We’re going to be spending a lot of time on some of the top college prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, as this is a relatively weak international class. However, you should know a few of the names coming from overseas. Let’s dive into some of them here.

• Dash Daniels, 6-6 Wing, Melbourne United

Daniels, the younger brother of Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, might be the best international prospect in the 2026 class. It feels a little lazy to say that the two are extremely similar, but that’s the reality here. The Melbourne United wing is an awesome defender, capable of handling tough assignments individually while also creating havoc in a team setting. Daniels is going to swipe the basketball a ton at the next level, and he’s also going to be a menace in passing lanes. 

Daniels should also be a very good connective piece in the NBA. His handle will need to improve in order for him to become a primary on-ball option, but it’s good enough for him to function as a secondary — or tertiary — handler. Daniels can make pretty much every pass you’d want a player to make, he looks like a decent shooter (35.7% from 3 in the NBL), and he can attack closeouts. 

Daniels just needs to keep ironing out his offensive game in order to be more than what his brother is. However, his brother did just sign a four-year, $100 million extension last offseason, so teams will value what Daniels can bring to the table right now. He has an impressive feel for the game, and he digs in defensively. Find me a front office executive that doesn’t admire that. 

• Karim Lopez, 6-8 Forward, NZ Breakers

Lopez is an interesting prospect as he forward has made big strides as a shooter, turning into a consistent threat from behind the three-point line in New Zealand. He now looks like he has the skill set to be a pick-and-pop big, or a knockdown stand-still shooter. That, combined with his 6-8, 220-pound frame, gives him a relatively high floor on the offensive end. 

The issue with Lopez is that there isn’t much upside. While Lopez moves pretty well for a player his size, he doesn’t have a lot of explosiveness. That lowers his ceiling as there’s a genuine inability for him to create off the bounce. Lopez can attack closeouts and get things going as a straight-line driver, but he’s not capable of doing much outside of that. His lack of pop also makes him a bit of a question mark defensively. Will he be able to move his feet well enough to guard threes? And is he strong enough to guard fours? Scouts are going to have a hard time figuring that out. 

• Sergio De Larrea, 6-6 Guard, Valencia

The international prospects in this draft feel like they have less buzz than usual, but that’s especially true for De Larrea. The big, crafty guard is hiding in plain sight with Valencia, but he’ll have no shortage of suitors come draft season. 

De Larrea has turned into a sniper from deep, where he has a quick, high release that he can get to without having to dip the ball — which can look a little like Klay Thompson if you’re squinting hard enough. De Larrea is also a very willing passer, plus a guy that can make plays as a pick-and-roll ball handler. 

De Larrea probably doesn’t have enough quickness to be a full-time on-ball operator, but he can definitely be counted on as a secondary playmaking option — or somebody that can run bench units. He makes good decisions off ball-screens, he can see over defenses with his size, and he’s generally just quick to make reads and move the basketball. 

De Larrea is also a smart team defender, capable of being in the right positions, anticipating how plays are shaping up, and using his size to defend up a little bit. 

De Larrea has a great chance of cracking an NBA rotation somewhat quickly, and he can be a good player for a very long time. 

• Michael Ruzic, 6-10 Big, Joventut

Many thought Ruzic would enter last year’s draft, but he made the decision to stick around for another year with Joventut. The 19-year-old is now trying to prove that he can be a legitimate contributor in the highly-competitive Spanish ACB. So far, Ruzic isn’t playing much more than he did last season. But he’s still flashing the same intriguing skill set. 

Ruzic is a 6-10 big with a 7-1 wingspan and he can shoot the heck out of the ball. Generally speaking, players with his combination of size and stroke have a place in an NBA rotation, so that’s a great place for him to start. However, Ruzic also has a little upside beyond that. He moves very well for a big man, he’s pretty athletic, and he’s a smart player. That helps him on both ends of the floor. 

Ruzic will probably be viewed as a bit of a project come June, and that’s completely fine. His next coaching staff will need to do a lot of work to get him more comfortable in his own skin — and with the style of the NBA game. However, he might look better with NBA spacing than he currently looks in Europe. And there’s a real chance he shines. Former NBA player Sam Dekker, who plays with Ruzic overseas, has gushed about him as a pro prospect. 

Honorable Mentions

• Adam Atamna, 6-5 Guard, ASVEL

Atamna hasn’t generated a lot of first-round buzz, but there’s a chance he plays his way up draft boards. There are question marks about whether he’s actually his listed height of 6-5, but he’s a smooth three-level scorer that works his tail off defensively. So, while he might not have a lot of the physical traits that make up a good perimeter defender, he’ll do his best not to stand out in a bad way. He has real upside because of his feel and versatility as a scorer. 

• Ognjen Srzentic, 6-8 Wing, Mega Superbet

Srzentic is a big scoring wing that has popped for Mega, which has been an NBA talent factory over the years. He has length, functional athleticism, and good overall scoring instincts, even if his movement can look a little awkward. He just needs to add some strength, and the three-ball needs to be more consistent. 

• Mouhamed “Momo” Faye, 6-10 Big, Paris Basketball

Faye might be the best developmental rim-runner in this draft. At 6-10 with a 7-5 wingspan, he has unteachable length. He’s also relatively quick, he plays hard, and it seems like he’s very coachable. He’s a project, but his skill set, motor, and athleticism should make him an intriguing draft-and-stash option.