A Santa Clara road blowout win over Loyola Marymount contained more relevant NBA Draft prospects than one might expect
The 19-5 Broncos feature three players on my 2026 NBA Draft big board, all of whom I watched in person on Saturday at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.
Below, I wrote up my scouting notes from the game, including some insights from members of the Santa Clara staff on the players.
Allen Graves┃6’9″┃Forward┃Freshman (Rs)┃Big Board Rank: 40
I ventured across Los Angeles to watch Graves in person, who’s played himself into legitimate draft consideration this season despite lacking much of any buzz entering the year. Graves effortlessly dominated an outmatched LMU team as a future NBA player should at this level, posting 17 points (95 percent true shooting), 10 rebounds and two steals in just 22 minutes of play.
His athleticism, sturdy frame and smooth movement skills with legit forward size popped immediately. He sports magnetic hands that vacuum offensive rebounds (Graves’ seven offensive boards tied for his highest total of the year), seeming to at least find his way to every loose ball near his area. That exceptional motor, alongside great awareness, fuels his elite offensive rebounding production (20.5 offensive rebounding rate).
Watching the Louisiana native in person confirmed how snappy he processes the game with and without the ball in his hands. Santa Clara associate head coach Ryan Madry, Graves’s primary recruiter out of high school, believes that basketball intellect and advanced feel for the game can help him carve a professional career.
“The thing that I think will make him an NBA player is his mind first and foremost,” Madry told Sportscasting. “He is incredibly smart. He picks things up quickly and processes the game really fast.”
How Graves Responded To Different Coverages
Loyola Marymount consistently sent double teams and clogged gaps against his drives and post-ups, allowing for his floor-reading ability to shine. Despite constantly facing two bodies, Graves didn’t turn the ball over once in the game, picking those coverages apart with simple decisions to alleviate pressure. And when Graves found one-on-one chances, he punished opposing defenders with a smooth handle and soft touch on his hooks and push shots.
Graves’ defensive exploits
Graves wasn’t tested much on defense, but his activity and engagement were apparent; he’s always scanning and turning his head to keep off-ball movers and his man in mind and rarely makes mistakes or blows coverages. He committed a few personal fouls and sports a high foul rate (5.9 fouls committed per 40 minutes), a natural tradeoff for his sensational defensive playmaking.
He’s posting an absurd 10.6 percent stock (steal plus block) rate and is one of five college players with a steal and block rate above four and Madry is confident in his ability to guard multiple positions, which his size, fluidity and wingspan facilitate.
Coaches and other people around the program rave about Graves’s work ethic and off-court makeup, a “gym rat” with the on-court production to match. I couldn’t find a person with a negative thing to say about him, and Madry certainly shares this belief about his character.
“Off the court, he really is as good as it gets,” Madry said. “He is a family man first. Has a great support system. He is a guy that gets along with everyone and is very selfless. Makes it easy to root for him, he is just a genuine person.”
Concerns about Graves moving forward
Outside shooting is the only somewhat major concern in his profile, though Graves did make his only 3-point attempt against the Lions. He’s an efficient shooter this season (38.8 percent) from deep, but mediocre volume (5.3 3-point attempts per 100 possessions) and free throws drag down his overall shooting profile, which could limit his ability to play on the wing in the NBA.
But even without a reliable jumper, Graves’s elite statistical production, special hands and two-way impact should place him squarely in NBA Draft discussions with a case to sneak into the first round if he enters this season.
“His goal is to be a successful NBA player and he has the work ethic and habits to match that goal,” Madry said.
Bukky Oboye┃7’1″┃Center┃Sophomore┃Big Board Rank: 97
Oboye towered over nearly every other player on the court, looking every bit of his listed seven feet with a lean, slender frame. He played just 16 minutes in the win over LMU, fouling out for the second straight game seventh time this season. It’s understandable for a young big like Oboye to overextend defensively, especially considering he grew from 6’4″ in 2020 to his current height.
His fluidity and solid quickness off the floor suggest impressive defensive potential, already a productive shot-blocker (8.1 percent block rate) this season. Like many young bigs, Oboye’s discernment will need work, often jumping at pump fakes and reacting to fakes and body feints. His length and size mostly impacted the defensive glass (five rebounds, four defensive), where few LMU opponents could match his reach.
Despite his true center size, Oboye still carries some of his guard skills from his high-school days, occasionally spacing the floor and showcasing basic dribbling competency. He drilled one of his six 3-pointers on the season, which drew audible reactions from the crowd, understandably so:
He’ll most likely spend at least another season or two in college, developing his frame and honing his defensive technique and awareness defending around the basket and in the pick-and-roll. But players of his height and fluidity with potential perimeter could help Oboye become a legitimate NBA prospect down the line.
KJ Cochran┃6’4″┃Guard┃Freshman┃Big Board Rank: —
Cochran wasn’t on my radar heading into the game, but his motor, athleticism and energy caught my eye whenever he entered the game. Santa Clara rarely ran plays or heavily featured the freshman guard in their offensive actions, yet he managed to tally 15 points on nine shots, converting all five of his 2-point attempts.
He grabbed four rebounds in his 18 minutes of action, repeatedly skying above the hoop to snare boards and extend possessions for his team. That glass cleaning ability fueled his opportunistic scoring, where he found points in transition, on well-timed cuts and open spot-up shots. It’s always impressive to me when young players achieve non-scripted impact on games, but Cochran’s background as an on-ball creator suggests some future upside
Ryan Madry, who recruited Cochran to Santa Clara, told Sportscasting more about his creation background, first playing up an age group with his K-Low Elite AAU team in 2023.
“In high school he played PG at times. So he is very comfortable on and off the ball. He has very good feel and is a natural scorer.”
That scoring verve with the ball popped most clearly on this Cochran drive — he pump fakes a defender to Orange County, slashes to the rim and elevates to finish in traffic. Watch how stable he looks while gliding through the air, while taking contact, maintaining enough balance to make this shot despite the help at the rim:
The Loyola Marymount game was my first and only serious viewing of Cochran, but I’ll monitor him as a long-term prospect with projectable athleticism, potential scoring talent and a penchant for impacting the offensive side of the ball without commanding usage.
Elijah Mahi┃6’7″┃Wing┃Senior┃Big Board Rank: 118
Mahi is one of my personal favorite watches on the West Coast, oozing ball skills and creativity with the build of a defensive end. Limited explosiveness hurt his on-ball creation against stronger defenses, but he’s skilled enough to thrive offensively against most WCC opponents. His collection of spin moves, hesitations and crossovers helped him score 12 points on the day, allowing him to leverage his frame to draw fouls (5-7 from the line).
He managed solid efficiency on the day (53 percent true shooting) despite a pedestrian 3-8 shooting performance, including 2-6 at the hoop. When Mahi couldn’t win with leverage or draw fouls with his strength, he occasionally struggled to finish in traffic. Below-average explosiveness and fluidity also curtail his perimeter defensive versatility and contributed to his foul-out after 26 minutes of play.
It was a mixed day defensively, though, as Mahi generated four steals and a block to compensate for those fouls. He’s a smart, aggressive defender with strong instincts, with the length to poke handles loose and create easy transition chances. Though Mahi doesn’t boast the traits or standout skill of a locked-in draft pick, his frame, ball skills and high motor should help him earn some UDFA consideration when he enters the league.
Christian Hammond┃6’4″┃Guard┃Sophomore┃Big Board Rank: —
Hammond’s sparkling statistical production caught my attention prior to watching Santa Clara in person and, despite a pedestrian box score, flashed what makes him an impactful player. He scored 17 points on 11 shots with two assists and two turnovers, but flashed positive traits on both ends, pressuring the ball on defense and driving effectively on offense.
He made all six of his free throw attempts, often the beneficiary of Graves’s on-ball gravity. When Hammond found himself with open space, he rarely hesitated and squandered the advantage, attacking decisively into the teeth of the defense. His confident, aggressive driving is a trait that could help Hammond develop into a pro prospect as he gains more experience, especially considering his outside shooting prowess.
