Can the Cats win a championship with a projected lottery pick? Since 2016, Villanova was the only club to win a national championship without a first-round pick.
Since 2016, no team has won a national championship without receiving a first-round selection. This past June, Kentucky witnessed the NBA Draft pass by without a single Wildcat’s name being called in the first round for the first time since 2010. That is historic, not just exceptional. However, any discussion about Lexington’s demise is far too soon.
The recently published 2026 NBA mock draft by CBS Sports predicts that Kentucky will already make a significant comeback. The Toronto Raptors selected Jayden Quaintance, an athletic 6-9 forward with possibly the highest ceiling in college basketball this season, with the seventh overall pick.
Being too young for the 2025 draft, Quaintance played for Arizona State after reclassifying up a year early last season. However, he showed signs of dominance despite being one of the youngest players in the Power Five. His stats—9 points, 8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.1 steals—just skim the surface of his potential. In addition to his physical attributes, such as his strong body and nearly 7-foot-5 wingspan, evaluators were particularly impressed by his defensive instincts. “If we see those offensive tools turn into more consistent production this year at Kentucky,” CBS wrote, “especially beyond the finishing he’s already proven, he should be one of the very top frontcourt names in the field.”
For a player who is recovering from an ACL injury and won’t turn 18 until next month, that is great praise. Mark Pope, the head coach of Kentucky, will probably take his time in the early non-conference schedule, but don’t be fooled—NBA eyes will be on him. Fans of Kentucky can anticipate their first lottery selection since Tyrese Maxey in 2020 if he lives up to even half of CBS’s projections. They can also anticipate a big comeback for a program that is accustomed to finishing close to the top on draft night. Recall that since Villanova in 2016, no team has won a national championship without a first-round selection. In addition to having a 2026 first-round pick, the Cats will aim to return to the Final Four.
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