The 2025 NBA Draft ended last night, and the Wisconsin Badgers watched John Tonje get picked with the 53rd pick by the Utah Jazz. Immediately, ESPN pundits threw out a mock draft for the 2026 draft, and there was a name mysteriously absent in a major snub: John Blackwell.
Blackwell declared for the NBA Draft this year but received advice to return to Wisconsin, work on specific aspects of his game, and come back in 2026. That's what his plan is right now: to tear it up for the Badgers and hear his name called next year. However, if ESPN is right on the way-too-early mock draft, that won't happen.
John Blackwell not listed in Way-Too-Early 2026 NBA Mock Draft
This is either a big oversight or the pundits at ESPN truly don't see him as a draft pick for next season. Blackwell was the second-leading scorer for Wisconsin last season. He scored 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He had two games with 30 points or more, and eight games with 20 points or more, including the final tournament game against BYU, where he scored 21.
He is lethal from all over the floor, from inside, outside, and at the line. He has the ability to change speeds and direction to mix up his shot selection, and his ability to put a team on his back when needed is impressive. He was the perfect complement to John Tonje.
There was a Wisconsin name on the ESPN 2026 NBA Mock Draft, Nolan Winter. He's projected to be the 53rd pick of the draft. That pick number may ring a bell, as Tonje was called for the Utah Jazz at that pick last night.
This is big news for Nolan Winter, who has not yet tested the NBA waters. However, with pundits thinking that he could be a legitimate draft prospect next year, that may change in the 2026 offseason.