JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s president said Thursday that the country would send its troops into communities to help police fight the scourge of illegal mining and gang violence in its two provinces with the two biggest cities.
According to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, “organized crime is now the most immediate threat to our democracy,” endangering both economic stability and public safety, particularly in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
“Children here in the Western Cape are caught in the crossfire of gang wars. People are chased out of their homes by illegal miners in Gauteng,” he told Parliament in his annual State of the Union address. As a result, “I will be deploying the South African National Defence Force to support the police,” Ramaphosa said.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, with an average of around 63 killings per day in 2025. Guns are the most commonly used weapon, according to authorities, and illegal firearms are used in many crimes, despite the stringent rules governing gun ownership.
Authorities in South Africa have long struggled to prevent gangs of miners from entering some of the 6,000 closed or abandoned mines in the gold-rich nation to search for remaining reserves. The government claims that the miners, referred to as “ zama zamas, ” or “hustlers” in Zulu, are typically armed, undocumented foreign nationals who are involved in crime syndicates. In 2024 alone, South Africa lost over $3 billion in gold to the illegal trade, according to authorities.
Ramaphosa said to combat the negative effects of rising crime rates on people’s lives, the government is prioritizing technology-driven intelligence and coordinated law enforcement against criminal syndicates.
The country’s Minister of Police and the South African National Defence Force are now tasked with developing a technical plan to deploy South Africa’s security forces within the next few days to address gang violence and illegal mining.
The Trump administration reached a trade deal with Taiwan on Thursday, with Taiwan agreeing to remove or reduce 99% of its tariff barriers, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative said.The agreement comes as the U.S. remains reliant on Taiwan for its production of computer chips, the exporting of which contributed to a trade imbalance of nearly $127 billion during the first 11 months of 2025, according to the Census Bureau.Most of Taiwan’s exports to the U.S. will be taxed at a 15% rate, the USTR’s office said. The 15% rate is the same as that levied on other U.S. trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Japan and South Korea.Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attended the signing of the reciprocal agreement, which occurred under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. Taiwan’s Vice Premier Li-chiun Cheng and its government minister Jen-ni Yang also attended the signing.”President Trump’s leadership in the Asia-Pacific region continues to generate prosperous trade ties for the United States with important partners across Asia, while further advancing the economic and national security interests of the American people,” Greer said in a statement.The Taiwanese government said in a statement that the tariff rate set in the agreement allows its companies to compete on a level field with Japan, South Korea and the European Union. It also said the agreement “eliminated” the disadvantage from a lack of a free trade agreement between Taiwan and the U.S.The deal comes ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China in April and suggests a deepening economic relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan.Taiwan is a self-ruled democracy that China claims as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. Beijing prohibits all countries it has diplomatic relations with — including the U.S. — from having formal ties with Taipei.The agreement would make it easier for the U.S. to sell autos, pharmaceutical drugs and food products in Taiwan. But the critical component might be that Taiwanese companies would invest in the production of computer chips in the U.S., possibly helping to ease the trade imbalance.In a separate but related deal, Taiwan will make investments of $250 billion in U.S. industries, such as computer chips, artificial intelligence applications and energy. The Taiwanese government says it will provide up to an additional $250 billion in credit guarantees to help smaller businesses invest in the U.S.The investments helped enable the U.S. to reduce its planned tariffs from as much as 32% initially to 15%.Taiwan’s government said it will submit the reciprocal trade deal and investment plans to its legislature for approval.The U.S. side said the deal with Taiwan would help create several “world-class” industrial parks in America in order to help build up domestic manufacturing of advanced technologies such as chips. The Commerce Department in January described it as “a historic trade deal that will drive a massive reshoring of America’s semiconductor sector.”In return, the U.S. would give preferential treatment to Taiwan regarding the possible tariffs stemming from a Section 232 investigation of the importing of computer chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.TSMC, the chip-making giant, is expected to be the key investor. It has committed to $165 billion in investments in the U.S., including not only fabrication plants but also a major research and development center that would help build a supply chain to power U.S. artificial intelligence ambitions. Major U.S. tech companies such as Nvidia and AMD rely on TSMC for manufacturing highly advanced chips.Taiwan also said the investments will be two-way, with U.S. companies also investing in key Taiwanese industries. Nvidia this week signed a land deal in Taipei to build a headquarters office there.
WASHINGTON —
The Trump administration reached a trade deal with Taiwan on Thursday, with Taiwan agreeing to remove or reduce 99% of its tariff barriers, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative said.
The agreement comes as the U.S. remains reliant on Taiwan for its production of computer chips, the exporting of which contributed to a trade imbalance of nearly $127 billion during the first 11 months of 2025, according to the Census Bureau.
Most of Taiwan’s exports to the U.S. will be taxed at a 15% rate, the USTR’s office said. The 15% rate is the same as that levied on other U.S. trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Japan and South Korea.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attended the signing of the reciprocal agreement, which occurred under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. Taiwan’s Vice Premier Li-chiun Cheng and its government minister Jen-ni Yang also attended the signing.
“President Trump’s leadership in the Asia-Pacific region continues to generate prosperous trade ties for the United States with important partners across Asia, while further advancing the economic and national security interests of the American people,” Greer said in a statement.
The Taiwanese government said in a statement that the tariff rate set in the agreement allows its companies to compete on a level field with Japan, South Korea and the European Union. It also said the agreement “eliminated” the disadvantage from a lack of a free trade agreement between Taiwan and the U.S.
The deal comes ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China in April and suggests a deepening economic relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan.
Taiwan is a self-ruled democracy that China claims as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. Beijing prohibits all countries it has diplomatic relations with — including the U.S. — from having formal ties with Taipei.
The agreement would make it easier for the U.S. to sell autos, pharmaceutical drugs and food products in Taiwan. But the critical component might be that Taiwanese companies would invest in the production of computer chips in the U.S., possibly helping to ease the trade imbalance.
In a separate but related deal, Taiwan will make investments of $250 billion in U.S. industries, such as computer chips, artificial intelligence applications and energy. The Taiwanese government says it will provide up to an additional $250 billion in credit guarantees to help smaller businesses invest in the U.S.
The investments helped enable the U.S. to reduce its planned tariffs from as much as 32% initially to 15%.
Taiwan’s government said it will submit the reciprocal trade deal and investment plans to its legislature for approval.
The U.S. side said the deal with Taiwan would help create several “world-class” industrial parks in America in order to help build up domestic manufacturing of advanced technologies such as chips. The Commerce Department in January described it as “a historic trade deal that will drive a massive reshoring of America’s semiconductor sector.”
In return, the U.S. would give preferential treatment to Taiwan regarding the possible tariffs stemming from a Section 232 investigation of the importing of computer chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
TSMC, the chip-making giant, is expected to be the key investor. It has committed to $165 billion in investments in the U.S., including not only fabrication plants but also a major research and development center that would help build a supply chain to power U.S. artificial intelligence ambitions. Major U.S. tech companies such as Nvidia and AMD rely on TSMC for manufacturing highly advanced chips.
Taiwan also said the investments will be two-way, with U.S. companies also investing in key Taiwanese industries. Nvidia this week signed a land deal in Taipei to build a headquarters office there.
Lamb Of God are heading into oblivion and they’re doing it their own way. In a new interview with Hardlore, vocalist Randy Blythe opened up about the mindset behind the band’s tenth studio album, due out March 13 via Epic Records, revealing a creative process rooted less in reinvention and more in hard-earned perspective.
Asked how the band approached the follow-up to their 2022 self-titled release, Blythe shrugged off the idea of a dramatic overhaul. “Much in the same way we went about approaching album number nine, number eight, number seven,” he said, framing Into Oblivion as part of a long, continuous evolution rather than a sharp left turn.
The real change, according to Blythe, has come internally. Over the last five or six years, Lamb Of God have consciously worked to put individual egos aside in favor of what serves the band as a whole — no small feat for a group of “five very different people” who once thrived on friction.
“When you’re a younger band… writing was very contentious,” Blythe admitted. “Somehow in our old age, as we wander off into Alzheimer’s-riddled legacy territory, we’ve learned to get along better than we ever did.”
That shift is guided by a principle Blythe attributes to playwright Tennessee Williams: “You must be willing to murder your darlings.” In practice, it means being ruthless with ideas — even beloved ones — if they don’t serve the greater good. “Better is better,” Blythe added bluntly. “It sounds stupid, but it’s true.”
One visible result of that thinking is a notable aesthetic change. Into Oblivion marks the first time in 27 years that Lamb Of God have altered their band logo. Blythe didn’t mince words about why.
“Our logo, to be perfectly honest, needed changing,” he said. “It’s the papyrus font. Had we known 20-whatever years ago that we would wind up looking like a falafel restaurant menu, we wouldn’t have used that.”
News of the album arrived alongside the release of the title track, “Into Oblivion,” paired with a video directed by Tom Flynn and Mike Watts. For guitarist Mark Morton, the record represents creative freedom above all else.
“For me, the album is about having the space to breathe creatively and not feeling like we have to keep up with any trend or expectation,” Morton said. “Let’s just make music that we think is cool — which is really where it all started.”
The title itself carries a darker weight. Blythe explained that Into Oblivion reflects what he sees as a broader cultural collapse, particularly in the U.S. “Because that’s where we’re heading,” he said. “The album is about the ongoing and rapid breakdown of the social contract. Things are acceptable now that would’ve horrified people just 20 years ago.”
Lamb Of God is set to return to the road this March for what promises to be the heaviest tour of 2026, with the North American trek featuring support from Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg. Get those dates below and get your tickets here.
3/17 National Harbor, MD The Theater MGM National Harbor 3/19 Montreal, QC Bell Centre 3/20 Toronto, ON GCT Theatre 3/22 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre 3/24 Minneapolis, MN Armory 3/25 Chicago, IL Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom 3/27 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium 3/28 Salt Lake City, UT The Union Event Center 3/30 Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds 3/31 Seattle, WA WAMU Theater 4/1 Vancouver, BC PNE Forum 4/3 San Francisco, CA The Masonic 4/4 Inglewood, CA YouTube Theater 4/5 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre 4/7 Albuquerque, NM Revel Entertainment Center 4/10 Austin, TX Moody Amphitheater 4/11 Irving, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 4/12 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall 4/14 Nashville, TN War Memorial Auditorium 4/15 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre 4/16 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater 4/18 Reading, PA Santander Arena 4/19 Virginia Beach, VA The Dome 4/21 Buffalo, NY Buffalo RiverWorks 4/23 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount 4/25 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena 4/26 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
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After suffering a devastating loss to Canada in the gold medal game four years ago, the U.S. women’s hockey team is on a revenge tour at the 2026 Winter Olympics. It’s been a rousing success thus far. The Americans rolled to a perfect 4-0-0-0 record in the preliminary round, including a blowout win over rival Canada, and they will now face Italy in the quarterfinals.
Team USA entered this tournament as the gold medal favorite, and it has looked the part through four games. The Americans outscored preliminary round opponents 20-1, and they’ve won three consecutive games by a score of 5-0. Caroline Harvey is tied for the tournament lead with seven points, and Alex Carpenter has found the back of the net in each game.
2026 Winter Olympics medal count: Keep track of Team USA’s quest for gold in Italy
Austin Nivison
As a result of that dominance, the U.S. has earned the top seed in the knockout round, and it will face No. 8 seed Italy. Unlike the five teams in Group A, the Italians had to earn a top-three spot in Group B to reach the quarterfinals. The team representing the home nation came up with wins over France and Japan and finished the preliminary round 2-0-0-2, which was good enough for six points and the final spot in the knockout round.
The quarterfinal matchups are win-or-go-home games as the tournament shifts to a single elimination format the rest of the way. Teams will be re-seeded according to the standings prior to the semifinals. The U.S. women’s hockey team has never fallen short of the semifinals at the Olympics, and this year’s team is heavily favored to reach the medal round again.
Below is everything you need to know about how to watch Team USA’s quarterfinal clash with Italy, as well as how they got here.
U.S. women’s hockey Olympic schedule
All times Eastern
Preliminary round
Thursday, Feb. 5: USA 5, Czechia 1
Saturday, Feb. 7: USA 5, Finland 0
Monday, Feb. 9: USA 5, Switzerland 0
Tuesday, Feb. 10: USA 5, Canada 0
Quarterfinal
USA vs. Italy | Friday, Feb. 13 | 3:10 p.m. | USA Network
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SOCORRO, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico Tech is embracing artificial intelligence, launching a new initiative called the Institute for AI. “I think we’re setting ourselves apart from other schools,” New Mexico Tech Computer Science Student Cody Johnston said. “We’re learning new ways to mimic the brain. So neuro networks and machine learning is us trying to […]
Mae Estes is carrying the torch forward for traditional country music, but she’s doing it in her own unique way.
Her juxtaposition of classic country and modern edge is why Estes is one of Taste of Country’s RISERS: 2026 Artists to Watch.
Who Is Mae Estes?
Estes is a 32-year-old singer-songwriter who originally hails from Arkansas.
She spent years in Nashville honing her craft while sometimes working as many as three other jobs, and that paid off in 2020, when she finally landed a song publishing deal.
She released her debut EP, Before the Record, in 2023, and “Thinkin’ Bout Cheatin'” was her first official single, accompanied by a video.
Estes released a self-titled EP via Big Machine Records in October of 2025.
Her music marries sharp, plain-spoken songwriting, traditional country elements including pedal steel and fiddle, and modern production techniques.
What Are Mae Estes’ Top Songs?
“Thinkin’ Bout Cheatin'” is one standout track that received a lot of play, and “Mountain of a Man” garnered positive attention from media outlets.
What Are Mae Estes’ Career Highlights?
Estes has earned more than 30 million streams online, and the Arkansas CMA has honored her as its Female Vocalist of the Year multiple times.
Her high-profile gigs include the Grand Ole Opry, Music City Grand Prix, the Bluebird Cafe, CMA Fest, Nissan Stadium, the Country Music Hall of Fame and more.
AIMP named Estes its 2024 Rising Songwriter-Artist of the Year, and CMT included her in its Next Women of Country Class of 2024.
Wide Open Country, Cowgirl Magazine, Entertainment Focus, Country Now and more have showered her music with praise, and she’s also opened for major artists including Brad Paisley and Luke Bryan.
What’s Next for Mae Estes in 2026?
Her official website shows a string of tour dates already on the books in 2026, both in the U.S. and overseas.
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Who had the most played country song during the year you were born? This list is a fascinating time capsule of prevalent trends from every decade in American history. Scroll through to find your birth year and then click to listen. Some of these songs have been lost through the years, many of them for good reason!
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In 1999, Shania Twain‘s Come on Over album became the first to top the year-end chart in back-to-back years, but that feat has been done four times since, most recently in 2022. Which country album defined your childhood? Scroll down to find out.
The electric car maker expects to boost its production by around 50% this year after the company’s results blew past Wall Street estimates for the fourth quarter.
NBA draft analyst and writer Joined ESPN.com in 2023 Covered the NBA and NBA draft for Sports Illustrated from 2015-2023
Multiple Authors
With the NBA trade deadline in the rearview, the college basketball postseason approaching and a stellar freshman class continuing to make headlines, it’s full steam ahead toward the 2026 NBA draft. The shape of this class has come into focus over the past six weeks, with quite a bit of star power lining the top of the group. The stakes and anticipation rise as lottery-bound teams continue angling for better draft odds.
The headliners of this class have lived up to their billing, comprising one of the most talented college freshman classes in recent memory. Darryn Peterson remains atop the board amid a strange, injury-plagued season. AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer have largely been excellent. The emergence of Caleb Wilson, Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler has added real depth at the top.
Adding more stakes to this year’s draft is the thought that it could be many teams’ best opportunity to acquire a foundational player, as league sources continue to note the absence of obvious star power in the 2027 and 2028 draft classes. Time will tell, but that perception has certainly made it easier for teams such as the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards to move with competitive urgency at the trade deadline. This is shaping up as a highly consequential draft lottery.
With the vast majority of top prospects playing for teams that are projected to make the NCAA tournament, there’s quite a bit left to play out over the final stretch of the season. League sources continue to anticipate a major wave of college returners, with NIL spending power having tilted financial incentives in that direction for players who are not safely projected in the first round — meaning the names on this board will likely look a lot different come June.
Here are ESPN’s updated top 100 rankings for the 2026 draft class, including breakdowns for the top 25. This process is informed by my own player evaluation and intel from around the NBA and college ranks, and it offers a representation of the available player pool and insight into executives’ and scouts’ views.
The simplest piece of Peterson’s evaluation has been his staggering talent: When available, he has continued to mount a strong case as the top prospect in the draft. Decision-makers from nearly every lottery-bound team were in attendance for his spectacular 18 points in 20 minutes on Jan. 31 against AJ Dybantsa and BYU, marred only by another early exit due to cramping. The hope is that his health will trend up, as he logged 35 minutes two days later against Texas Tech and hit the game-winning shot. However, the saga continued Monday when he was a late scratch against Arizona with flu-like symptoms, marking the 11th game he has missed this season. The unusual nature of Peterson’s situation has created questions in NBA circles that can’t be fully answered until teams receive his medicals in the spring.
For now, Peterson’s outstanding shot-creation skills and All-NBA upside appear to outweigh those concerns. A healthy close to the campaign on a Kansas team with real postseason aspirations could further separate him, but the current roller coaster has kept the door open for other candidates in a strong class. Peterson’s unusual poise, athleticism and shotmaking bona fides make him one of the most advanced teenage guards in recent memory. In his best moments, it doesn’t feel like a tough call at the top of the draft; NBA teams would simply like to see more of him.
2025-26 stats: 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 13 games
play
0:32
Darryn Peterson hits back-to-back clutch 3s to lift Kansas past Texas Tech
Darryn Peterson comes alive late with back-to-back treys to lead No. 11 Kansas to a big road win in Lubbock.
NBA execs widely view Dybantsa as Peterson’s most direct competitor for the No. 1 spot because of the forward’s combination of positional size, strength and explosiveness coupled with strong production. Dybantsa’s style of play isn’t always aesthetic, and he’s still developing as a jump shooter, but he draws fouls in bunches and wields a greater physical advantage than most players in the draft. He also is beginning to show growth as a decision-maker, improving in recent weeks, finding teammates and being patient. His long-term potential has earned him the benefit of the doubt from many evaluators, while Big 12 teams continue to pack the paint and throw tough defensive looks at him. He’s in the midst of one of his best stretches of the season, with excellent showings against Oklahoma State, Houston and Baylor.
Dybantsa’s offensive upside in particular appears immense, and the strides he’s made in-season have kept him in the conversation at No. 1. There are still plenty of improvement areas: He needs to polish his handle, shoot from 3 with more consistency and be a more engaged defender. This will require some patience and investment, but the ceiling has kept teams excited.
2025-26 stats: 24.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists in 24 games
Boozer continues to lead the 22-2 Blue Devils with his offensive dominance and looks ready to produce in the NBA. It’s hard to argue with his overall body of work, impeccable offensive feel and productivity, which have drawn comparisons from scouts to players such as Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Love. Similarly, Boozer is not a vertically gifted rim protector and is viewed as a tweener defensively — not especially quick at the 4 and undersized at the 5. This has been the primary concern from league sources as they split hairs among the top prospects. On the defensive end, opposing teams have had some success putting Boozer in screens and forcing him to defend actions, and he sometimes struggles to recover and contest out onto shooters. There’s some worry that these are the type of issues that tend to get exploited in the playoffs.
In other words, the question with Boozer largely centers around the value of his archetype from a big-picture standpoint: He is viewed as a very safe bet but perhaps not a sexy one. While some of his shortcomings were on display against North Carolina on Saturday, it’s important not to look past what he’s doing, as even Boozer’s lesser games tend to result in double-doubles. A major opportunity lies ahead for Boozer on Feb. 21, as Duke will play Michigan and its NBA-sized frontline, giving him a chance to keep addressing overarching questions.
2025-26 stats: 23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists in 24 games
play
0:20
Cameron Boozer’s and-1 extends Duke’s late lead
Cameron Boozer gets to the rim and draws the and-1 to extends Duke’s late lead.
Wilson has continued to produce at a high level in ACC play and looks to be the prospect best positioned to potentially leap into the top three on draft night. He demonstrated that on Saturday with an outstanding game against Duke and Cameron Boozer, putting on a midrange scoring display and impacting both ends of the floor with his energy. It remains to be seen whether he can jump Boozer in the long-assumed draft hierarchy, but a game like that laid out the argument, with Wilson’s dynamic athleticism and effort leaving a major impression.
Although Wilson is unpolished as a ball handler and a perimeter shooter (just 7-for-27 from 3-point range), his physicality and motor have largely covered for it, as he is extremely quick off the floor and has been aggressive and opportunistic. His skill level has to improve in order for him to live on the perimeter in the NBA, which means his projection requires a bit more imagination than the other consensus top prospects. But his long-term upside as an impact two-way star has put him in the discussion higher than this current spot for some evaluators, adding a potential wrinkle depending on how the lottery ultimately falls.
Editors note: Wilson is out with a fracture in his left hand that he suffered in Tuesday’s game against Miami. The evaluation process is ongoing to determine when he will return.
2025-26 stats: 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists in 24 games
Flemings continues to make a compelling top-five case while working through some ups and downs, with a 42-point showing at Texas Tech on Jan. 24 being the latest high point. An instrumental part of a high-quality Houston team, Flemings’ confidence and assertiveness have noticeably grown over the past couple of months. He puts immense pressure on the paint with his speed, finishing and willingness to play through contact.
He is an unselfish and skilled passer who shines on the open floor. Though his jumper has room for improvement, he has made significant strides and alleviated some scouts’ preseason concerns. Flemings’ size, pace and upside as a playmaker continue to set him apart in a deep, talented point guard class.
2025-26 stats: 16.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists in 24 games
There’s no hotter name in NBA circles right now than Wagler, a former three-star high school recruit who has become a genuine lottery talent on the heels of a breakout January. Stepping into expanded ballhandling duties after an injury to Kylan Boswell, Wagler has been a revelation, making nine 3s in a 46-point outburst at Purdue on Jan. 24.
He has looked the part as a future NBA lead guard by making excellent decisions, punishing defensive coverages and knocking down shots from long range. In lieu of top-end strength or explosiveness, Wagler has the positional size and instincts to keep defenders off balance. His emergence has elevated Illinois as one of the top offensive teams in college basketball, and he has vaulted to the top of draft discussions in a remarkably short time, something he has more than earned based on the quality of his play.
2025-26 stats: 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists in 25 games
play
0:37
Keaton Wagler banks buzzer-beater from beyond half court
Keaton Wagler banks buzzer-beater from beyond half court
It shouldn’t be surprising that Ament has figured things out at Tennessee after an early adjustment period, averaging 20.1 points on 46% shooting in SEC play entering Wednesday. He fits an archetype as a jumbo skill player who can handle and shoot from range that NBA teams are always willing to chase early in the draft. Evaluators have generally been forgiving of the context, as Ament has been asked to facilitate and create a lot for a team that has little playmaking around him.
Ament sometimes struggles to get consistent separation from defenders, but his ability to rise up over them at his size tends to be translatable to the NBA. While his top-five preseason projection has dimmed a touch while others have emerged, Ament remains a strong lottery bet with appealing positional size, versatility and upside.
2025-26 stats: 17.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists in 23 games
Acuff has put together an excellent freshman season while leading Arkansas and placing himself in the lottery discussion with his playmaking, improved shot selection and growth as a decision-maker. He was reputed to be a shoot-first player in high school, but he continues to show the capability to make teammates better and facilitate winning.
There are reservations around the league about his archetype as a smaller, ball-dominant lead guard who is a one-position defender, which often comes with roster-building downside. Still, Acuff’s loud flashes of shot-creating talent make him worth considering in the back half of the lottery for teams in search of help at point guard, a position presently viewed by execs as the deepest in the draft.
2025-26 stats: 20.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists in 24 games
Brown snapped out of a slump with an impressive career-high 45 points Monday night against NC State, putting on display his shooting ability (10-of-16 from deep) and reminding scouts of his offensive upside. Before that game, he was at 27% from 3 on the season and had been struggling from the field since returning from a monthlong absence due to injury.
The circumstances have made Brown tricky to evaluate for NBA execs, with concerns about his availability as well as efficiency struggles amid a heavy reliance on taking tough shots. When his shots are falling, his offensive ceiling is obvious, as he also is a capable playmaker for others. However, he isn’t a plus defender. Scouts want to see more consistency, and he might need a strong close to the season to enhance his case in a strong guard group.
2025-26 stats: 17.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists in 16 games
play
1:22
Mikel Brown Jr. scores career-high 45 points in Louisville’s blowout win
Mikel Brown Jr. scores 45 points with 10 3-pointers as Louisville takes down NC State.
NBA teams have continued making the long trip down under to see Lopez, who put together a strong January, including 32 points on Jan. 30 against Melbourne in a game with playoff implications. Now up to 50% shooting from the field on the season, his positional size, perimeter skill and toughness give him a strong developmental base to build on. Lopez has helped stabilize his stock with his productivity, no small feat being 18 years old in a pro league.
Scouts’ questions center around how much offense Lopez will be able to create for himself and how much he’ll improve as a shooter (31.5% from 3), as he isn’t fleet of foot and has to rely on skill and craft. But the dearth of bigger wings in this class and his improved production should help his case.
2025-26 stats: 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 29 games
Amid a breakout season leading Florida, Haugh stands out as a safe, reliable option who will appeal to teams looking for immediate rotation help. He has been the bellwether for the defending champs, who have figured things out after a slow start and depend heavily on Haugh on both ends of the floor.
Haugh’s positional size, mobility, toughness and nonstop motor make him a versatile option who wins extra possessions and doesn’t need his number called on offense to produce. He likely won’t create much offense for himself, but this type of profile slots in well alongside star talent, and Haugh has begun to make 3s with consistency. Scouts view him as a viable choice in this part of the draft, despite his age.
2025-26 stats: 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2 assists in 23 games
Although Lendeborg will turn 24 in September, making him an older first-round rookie, he looks like another easy plug-and-play target starting in the late lottery. He can play on the perimeter and guard multiple positions with his strong frame, 7-foot-4 wingspan and mobility, enabling him to fit into all types of lineups while keeping size on the floor defensively.
While Lendeborg’s 3-point shooting (29.9%) has been streaky and his age points to limited developmental upside — he began his college career in 2020 — he already has a valuable skill set and should be of interest to any team in need of frontcourt help beginning in this range.
2025-26 stats: 14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists in 23 games
Steinbach has been productive while logging major minutes (33.5 per game) on a struggling team. His dependable rebounding and effort, above-average skill level and ability to play out of different spots on the floor give him a chance to carve out a solid NBA career.
Scouts’ questions are centered on how to project his upside as an undersized center who isn’t the quickest defensively. Steinbach offers some offensive versatility and has flashed the ability to space the floor (35.1% from 3), making him one of the safest big man bets once the top names are off the board.
2025-26 stats: 17.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 21 games
While Mullins hasn’t quite broken out the way some scouts were hoping, he continues to draw lottery consideration on the strength of his 3-point shooting, making 41% of those attempts in conference play. An ankle injury slowed his start to the season, and his role in UConn’s deliberate offense has limited some of what he can show in terms of ball skills.
Teams will be eager to see more of him on the ball in predraft workouts as they assess what else he can bring offensively, beyond his gravity as a shooter. Evaluators remain high on Mullins’ makeup and NBA upside, and he remains in the late lottery mix.
2025-26 stats: 11.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 17 games
Though NBA scouts broadly view Cenac as more of a long-term project, he has played well lately, taking jumpers with more confidence and showcasing his defensive versatility. His mix of mobility and skill potential coupled with continued improvement this season have kept him in the one-and-done picture.
There are still questions about Cenac’s consistency and lack of a true calling card skill, but fluid athletes with shooting touch at his size aren’t easy to find. A strong close to the campaign will help his case as a developmental pick in the back half of the lottery.
2025-26 stats: 9.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists in 24 games
There’s a lot to like about Peat’s toughness, physicality and rugged style of play as a key driver for Arizona. His jump shot struggles, lack of ideal height for his position and limited rim protection, however, have raised questions among evaluators about how well his game will translate to the NBA. Developing a consistent 3-point shot will be imperative for him to maximize his versatility.
Peat’s specific weaknesses make him polarizing, but there will still be situational appeal for teams due to his qualities as a role player and winning history.
2025-26 stats: 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 24 games
Burries has played his way into the one-and-done mix, bouncing back from a challenging start to the season and making a case as the top prospect on a loaded Arizona team. He has shown ability as a secondary playmaker with solid catch-and-shoot chops, and he has decent size for a combo guard. He also has rebounded well from his position and has been solid defensively.
Burries isn’t explosive off the floor and sometimes struggles to score in traffic, which could limit his upside as a creator. But he has looked increasingly like a future NBA rotation fixture while making a major impact for a contending team. He has a big enough platform to keep rising the rest of the season.
2025-26 stats: 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 24 games
Quaintance, an Arizona State transfer, has played in just four games this season and has been shut down indefinitely with knee swelling. It’s unclear if he will try to play the rest of the way, and NBA scouts presently have more questions than answers about him as a prospect. The circumstances make him a tricky case ahead of the draft, given the limited amount of minutes he’ll have on his résumé following ACL surgery in March 2025.
Quaintance’s defensive upside and ability as a lob threat should keep him in the lottery mix, but barring a return this season, he won’t be able to strengthen his case until the predraft process begins. His limited body of work — averaging 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds last season — points to a wide draft range.
2025-26 stats: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 0.5 assists in 4 games
After taking on expanded offensive duties this season, Anderson has moved into the first-round conversation, thanks to excellent 3-point shooting (43.6%), strong court vision and effective game management. While not overwhelming from a physical standpoint, his ability to play on and off the ball, operate with a screen and make things easier for teammates are strengths that make him valuable.
Anderson isn’t the flashiest and doesn’t create for himself at an elite level, but he has helped himself significantly after entering the season outside the first-round picture. The depth at his position might present some intriguing stay-or-go questions for Anderson and other underclassman guards projected outside the lottery.
2025-26 stats: 19.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists in 22 games
Ngongba can be a bit of a divisive prospect for scouts, with his impact as a passer and a steady defender not always translating into box score stats. Detractors harp on his lack of vertical explosiveness, need to gain strength and improvement to his frame. He is a ways from reaching that potential, but his well-rounded skill base, efficiency around the rim and 7-foot-4 wingspan are positive points.
Ngongba might never be a go-to scorer and isn’t a good 3-point shooter, but he should be able to do a lot of the things NBA teams need from the position as he matures, making him an interesting long-term bet.
2025-26 stats: 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2 assists in 23 games
Philon is one of the shiftiest scorers in this class, and he turned in a good showing in a rivalry game against Auburn over the weekend. He has displayed all-around strides this season, keeping himself in the first-round picture and offering shot-creation chops as a ball handler.
Without top-end strength or explosiveness at his position, he projects better as a combo guard who can give teams an extra punch off the bench rather than as a full-time point guard. More shoot-first than setup man, he’ll need to keep improving as a playmaker for others and sharpen his long-range shooting. The breadth of other options at his position makes Philon more of a candidate in the middle to late first round.
2025-26 stats: 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists in 22 games
Stirtz has played extremely well recently, stringing together seven straight 20-point games, and is now above 40% from 3 on the season. There’s a bit of dissonance between the eye test and his extreme efficiency, as he doesn’t get great separation from defenders at times and isn’t a dynamic athlete on either end of the floor.
Stirtz has a knack for scoring and navigating screens, and his hot shooting stretch will only help his case as teams looking for immediate backcourt help evaluate the potential first-round guards.
2025-26 stats: 19.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists in 23 games
Carr continues to post strong individual numbers in what has been a breakout individual season, although Baylor has struggled in Big 12 play. He offers a viable NBA framework as an explosive leaper with 3-point range and a 7-foot-1½ wingspan who can add value defensively and on the glass.
Carr has been asked to create a lot this season and often struggles to improvise when playing off the dribble, something that likely limits him to more of an off-ball 3-and-D mold in an NBA context. But his shooting and physical tools are positive separators that will earn him long looks in this range of the draft for teams in need of wing help.
2025-26 stats: 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 24 games
Yessoufou has found his stroke lately, hitting 11 3s over the past three games. He has shown improved consistency, and he put up 37 points against BYU on Monday in his best performance of the season. His impressive frame, developing scoring instincts and strong defensive potential have kept him in the first-round conversation, but it might take him some time to harness all of it.
Yessoufou isn’t the most natural playmaker for teammates, and his shot selection can be overly aggressive. It also might take time for him to find a niche and settle into the right role on a contending team. Continuing to show growth as a shooter and a decision-maker will help his case the rest of the way.
2025-26 stats: 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 24 games
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Tounde Yessoufou gets a steal then a tough and-1 in transition
Tounde Yessoufou gets a steal then makes a tough and-1 in transition for Baylor.
Evans has been hot and cold on shooting 3s at 35.2% (down from 41.6% last season), but he has obvious NBA-caliber shotmaking chops and shoots fluidly off movement. That skill set coupled with plus positional size have kept him in the first-round picture.
Evans is still raw as a ball handler, needs to gain strength and can be a more consistent defender, but his ability to knock down tough shots is a separating factor in this part of the draft. When he has it going from long range, it’s easy to argue for the upside.
2025-26 stats: 14.3 points, 3 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 24 games
