College Stars in March Madness Who Could Be Warriors' Top 2026 Pick

Golden State Warriors could target these players if they miss the playoffs and land in the lottery

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:23pm by Ben Kaplan

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With the Golden State Warriors in danger of missing the playoffs and landing in the NBA draft lottery, the team could target several college stars performing in the NCAA Tournament. Players like Tennessee's Nate Ament, Texas Tech's Christian Anderson, Arizona's Brayden Burries, Florida's Thomas Haugh, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, and Connecticut's Braylon Mullins are all potential options for the Warriors' first-round pick in 2026.

Why it matters

The Warriors have struggled this season and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the third straight year, which would give them a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Identifying potential targets among the top college prospects in March Madness could help the team find a future star to build around if they end up in the lottery.

The details

The Warriors are currently in ninth place in the Western Conference with a 33-35 record, meaning they would need to win two play-in games to reach the playoffs. If they fail to make the postseason, they would receive a top-14 draft pick, likely in the back half of the lottery. While there's a chance the ping pong balls could bounce their way into a top-4 pick, more realistically the Warriors' selection would align with their finish and record. Several college players who could be available late in the lottery include Tennessee's Nate Ament, Texas Tech's Christian Anderson, Arizona's Brayden Burries, Florida's Thomas Haugh, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, and Connecticut's Braylon Mullins.

  • The NCAA Tournament begins this week.
  • The 2026 NBA Draft will take place in June 2026.

The players

Nate Ament

A wiry 6-foot-10 freshman combo forward from Tennessee with a 7-1 wingspan, Ament averaged 17.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 7.5 free-throw attempts per game this season.

Christian Anderson

A 6-3 sophomore point guard from Texas Tech who thrives off the ball as a 42.5% 3-point shooter, Anderson averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

Brayden Burries

A sturdy 6-4 freshman from Arizona who can score from all three levels, Burries averaged 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.

Thomas Haugh

A 22-year-old 6-9 junior combo forward from Florida with above-the-rim athleticism, Haugh averaged 17 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A 23-year-old 6-9, 240-pound senior big man from Michigan with a 7-4 wingspan, Lendeborg averaged 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The Warriors' potential lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft could be crucial in finding a future star to build around, and scouting the top college prospects in the NCAA Tournament will be key to identifying the right talent to target.