Santa Clara men’s basketball player Allen Graves announced on Apr. 7 that he will enter the 2026 NBA Draft, following a strong season in which he helped lead the Broncos to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996.
Graves’ decision is significant for both him and the program, as it marks another milestone in Santa Clara’s recent basketball success and showcases his potential at the professional level.
Head coach Herb Sendek said, “We are so thrilled for Allen to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA. He is an outstanding player and person, both on and off the court, and has a very bright and long career ahead of him. He is a special talent, as evidenced by all of his success this season, and the sky is the limit for him at the next level.”
Graves, originally from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, had one of the best freshman seasons in school history after sitting out during 2024-25. The forward played all 35 games this year, ranking third on his team with an average of 11.8 points per game while leading with 6.5 rebounds per game. He received multiple honors including West Coast Conference Freshman and Sixth Man of the Year awards, First Team All-WCC selection, Second Team NABC All-District honors, six WCC Freshman of the Week awards (a program record), was a finalist for the Kyle Macy Award given to top freshmen nationally, tied for most steals among NCAA Division I freshmen with 67 (a school record), and posted third-most blocks by a Bronco freshman with 33.
His performance included notable achievements such as scoring double figures in 26 games and recording a standout game against Washington State on Feb. 7 with a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds. Graves contributed to Santa Clara setting a new program record with fifteen conference wins this season while reaching their first WCC Championship title game since 2007.
Draft analysts currently grade Graves as likely being selected late in the first round or early in the second round. If drafted this year he would become Santa Clara’s third NBA draft pick over five years; previous picks include Jalen Williams—an NBA All-Star—and Brandin Podziemski.
