si
Although the college basketball season is still a couple of weeks away and the 2027 NBA draft is about eight months distant, NBA scouts and analysts are already looking ahead to identify the top prospects for that class. According to the latest projections, the Arizona Wildcats could once again boast three potential lottery picks on their roster.
On Saturday, CBS Sports analyst Adam Finkelstein released a first-round mock draft that placed freshman guard Caleb Holt, along with returning players Mo Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, among the first 11 selections. Such a projection underscores the considerable talent present in Tucson for the upcoming campaign.
Caleb Holt: No. 4 Overall
Holt, a top-three recruit in the 2026 class, appears poised to deliver an outstanding, all-around freshman season before making the leap to the NBA as a high draft choice. Finkelstein slots the 6-foot-5 guard at No. 4, behind fellow 2026 freshmen Tyran Stokes and Jordan Smith Jr., as well as Slovenian forward Stefan Joksimovic.
In Finkelstein's assessment, Holt possesses length, strength, and athleticism, and competes with relentless energy on both ends. The analyst noted that Holt steadily improved his guard skills, especially his shooting, throughout high school and is an impactful defender. The primary question, according to Finkelstein, is how much of his playmaking will translate, given his tendency to rely on physical dominance in high school. The Alabama native has quickly adapted in Arizona's first two exhibition games, displaying elite on-ball defense, forcing turnovers, and creating havoc in transition while aggressively seeking his own shot without disrupting the offense. Should he continue to develop over the season, it would be surprising if he were selected outside the top five.
Mo Krivas: No. 7
Finkelstein believes Krivas would have been a first-round pick last year had he entered the draft, and now projects him as high as the top ten ahead of what many expect to be a breakout season for the Lithuanian big man. Krivas is the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year and is viewed as a leading candidate for All-America honors as the anchor in the paint for coach Tommy Lloyd's team. At 22 on draft night, Krivas would be an unusual top-10 selection, but in a class considered weaker, it is certainly feasible, especially after Aday Mara was taken in a similar range last year.
Ivan Kharchenkov: No. 11
Kharchenkov served as the ultimate glue guy for Arizona last season during its run to the Final Four, starting every game but often functioning as the fourth or fifth offensive option. Now the offense will run through him, and early indications from Arizona's foreign tour and two exhibition games suggest he is ready for a larger role. The 6-foot-7 German does a little bit of everything, and his defense and driving ability are already NBA-ready. If his outside shot becomes consistent, he has a strong chance to play his way into the lottery or even the top ten.