The Big 12 has some of the top incoming freshmen in the country this season. Whether they’re Day One contributors or more developmental prospects, this conference is loaded with experience, versatility, and potential. While I will undoubtedly miss someone who ends up having a monster season, here are some of my favorite Big 12 players to watch for the 2027 NBA Draft and future drafts as we approach the start of the season.
Arizona
Motiejus Krivas: It was pretty surprising that Krivas withdrew from last year’s draft after looking like one of the more dominant defensive and rebounding bigs in the country. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be a Top 20-25 pick this year. The big area that Krivas HAS to improve is his at-rim finishing. He’s a good cutter, effective on the roll, generates a ton of offensive rebounds, and draws a billion fouls. Unfortunately, he rushes the process, misses a ton of bunnies, and leaves far too many points on the table. If he makes this one improvement while maintaining everything else, he’ll be one of the better bigs in this class. Even if he doesn’t, his defensive positioning and consistency combined with his rebounding and ability to eat up space should still be more than enough for the first round.
Ivan Kharchenkov: Last year, Kharchenkov looked like one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. He was strong, smart, and physical. Not fun for opponents. The problem was that he couldn’t do much of anything outside of the occasional cut on offense. It’s only preseason, but my goodness he looks like he’s about to take a massive leap on offense. He’s been much more dynamic getting to the rim, his shot looks more fluid and comfortable, and we’re seeing a bit more passing from him too. Instead of being an afterthought, Kharchenkov looks like he’s rightfully ascending to being one of the offensive focal points. If he’s able to replicate last year’s defense while maintaining this apparent offensive leap, his draft stock is going to start treading in some dangerous waters.
Ugnius Jarusevicius: Jarusevicius is going to be a fun evaluation. After injuries and bouncing around a few programs, it feels like he’s still barely scratching the surface of who he is as a player. Which could also be rather troubling for a fifth-year senior. Jarusevicius should give Arizona further size and rebounding depth behind Krivas. He should also give them a little different look as he’s tended to be more offensively focused. If he can repeat his play finishing efficiency and expand on its versatility, while also improving as a defender, he could get some second round or two-way interest.
