to Detroit Pistons)
2/33, Isaiah Evans (Duke), Brooklyn Nets (proposed trade to Minnesota Timberwolves)
2/37, Ryan Conwell (Louisville), Oklahoma City Thunder (proposed trade to Miami Heat)
2/44, Maliq Brown (Duke), San Antonio Spurs
2/48, Tobi Lawal (Virginia Tech), Dallas Mavericks
2/52, Henri Veesaar (North Carolina), Los Angeles Clippers (proposed trade to Atlanta Hawks)
2/53, Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia), Houston Rockets (proposed trade to Detroit Pistons)
2/54, Lajae Jones (Florida State), Golden State Warriors
2/58, Jaron Pierre Jr. (SMU), New Orleans Pelicans