Tarris Reed Jr.’s NCAA Tournament run has been nothing short of spectacular. The UConn Huskies star has turned March Madness into his coming-out party, and he’ll try to send another message tonight when UConn faces Michigan in the national championship game.
Reed has been boosting his professional stock each round, starting with his ridiculous first-round performance when he totaled 31 points and 27 rebounds, joining Elvin Hayes and Jerry Lucas as the only players with a 30-25 game on this stage. But is Reed projected to get selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, and how will his game translate to the next level?
Tarris Reed Jr.’s NBA Mock Draft Projections
This season, Reed is averaging 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 0.9 steals while shooting 61.7% from the field.
He has a strong argument to win the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. Reed joined Tim Duncan, Bill Walton, and Hakeem Olajuwon in an exclusive club, as the only players with 40 points and 40 rebounds through two NCAA Tournament games. He has significantly elevated his game during March Madness, averaging 20.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 0.8 steals while shooting 58.2% from the field.
After transferring from the Michigan Wolverines, Reed has maximized his potential under UConn head coach Dan Hurley while taking on more responsibility.
And yet, Reed’s NBA draft projection is a bit complicated. He’ll be 23 years old in August, and his game does not stretch beyond the arc in a league where that’s now extremely important. He’s currently the No. 55-ranked prospect in PFSN’s NBA Mock Draft Simulator, and ESPN ranks him as the 63rd-best prospect on their 2026 NBA Draft big board, meaning there’s a chance he doesn’t even get drafted.
It’s possible a team will take a flier on him in the second round, especially after this dominant NCAA Tournament run. However, teams often prioritize young players with untapped potential over older, proven contributors, so he’ll need to have a very strong pre-draft process to combat his age and play style.
Even if he doesn’t get drafted, he should receive a ton of interest from NBA teams as an undrafted free agent, and then he’ll have NBA Summer League and training camp to prove he belongs.
2026 NCAA Men’s National Championship Game Preview: UConn vs. Michigan
What to Expect From the UConn Huskies
What the Huskies are trying to do is nothing short of historic. Winning three national titles in four years will put them in rarified air and cement Hurley as one of the greatest coaches in modern basketball history.
The most-recent obstacle in their path was a No. 3-seeded Illinois team that had been one of the most consistent squads in the entire tournament. But a balanced attack from the Huskies proved too much for the Fighting Illini.
UConn was once again led by Reed, who finished the game with 17 points and 11 boards. Braylon Mullins chipped in 15, including another critical 3-pointer after his exploits helped UConn pull off a miraculous comeback win against Duke in the Elite Eight.
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Strong inside play and a tough defensive effort helped guide them to the national championship game, as they held the Illini to 62 points on the night. Now, they will attempt to win their seventh national title in program history.
It would also mark the third championship win for Hurley, who would become the only active Division I men’s basketball head coach with more than two titles to his name.
What to Expect From the Michigan Wolverines
With two No. 1 seeds colliding, it would have been fair for fans to assume that they were tuning in for a classic in the Final Four clash between Michigan and Arizona. Instead, what they got was a one-sided beatdown from the Wolverines.
Taking an early lead, they dominated their way to a 91-73 victory over the Wildcats and it never felt particularly close. However, for the Wolverines, the night may not have been complete euphoria, as they walked away with a significant injury.
Yaxel Lendeborg, who’s already earned an All-American spot and also has a solid Most-Outstanding-Player argument, came away with a sprained ankle and injured knee after landing on a defender’s foot.
While he was still able to add 11 points in 14 minutes and he’s expected to play tonight, it remains to be seen if he’s hobbled or on a minute restriction. Fortunately for Michigan, the Wolverines have an extremely balanced offensive attack and became the first team in NCAA Tournament history to eclipse 90 points five times.
A double-digit lead less than six minutes into the game sold the story of the game, as Arizona couldn’t get anything going on offense. Eventually, the Wolverines were able to slam the door shut.
Now, they walk into the national championship game trying to prevent history as they face another battle-tested group in UConn.
