Credible NBA pundits and scouts are raving about the 2026 NBA Draft and the 15+ freshmen who will take the league by storm next fall. It’s divine timing for the Atlanta Hawks, as they’re destined for a top 10 pick after ‘fleecing’ Joe Dumars and the New Orleans Pelicans last summer.
The trade single-handedly changed the trajectory of the Hawks franchise, as their pick will complete the Jalen Johnson era with another star companion in June. Onsi Saleh and the front office have made their intentions clear that they intend to draft the pick, even though their roster will become younger in the process.
Using the pick in this draft will ensure that Jalen has a true-co star for the future, but there’s a chance the pick falls out of the top-5. Luckily for the Hawks, the entire top-10 have ‘sleepers’ that could develop into valuable role players and legitimate stars for their teams.
Let’s list a few realistic options if the pick falls to the 5-7 range, which is always a possibility, given the uncertainty of the Draft Lottery. All signs point to a paradigm shift in the league, as the league office prepares to implement new rules that prohibit tanking. So, the Hawks must take advantage of the gold mine that is the 2026 NBA Draft.
Kingston Flemings Of the Houston Cougars
With Trae Young’s departure finally becoming a reality, the Hawks have a litany of replacements for their former All-Star point guard. Drafting Kingston Flemings would be a massive step in the right direction, and at 19-years old, he’s already showing flashes of superstardom.
The San Antonio native is thriving in Houston, averaging 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and
1.7 steals under head coach Kelvin Sampson. After leading Sampson and the Cougars to a 24-5 record, it’s clear that Flemings is one of the best scorers in the NCAA. Unlike Atlanta's last score-first point guard, Flemings is quite the pesky defender.
There are many guards averaging more points than Kingston, but they don’t possess his basketball IQ and cerebral shooting stroke. Sampson has run the offense through the freshman guard, and he’s delivered.
Flemings has been firing on all cylinders, shooting 38% from three, 84% at the line, and 49.7% from the field. It’s rare to see a teenager on the verge of a 50/40/90 in college, and his scoring potential was on full display during his 42-point performance against Texas Tech.
He shot an incredible 15-26 shots from the field, turning Kingston into an overnight sensation. As of the end of February, He’s been in the top-5 of nearly every credible mock draft, and if he falls to the Hawks, the 6’4 guard will make an immediate impact in the backcourt.
2.) Mikel Brown Jr of the Louisville Cardinals
Injuries are common in the world of athletics, but for Mikel Brown Jr, they’ve served as minor setbacks for a major comeback. The Orlando native is undoubtedly the best Louisville Cardinal since 7X NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell graced the KFC Yum Center from 2015-17.
Unlike the future Hall of Famer, Brown Jr. has been on the world stage since his early teens, and scouts have become obsessed with his game film. After winning two Gold Medals in the FIBA circuit, He’s led the Cardinals with 25+ points on multiple occasions this season, culminating with a 45-point performance, tying Wes Unseld’s all-time scoring record.
The N.C State Wolfpack looked helpless as Mikel drained 10 three-pointers in the best performance in program history. Coming five points short of 50 put Mikel back on the map after slipping in the mock drafts due to his back injuries.
It’s the only characteristic that’s making certain GM’s nervous to pull the trigger. Now that’s gotten his health under control, he’s slated to be a top-8 pick, increasing the possibility of him becoming a Hawk.
Whether they draft Flemings or Brown Jr, the Hawks will receive a massive up regardless. Even though Keaton Wallace earned his spot after battling in the G-League, but now he’s completely fallen out of the rotation. His jumpshot has disintegrated along with his confidence while on the floor.
Having him as a backup point guard is a major detriment to their championships aspiration, while Brown Jr guarantees the Hawks 48 minutes of reliable point guard play.
Darius Acuff Jr. of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The last viable point guard is Arkansas Razorback Darius Acuff Jr. He is fresh off a 49-point performance, and the offensive explosion was the result of an incredible work ethic. Hailing from Detroit's inner city, he plays with a natural aggression that, combined with his physique, makes him the most NBA-ready guard in the lottery.
Standing at 6’3 and weighing 190 pounds, the 19-year-old is undoubtedly the strongest PG in his class. Although Acuff Jr. is shorter than Mikel and Kingston, he makes up for it with his strength.
He excels at using his strong body to penetrate and break down opposing defenses. His ability to finish with either hand and shoot from all three levels also adds another layer of versatility that the Hawks do not have.
Newly signed Hawk Nickeil Alexander Walker is the best shot creator at the PG position, but he’s also their only reliable option. Adding Darius to the rotation solves their issues with shot creation, and his playmaking will coincides with Atlanta’s new pass-first playstyle.
We’ve seen him dial in as a playmaker under NCAA legend John Calipari, leading the Razorbacks with 6.3 assists per game. Acuff Jr. has dished out 10+ assists against other power-five schools, and unlike Mikel Brown Jr., he takes great care of the ball.
He’s also a better three-point shooter than Kingston Flemings, so all three prospects will impact the Hawks in different ways. All three are reliable playmakers and great offensive players. It’s extremely uncommon for a freshman guard to score 40+, let alone three in the same year. It’s obvious they all possess star potential, but it falls on Onsi Saleh to make the right decision in June.