NBA · 2 hours ago

2026 NBA Draft: 5 Sleepers Who Could Be Major Steals

Paul Connor

Host · Writer

5. Emanuel Sharp, SG, Houston

Emanuel Sharp may be one of the more straightforward sleeper bets in the class because he already has a skill every NBA team values. He can really shoot it. Sharp averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals as a senior while shooting 37.2 percent from three and 89.1 percent from the free-throw line. He also earned First-Team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Defensive Team recognition, which speaks to the toughness and buy-in that come with his shooting profile.

The concern is size and role. Sharp is not a big shooting guard at 6-foot-3, and he is not likely to be a primary creator at the next level. Still, there is a place in the league for guards who can fly off screens, relocate, defend with physicality, and make quick decisions. Sharpe’s off-ball movement gives him real gravity, and his low-turnover style should help him fit next to better creators. If a team drafts him with a specific role in mind, Sharp could become the kind of second-round guard who earns minutes because he does the simple things well.

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1. Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa

Bennett Stirtz feels like the type of older guard who gets picked apart during the draft process, only to end up helping a winning team sooner than expected. He’s not the flashiest athlete in the class, and that will probably cap how high some teams are willing to take him, but the appeal is evident. The 22-year-old can run an offense, shoot off movement, make quick decisions, and play at a pace that translates. In his senior season, Stirtz averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals with a 60.7 true shooting percentage across 37 games.

What makes Stirtz interesting as a “steal” candidate is that his game does not require a huge leap in development. He already has the craft to punish defenders in ball screens, he can play on or off the ball, and he keeps possessions clean with a strong assist-to-turnover profile. The concerns about athleticism and defensive ceiling are real, but there is a difference between being limited and being unplayable. Stirtz’s feel, shooting touch, and competitiveness should give him a path to early rotation minutes, especially if he lands with a team that values secondary creation more than raw upside.
2. Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn
Not every NBA-caliber big has to be a stretch five, and Tarris Reed Jr. is a good reminder of that. At 6-foot-11 and 264 pounds with a 7-foot-4.25 wingspan, Reed brings legitimate size, physicality, and interior presence. His senior season at UConn was a major leap, as he averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 61 percent from the field.

The swing factor is whether teams are comfortable betting on a center who does most of his damage inside. That limitation could push Reed down the board, but it also creates value. The Missouri native plays with power, rebounds in traffic, protects the rim, and has enough passing feel to avoid being a one-dimensional finisher. Reed’s draft stock has reportedly risen after a strong combine and NCAA Tournament run, with some projections moving him into the first-round conversation. If he slips into the 30s, a team could be getting a ready-made backup center who brings playoff-style physicality sooner than most second-round picks.
3. Alex Karaban, SF/PF, UConn
While he probably won’t win the workout circuit, Alex Karaban may be one of the safest role-player bets in this class. The 23-year-old spent four years proving he can impact winning without needing the offense to run through him, and that matters. As a senior, Karaban averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 46% from the field, 37% from three, and 85% from the free-throw line. He also finished his UConn career as the program’s all-time leader in wins, games played, starts, minutes, and made threes.

Karaban’s NBA case starts with shooting, but it does not end there. He moves well without the ball, makes quick reads, keeps possessions clean, and understands how to play within a system. Karaban’s athletic limitations may keep him from being viewed as a high-upside swing, but teams are always looking for forwards who can space the floor and make the right play. If he defends well enough to stay on the court, Karaban has the makeup of a low-maintenance rotation forward who helps good lineups function.
4. Zuby Ejiofor, PF/C, St. John’s

Zuby Ejiofor has the type of two-way activity that can make him more valuable in the NBA than his draft range might indicate. He does not have a fully proven perimeter jumper yet, but he checks many other boxes. During his senior season at St. John’s, Ejiofor averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.2 blocks while earning Big East Player of the Year, Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and Big East tournament MVP honors.

His defensive versatility is the selling point. Ejiofor has the strength to battle inside, the length to protect the rim, and enough mobility to handle some switch situations. Offensively, he plays with good hands, finishes through contact, and has enough passing feel to keep the ball moving instead of stopping possessions. If the jumper continues to progress, Ejiofor's ceiling changes meaningfully. Even if it only becomes passable, his motor, defense, and physicality give him a realistic path to becoming a valuable frontcourt connector.
5. Emanuel Sharp, SG, Houston

Emanuel Sharp may be one of the more straightforward sleeper bets in the class because he already has a skill every NBA team values. He can really shoot it. Sharp averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals as a senior while shooting 37.2 percent from three and 89.1 percent from the free-throw line. He also earned First-Team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Defensive Team recognition, which speaks to the toughness and buy-in that come with his shooting profile.

The concern is size and role. Sharp is not a big shooting guard at 6-foot-3, and he is not likely to be a primary creator at the next level. Still, there is a place in the league for guards who can fly off screens, relocate, defend with physicality, and make quick decisions. Sharpe’s off-ball movement gives him real gravity, and his low-turnover style should help him fit next to better creators. If a team drafts him with a specific role in mind, Sharp could become the kind of second-round guard who earns minutes because he does the simple things well.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
1. Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa

Bennett Stirtz feels like the type of older guard who gets picked apart during the draft process, only to end up helping a winning team sooner than expected. He’s not the flashiest athlete in the class, and that will probably cap how high some teams are willing to take him, but the appeal is evident. The 22-year-old can run an offense, shoot off movement, make quick decisions, and play at a pace that translates. In his senior season, Stirtz averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals with a 60.7 true shooting percentage across 37 games.

What makes Stirtz interesting as a “steal” candidate is that his game does not require a huge leap in development. He already has the craft to punish defenders in ball screens, he can play on or off the ball, and he keeps possessions clean with a strong assist-to-turnover profile. The concerns about athleticism and defensive ceiling are real, but there is a difference between being limited and being unplayable. Stirtz’s feel, shooting touch, and competitiveness should give him a path to early rotation minutes, especially if he lands with a team that values secondary creation more than raw upside.

2026 NBA Draft: 5 Sleepers Who Could Be Major Steals

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