The 2027 NBA Draft already has its headliners, but the class also has a second tier that could wind up mattering just as much once the season gets rolling. Beyond freshmen names such as Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith Jr. and Caleb Holt, there are returning players who could push their way into the conversation, even if they aren’t getting the same buzz right now.
Three of those under-the-radar prospects are now heading into key junior seasons, and each has a different path to making noise.
Aday Mara’s return to USC gives him another shot to turn tools into production. He explored the NBA Draft process in 2026 before deciding to come back to the Trojans, and after transferring from Virginia, he put together a solid sophomore year in Los Angeles.
Cofie averaged 9.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field and 31.8% from 3-point range. He also measured 6-foot-8-and-a-half without shoes at the NBA Combine, with a 7-foot wingspan and a weight of 232 pounds.
If he puts together a strong season in the Big Ten, he has the kind of profile that can get him into the 2027 draft mix.
At NC State, Quadir Copeland is the kind of perimeter scorer who can force NBA teams to keep watching. He followed a breakout sophomore season with averages of 13.8 points and 3.6 rebounds, while hitting 43.3% of his shots from the field and 42.7% from 3 on more than seven attempts per game.
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds, his size and shooting touch make him a natural draft conversation piece. The Wolfpack also recently found out that big man Ven-Allen Lubin can return for a fifth season, and with McNeil’s scoring punch in the mix, NC State could be set up for another NCAA Tournament run.
Michigan’s frontcourt has taken a hit, with three players leaving for the 2026 NBA Draft, and Mouhamed Thiam is expected to help new head coach Mike Boynton rebuild the rotation. Thiam spent his freshman season at UCF before moving to Cincinnati for his sophomore year, where he averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 52.5% from the field and 28.8% from deep.
At 7-foot-2 and 250 pounds, he brings the kind of size that can stand out immediately, especially if he delivers in the Big Ten. He’ll be joined in Ann Arbor by Tennessee transfer JP Estrella, giving the Wolverines another frontcourt pairing worth watching.
In Other News...
USC Is Building Early Momentum With A Running Back To Watch
USCs 2028 recruiting board keeps getting a little more interesting, and one of the younger names to watch is Jaion Deuce Smith. The Santa Margarita High School running back picked up an offer from the Trojans on June 11, and now he is set for his first game day visit to the Coliseum on Aug. 29, giving the staff an early chance to make a stronger impression on a local prospect with ties to the program through family and the coaching staff.
Smith already has more trips lined up beyond Los Angeles, with planned visits to California, Wisconsin and Kansas, but USC will be trying to build on the momentum it gained by getting in early. The three-star back is ranked No. 74 in California, and while he is still at the beginning of his recruitment, the Trojans clearly view him as a name worth tracking as they continue work in the states 2028 class. [Read more 🡒]
Sam Darnold Just Took His Place Among USC Quarterback Greats
USCs 2026 schedule will begin Aug. 29 against San Jose State, but the buzz around the programs quarterback history has been pulling attention back to one of its most memorable recent passers. Sam Darnolds rise from campus star to first-round NFL pick in 2018 has become one of the cleanest through lines in the Trojans modern quarterback lineage, a reminder of how much weight the position still carries in Los Angeles.
Darnolds time at USC from 2015 to 2017 left enough of a mark to keep him in the conversation with the schools best, and his pro career has only added to that case. After being drafted by the New York Jets, he has now added a major NFL breakthrough with the Seattle Seahawks, giving USC another former quarterback to point to when the program starts looking ahead to fall. [Read more 🡒]
USC Freshmen Are Already Forcing Their Way Into Key Roles
Lincoln Riley made it clear this summer that USCs 2026 freshman class is not expected to spend the season watching and learning from the sideline. Several newcomers are already positioned to compete for starting jobs or meaningful snaps, a sign that the Trojans believe this group can help right away rather than waiting its turn. The names getting the most attention span both sides of the ball, from defensive linemen Tomuhini Topui and Wafle to safety Madden Riordan and a deep receiver group that includes Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Mosley and Boobie Feaster.
There is also help coming in the secondary with cornerback Elbert Hill, giving USC a class with real breadth and not just one obvious strength. What makes it notable is how quickly these freshmen have gone from future promise to present tense conversation, with their backgrounds and physical tools making them part of the roster picture before the season has even fully taken shape. The bigger question now is not whether USC likes the talent, but how many of these first-year players can carve out roles once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]