The 2027 NBA Draft class could bring another round of smaller guards into the spotlight.
That’s not a new development. The 2026 draft already featured a cluster of undersized backcourt players - Ebuka Okorie, Christian Anderson, Bruce Thornton, Braden Smith and Ja’Kobi Gillespie all landed in that class after measuring under 6-foot-2 at the NBA Combine. Their arrival came on the heels of a pair of small guards helping the New York Knicks win an NBA championship, a reminder that height alone doesn’t shut the door at the highest level.
Now the next wave is starting to take shape.
One name to watch is Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau. After helping the Wolverines win a national championship and taking home Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors in 2026, Cadeau is back for his senior season.
He averaged 10.5 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds as a junior while shooting 41.1% from the field and 37.6% from 3-point range. Listed at 6-foot-1, Cadeau should have a real shot to hear his name called in 2027 if he puts together a strong senior year.
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears is another guard with draft momentum. The brother of Jeremiah Fears, the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft, Jeremy turned in a breakout 2025-26 season of his own.
He posted 15.2 points, 9.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 43.1% from the field and 32.1% from beyond the arc. At the 2026 NBA Combine, Fears measured 6-feet tall without shoes and had a 6-foot-4 wingspan.
West Virginia newcomer Acaden Sadler brings a different profile into the conversation. He arrives with a five-star pedigree after a strong high school career, and 247Sports’ composite rankings placed him No. 19 overall and No. 2 among point guards in the 2026 recruiting class. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, Sadler’s size will work against him, but his talent gives him a legitimate path to one-and-done status.
Vanderbilt’s Mike Tanner also remains squarely in the mix. He explored the 2026 draft and had first-round potential before choosing to return.
In 2025-26, the sophomore averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 48.5% from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range. Another season like that could put Tanner firmly in first-round territory for 2027.
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Vanderbilts quarterback picture is still coming into focus as the Commodores turn toward the season opener against Austin Peay, and Clark Lea is in no rush to make the call public. The staff is still weighing each options progress and upside, keeping the competition open as it tries to settle on the right answer before Week 1.
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