NBA Draft and HBCUs: Five quick facts

2026 NBA mock drafts project HBCU underdog story as second round pick

An HBCU basketball player is projected to be taken in the 2026 NBA Draft Multiple mock drafts released ahead of Wednesday night’s second round are converging on the underdog story of Tennessee State guard Aaron Nkrumah. Nkrumah, a senior who rose from Division III Worcester State to become Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, has been projected across several outlets to hear his name called somewhere in the back half of the draft. Where Aa…

NBA Draft and HBCUs: Five quick facts

The NBA Draft has a deep connection to HBCUs, even if recent history has made that connection easier to overlook.As the 2026 NBA Draft arrives, HBCU basketball fans once again have reason to watch closely. Tennessee State standout Aaron Nkrumah is one of the names connected to this year’s draft cycle. If selected, he would end a long drought for HBCUs.That possibility makes this a good time to revisit the history. HBCUs have produced NBA champio…