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Anderson and Graves Remain in 2026 NBA Draft

5/27/2026

26 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Anderson, Graves Stay

Christian Anderson and Allen Graves will stay in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Anderson averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, shot 41.5% from three and recorded a 40.5-inch vertical at the Chicago combine.
Graves averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and hit a game-winning three against Kentucky before Santa Clara lost 89-84 in overtime.
Players must withdraw by 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday.
The draft begins in New York on June 23.

Summary

McCasland Revamps

Coach Grant McCasland is revamping Texas Tech’s backcourt after Anderson stayed in the draft.
He added transfers Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (UNLV) and Cruz Davis (Hofstra), averaging over 20 points, while JT Toppin’s torn ACL leaves his availability uncertain.
Agent Aaron Mintz confirmed Anderson’s decision, noting his No. 16 mock-draft ranking and a silver at the FIBA U19 World Cup.

Summary

Anderson NBA Prospect

Christian Anderson posted an Instagram farewell thanking Lubbock and describing Texas Tech as home.
He averaged 18.5 points per game, ranking fifth in the Big 12 for the 2025-26 season.
He recorded 7.4 assists per game, leading the conference and placing him among the nation’s leaders.
Anderson said his performance could make him Texas Tech’s first first-round NBA Draft pick since Jarrett Culver in 2019.

History

Historical Context

On June 20 2019 the NBA held its draft at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, where Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver, who declared on April 18, was taken sixth overall by the Phoenix Suns. That year a record 233 college underclassmen entered the draft, a trend that 2026 prospect Christian Anderson is now following and hopes to be drafted.

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Anderson, Graves Stay

Christian Anderson and Allen Graves will stay in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Anderson averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, shot 41.5% from three and recorded a 40.5-inch vertical at the Chicago combine.
Graves averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and hit a game-winning three against Kentucky before Santa Clara lost 89-84 in overtime.
Players must withdraw by 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday.
The draft begins in New York on June 23.

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