Texas is already showing up in the earliest 2027 NBA mock drafts, and the names attached to Sean Miller’s 2026-27 roster give the Longhorns a real chance to keep their draft streak alive.
That matters because Texas just joined a small group of men’s programs to produce a top-15 NBA Draft pick in back-to-back years. Dailyn Swain went No. 15 to the Chicago Bulls in the 2026 NBA Draft, and before him Tre Johnson was taken No. 6 by the Washington Wizards after his freshman season in Austin.
Now the question is whether Texas can make it three straight years.
One of the more conservative projections comes from CBS Sports, where Adam Finkelstein has Texas center Matas Vokietaitis going No. 16 to the new-look Portland Trail Blazers. That would put him just outside the lottery and end the Longhorns’ top-15 run by a single pick.
“The 7-footer made notable progress, not just last year at Texas, but prior to that at FAU,” the scout said. “If that growth continues, which seems likely, Vokietaitis has a chance to play his way into the first round.”
Other outlets see a higher ceiling for another Texas newcomer. Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney has Austin Goosby at No. 9 in the upcoming cycle, slotting him firmly inside the top 10.
“Goosby moved the needle with NBA scouts during McDonald’s All-American practices, flashing his size, versatility and feel for the game as a combo guard,” Sweeney said. “The Texas native shot the ball well from three at Dynamic Prep, and if that continues at Texas he could have a key role on one of the best teams in college basketball this season.”
ESPN is also high on both players. In its projection, Goosby lands at No. 13 in the lottery, while Vokietaitis goes No. 56 in the second round.
The 6-foot-5 Goosby, who is the younger brother of Texas Football left tackle Trevor Goosby, is the No. 1 player in the state and a top-20 recruit nationally.
Earlier this year, Finkelstein summed up Goosby this way: “There aren’t many players, or certainly guards, in the country who can match the sheer tools of Austin Goosby. He’s a bouncy vertical athlete, a lay-up maker with his dominant right hand, has soft, natural hands, and touch.
His best attribute though, may be his feel for the game. He cuts well, passes well, and instinctively knows how to play in ways that allow him to make quick and efficient decisions with the basketball.”
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Arch Mannings Locker Room Music Pick Will Get Texas Fans Talking
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The song choice came from Olivia Dean, the British soul singer-songwriter, which is the sort of detail that tends to travel fast in Austin once a quarterback with Mannings profile mentions it. As he heads into his second season as Texas starter, the expectations around him are only getting heavier, with a potential CFP push and NFL draft buzz looming, so even a locker-room playlist choice is enough to become part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
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Texas May Be Bracing For A Key Staff Loss Behind The Scenes
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The timing makes the situation worth watching for Texas because Wisconsins top job opened when Chris McIntosh moved on to become deputy commissioner for strategy for the Big Ten. Eichorst has enough experience at major programs to be a natural fit for a search like this, and his ties to Madison could make the possibility feel even more real as Texas monitors whether one of its most seasoned behind-the-scenes administrators is on the move. [Read more 🡒]