The 2026 NBA Draft class has a bit of everything. We have already dissected some of the top-end talent, with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer all profiling as potential franchise-changers. We have also done a ton of work on a deep crop of guards. However, we really haven’t taken a look at the centers, despite the fact that it’s also a strong group. The natural place to start is with Michigan center Aday Mara. 

Mara was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and his play as the Wolverines’ man in the middle was huge in Dusty May’s team winning the NCAA Tournament. Mara will now look to make the same mark in the NBA, and his skill set is super intriguing. 

Defensively, Mara is one of the best prospects in this draft. At 7-foot-3, with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, Mara’s ability to protect the rim should make him an instant rotation piece — even if he needs some seasoning. 

Mara took some time to grow into the college player he ended up being, and he’s going to take some time in the pros. In two years with UCLA, Mara was unable to carve out a starting job, with a lack of consistency, poor conditioning, and below-average processing getting the better of him. However, in his junior year, Mara pieced everything together, providing Michigan with a nightly advantage in the paint. 

Mara blocked 2.6 shots per game for the Wolverines, and his 12.0% block rate put him in the 99th percentile in college basketball (according to CBB Analytics). Mara has otherworldly length, strong timing, and an overall desire to put a lid on the rim. That has allowed the big man to make up for a lack of explosiveness when looking at leaping ability. Whereas some shot blockers simply rise up and make plays on the basketball, Mara gets himself in good position, puts his arms up, and uses his elite verticality. 

Mara isn’t just a shot blocker as he's an overall rim deterrent. In the NCAA Tournament, Mara had opponents second guessing whether they should put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. That’s because Mara doesn’t just block shots, but he also alters them. That makes being around the basket uncomfortable for offensive players when Mara is parked there. 

Mara also moves his feet relatively well for a guy his size, so it’s unlikely he turns into a player that can be picked on by pick-and-roll ball handlers. 

Realistically, Mara just profiles as a plug-and-play big for any team looking for help on the defensive end, and that’s especially true for coaches that like to play drop coverage. Mara is big and long enough to get good late-contests on jumpers, making him perfect for that style of defense. 

To give you a better idea of just how impactful Mara is on the defensive end, the junior was in the 97th percentile of Defensive RAPM last season. Also, opponents shot just 54.7% from the floor when Mara was on the court for Michigan, which was good for the 96th percentile in college basketball. 

Mara also does plenty well on the offensive end. The big man undoubtedly leaves a lot to be desired as a shooter, where he’ll need to raise his 56.4% free throw percentage in order to avoid being a Hack-A-Shaq candidate. Also, that free throw percentage makes it somewhat difficult to believe in him as an eventual floor spacer, even if that is something people expect him to add to his game. However, as of right now, Mara is a good play-finisher, he has the passing ability to serve as a part-time playmaking hub, and sets good hard screens while also being a good offensive rebounder. 

If Mara continues to add strength, he should be a real asset on this end of the floor. Just having a massive target in the paint that can either finish or keep the ball moving is a nice safety net for guards. He’s also a good pick-and-roll partner because of his ability to either score or make plays as a short roller. 

The passing really is impressive for a player his size. There’s a lot of UConn Donovan Clingan in the way he consistently made plays in a quick, read-and-react system. Mara can thread the needle hitting cutters, find shooters by passing over the top of a defense, and also make the occasional flashy no-look pass just to show you he isn’t your average five-man. 

Mara’s not going to enter the league and offer Defensive Player of the Year upside. He’s a good defensive prospect, but he’s not a special one. He’s also not going to be a dominant post player, or elite pick-and-roll finisher. But Mara should eventually be a high-quality starting big, capable of anchoring a top-10 defense and doing his job on offense. That’s worthy of a spot in the lottery, and there are plenty of teams that can use what he brings. Think Jarrett Allen with more size and passing ability.