The 2027 NBA Draft class has already started taking damage before the season even gets rolling.
It’s a group that wasn’t carrying the same buzz as 2026 to begin with, and now a few early injuries are threatening to thin it out even more. That matters because this upcoming crop was already expected to be less loaded than the most recent draft.
There’s recent precedent for this kind of path. Last year, Braylon Mullins and Alijah Arenas both battled injuries early in the season and ultimately decided to go back to college basketball instead of entering the 2026 NBA Draft.
This year’s 2027 group could wind up with a similar storyline for a few players.
Michigan took one of the biggest hits when the Wolverines announced that incoming five-star freshman Brandon McCoy will miss the 2026-27 season after suffering an ACL injury. The setback comes at a tough time for Michigan, which was counting on McCoy to help replenish a roster that lost multiple players and its head coach to the NBA.
McCoy was expected to be a major part of Mike Boynton’s team, and before the injury he had real lottery-level buzz for 2027. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard was ranked No. 11 overall and No. 2 among shooting guards in the 2026 recruiting class by 247Sports.
Illinois also has a notable injury situation of its own. In early August, the school said Mirkovic underwent foot surgery after getting hurt during a team workout. No timetable was given for his return.
Mirkovic’s freshman season gave a clear picture of why his stock was rising. He averaged 13.3 points, eight rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range on more than four attempts per game. The Montenegro-born forward started 36 games for an Illinois team that reached the Final Four in 2026, and he earned Big Ten All-Freshman and NCAA All-Region honors along the way.
At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Mirkovic has the kind of frame and production that could keep him on first-round radar in 2027 if he turns in a strong sophomore season.
Iowa State’s injury news came later in August, when the program announced that second-year guard Killyan Toure had right shoulder surgery and is expected back in January.
Toure, listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, made his name as a freshman with defense. He forced turnovers, worked through screens and stayed attached to ball-handlers. Offensively, he averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field and 31.3% from 3-point range.
If Toure returns healthy and picks up where he left off, he still has a path to the 2027 NBA Draft.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans Just Got An Early Sign About The Backfield Choice
The early glimpse into Michigans backfield picture offered a reminder that roster decisions can shape a season long before conference play settles in. Justice Haynes, who left the Wolverines via the transfer portal and showed up for Georgia Tech in a recent game against Colorado, was part of the backdrop to a move that now looks increasingly intentional from Michigans side, with the program choosing to build around the backs already in the building.
Jordan Marshall is the headliner in that group after a strong previous season, and he has already put himself in the conversation as a potential Heisman contender if that level continues. Michigan also made the call to keep freshman Savion Hiter in the fold, a decision that signals confidence in the current depth chart and a willingness to move forward without Haynes as part of the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Opener Still Comes With One Injury Question Up Front
Michigan heads into its season opener with most of the injury noise already sorted out, and that is a relief for a program that has spent much of camp trying to get healthy in the right spots. John Henry Daley and Rod Moore are both available after earlier injury concerns, which gives the Wolverines some welcome stability as they begin the year with expectations attached and little margin for early-season mistakes.
Andrew Babalola will not be part of that opening-day group after a minor setback, leaving one more question up front as the team finalizes its first-game rotation. Michigan has already absorbed bigger blows in the offseason with Micah Kaapana and Ace Hamilton lost for the year, so even a short-term absence matters when the roster is being layered back together for the start of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Faces Michigan Test That Will Define The Hype
Bryce Underwood entered Michigans offseason with the kind of billing that turns every throw into a talking point, but the early signs out of fall camp suggest the sophomore quarterback is settling into his next step with a little more polish. The No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class has been working under new offensive coordinator Jason Beck in a revised scheme, and coaches have pointed to noticeable progress in his consistency and decision-making since spring.
Underwoods development matters because Michigan is not just waiting on talent anymore, it is waiting on proof that the hype can survive game planning, pressure and the regular rhythm of a season. He spent part of the offseason training with quarterback Jordan Palmer and Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow, and now the real test is whether those lessons show up when the Wolverines start asking him to run the offense instead of simply flash what he can do. [Read more 🡒]