Michigan's Aday Mara Trending in the Right Direction Ahead of NBA Draft

The Michigan Wolverines won the NCAA national championship this year, and they did so on the backs of a range of extremely talented players.

One of those players is center Aday Mara, and ahead of the 2026 NBA draft, Mara is climbing up draft projections. For the Big Ten, it’s thrilling to see one of its players projected to go so high in the draft.

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In a recent mock draft, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report names his projections for the upcoming draft. He has Mara going to the Hawks with a No. 8 selection.

“The Hawks are certainly a candidate to attack their Trae Young vacancy in this spot, but they also need more size on the interior,” he notes in the piece. “And no prospect has more to offer than Mara, who tallied the tallest height (7’3″ barefoot) and longest standing reach (9’9”) at the Combine. He makes the most of his measurements, too, as an intimidating shot-blocker, reliable short-range finisher and active rebounder.

“He also shows special feel as a passer, hinting at some new possibilities for a Hawks’ offensive menu that needs to expand its half-court offerings.”

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My Take: Aday Mara and the Hawks

As Buckley pointed out, Mara has a natural feel as a passer, and that could open up some new looks for a Hawks offense that still needs more creativity and spark. For a player his size, the vision really stands out. He sees plays develop before most big men even recognize them.

Guys built like this don’t come around very often, especially ones who can facilitate offense the way he can. There are still questions about how he’ll defend quicker players and whether his scoring can grow outside the paint, but the upside here is hard to ignore.

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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 5:08 PM.