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Hannah Hidalgo rewrites multiple records in Notre Dame win

Hannah Hidalgo rewrites multiple records in Notre Dame win

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It was obvious coming into this women’s college basketball season that Hannah Hidalgo was going to have to score more for Notre Dame. She was the lone starter returning for the Irish this year following high-profile departures to the WNBA and the transfer portal.

On Wednesday night in South Bend though, Hidalgo showed just how lethal of a scorer she could be.

The junior guard poured in 44 points in Notre Dame’s 85-58 home win over Akron, resetting the Irish’s single-game scoring record. It was previously jointly held by Jewell Loyd and Ruth Riley at 41 points.

Perhaps more impressively, Hidalgo swiped the ball away from Akron 16 times, which broke the NCAA single-game record for a Division I player. Previously, multiple players had notched 14 steals, including Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Ticha Penicheiro of Old Dominion.

It was an all-around historic performance for Hidalgo, who also collected nine rebounds and four assists. She shot 16-of-25 from the floor while powering Notre Dame to a victory, and did it all in just 28 minutes of play.

The two-time All-American, two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and reigning ACC Player of the Year is quickly reestablishing herself as one of the sport’s brightest stars. Many are skeptical that Notre Dame can recreate the same sort of success it had last season — with players like Olivia Miles, Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld starring alongside Hidalgo — but the New Jersey native seems to be thriving on proving the doubters wrong.

“I grew up the underdog. Surprising people is always good,” Hidalgo told SB Nation in October. “Honestly, we believe in ourselves, and we believe in our coaching staff.”

Cassandre Prosper was the only other member of the Fighting Irish to score in double figures against Akron, netting 14 points.

Ranked 18th in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, Notre Dame will face its biggest test yet on Saturday when it takes on No. 14 Michigan in Detroit. It’ll be another opportunity for Hidalgo to shine in the spotlight of a nationally-televised game on NBC.

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Deadspin | Ryan Vilade, Rays chase series-clinching win over Guardians Apr 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) and right fielder Ryan Vilade (26) celebrate a win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Ryan Vilade had brief stints with four teams during his first three seasons in the majors. The 27-year-old outfielder looks as if he finally has found a home with the Tampa Bay Rays. Vilade is batting .458 (11-for-24) with a .500 on-base percentage over his past 10 games for the surging Rays. Tampa Bay continues its three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday when Rays right-hander Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.10 ERA) takes on Guardians righty Tanner Bibee (0-3, 4.45). Vilade was the catalyst behind the Rays’ fifth consecutive win on Monday. He produced a career-high-tying three hits and had two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the eighth inning off Hunter Gaddis. Tampa Bay overcame a two-run deficit to pull out a 3-2 victory. “Whenever my name is called, I want to help my team win,” Vilade said. “It’s been good and we’re getting more gritty by the day.” Tampa Bay acquired Vilade from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash on Nov. 3, 2025. He only appeared in one game with the Reds after playing in seven for the St. Louis Cardinals earlier last season. Those brief stops followed a 17-game stay with the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and a three-game stop with the Colorado Rockies in 2021. His career totals coming into this spring were nine hits in 64 at-bats (.141 average). Vilade currently is batting .344 on the season, and he is 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. His two-game streaks of multiple hits and an RBI are career firsts. “Ryno really complements our team really well and helps us all over the field,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Veteran pitcher Steven Matz, who earned the win in the series opener, also is impressed with Vilade’s contributions on and off the field. “Ryan has such a great personality and has fit right in,” Matz said. “That’s the great thing about this group. Everyone feels like they fit in and there aren’t any cliques or anything in the clubhouse.” Assuming he remains in the lineup on Tuesday, Vilade will try to help Martinez win a second straight start. Martinez limited the Reds to one run in eight innings while striking out a season-high six on Wednesday. He has struggled badly in six career outings (two starts) against Cleveland, going 1-2 with an 8.56 ERA. The Guardians have lost three in a row, their longest skid of the season, and appear to have reached a turning point after falling to .500 for the first time since March 31. Cleveland is expected to recall former No. 1 overall draft pick Travis Bazzana from Triple-A Columbus before Tuesday game and make him its everyday second baseman. The Australian had a .287 average with two homers, 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 24 games with the Clippers. “We know it’s a long season,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We’re 30 games in. There’s a long way to go. And again, for a lot of our guys, they’re in these situations for maybe the first or second time.” Cleveland hopes Bazzana can adapt as quickly as rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter, who hit four homers in his first three career regular-season games. DeLauter doubled in the ninth inning Monday off Bryan Baker, giving the Guardians two on with one out, but the Tampa Bay closer struck out the next two batters for his seventh save. DeLauter has collected a hit in five of his past six contests, and he has reached base in 24 of 27 total games. He also is the eighth-hardest player to strike out in the majors. “The moment’s not too big for him,” Vogt said. “Chase has been great all year and continues to have good at-bats.” Once considered Cleveland’s ace in waiting, Bibee has put together strong starts in his past two outings, tossing 12 innings of two-run ball against the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. The Guardians are 1-5 in his six starts. Bibee beat the Rays the first time he faced them in 2023, but he is 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA against them in four career starts. He has worked deep into games vs. Tampa Bay, averaging more than 6 1/3 innings per appearance. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Ryan #Vilade #Rays #chase #seriesclinching #win #GuardiansApr 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) and right fielder Ryan Vilade (26) celebrate a win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Ryan Vilade had brief stints with four teams during his first three seasons in the majors. The 27-year-old outfielder looks as if he finally has found a home with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Vilade is batting .458 (11-for-24) with a .500 on-base percentage over his past 10 games for the surging Rays.

Tampa Bay continues its three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday when Rays right-hander Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.10 ERA) takes on Guardians righty Tanner Bibee (0-3, 4.45).

Vilade was the catalyst behind the Rays’ fifth consecutive win on Monday. He produced a career-high-tying three hits and had two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the eighth inning off Hunter Gaddis. Tampa Bay overcame a two-run deficit to pull out a 3-2 victory.

“Whenever my name is called, I want to help my team win,” Vilade said. “It’s been good and we’re getting more gritty by the day.”

Tampa Bay acquired Vilade from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash on Nov. 3, 2025. He only appeared in one game with the Reds after playing in seven for the St. Louis Cardinals earlier last season.

Those brief stops followed a 17-game stay with the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and a three-game stop with the Colorado Rockies in 2021. His career totals coming into this spring were nine hits in 64 at-bats (.141 average).

Vilade currently is batting .344 on the season, and he is 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. His two-game streaks of multiple hits and an RBI are career firsts.

“Ryno really complements our team really well and helps us all over the field,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Veteran pitcher Steven Matz, who earned the win in the series opener, also is impressed with Vilade’s contributions on and off the field.


“Ryan has such a great personality and has fit right in,” Matz said. “That’s the great thing about this group. Everyone feels like they fit in and there aren’t any cliques or anything in the clubhouse.”

Assuming he remains in the lineup on Tuesday, Vilade will try to help Martinez win a second straight start.

Martinez limited the Reds to one run in eight innings while striking out a season-high six on Wednesday. He has struggled badly in six career outings (two starts) against Cleveland, going 1-2 with an 8.56 ERA.

The Guardians have lost three in a row, their longest skid of the season, and appear to have reached a turning point after falling to .500 for the first time since March 31.

Cleveland is expected to recall former No. 1 overall draft pick Travis Bazzana from Triple-A Columbus before Tuesday game and make him its everyday second baseman. The Australian had a .287 average with two homers, 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 24 games with the Clippers.

“We know it’s a long season,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We’re 30 games in. There’s a long way to go. And again, for a lot of our guys, they’re in these situations for maybe the first or second time.”

Cleveland hopes Bazzana can adapt as quickly as rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter, who hit four homers in his first three career regular-season games. DeLauter doubled in the ninth inning Monday off Bryan Baker, giving the Guardians two on with one out, but the Tampa Bay closer struck out the next two batters for his seventh save.

DeLauter has collected a hit in five of his past six contests, and he has reached base in 24 of 27 total games. He also is the eighth-hardest player to strike out in the majors.

“The moment’s not too big for him,” Vogt said. “Chase has been great all year and continues to have good at-bats.”

Once considered Cleveland’s ace in waiting, Bibee has put together strong starts in his past two outings, tossing 12 innings of two-run ball against the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. The Guardians are 1-5 in his six starts.

Bibee beat the Rays the first time he faced them in 2023, but he is 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA against them in four career starts. He has worked deep into games vs. Tampa Bay, averaging more than 6 1/3 innings per appearance.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Ryan #Vilade #Rays #chase #seriesclinching #win #Guardians">Deadspin | Ryan Vilade, Rays chase series-clinching win over Guardians Apr 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) and right fielder Ryan Vilade (26) celebrate a win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Ryan Vilade had brief stints with four teams during his first three seasons in the majors. The 27-year-old outfielder looks as if he finally has found a home with the Tampa Bay Rays. Vilade is batting .458 (11-for-24) with a .500 on-base percentage over his past 10 games for the surging Rays. Tampa Bay continues its three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday when Rays right-hander Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.10 ERA) takes on Guardians righty Tanner Bibee (0-3, 4.45). Vilade was the catalyst behind the Rays’ fifth consecutive win on Monday. He produced a career-high-tying three hits and had two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the eighth inning off Hunter Gaddis. Tampa Bay overcame a two-run deficit to pull out a 3-2 victory. “Whenever my name is called, I want to help my team win,” Vilade said. “It’s been good and we’re getting more gritty by the day.” Tampa Bay acquired Vilade from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash on Nov. 3, 2025. He only appeared in one game with the Reds after playing in seven for the St. Louis Cardinals earlier last season. Those brief stops followed a 17-game stay with the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and a three-game stop with the Colorado Rockies in 2021. His career totals coming into this spring were nine hits in 64 at-bats (.141 average). Vilade currently is batting .344 on the season, and he is 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. His two-game streaks of multiple hits and an RBI are career firsts. “Ryno really complements our team really well and helps us all over the field,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Veteran pitcher Steven Matz, who earned the win in the series opener, also is impressed with Vilade’s contributions on and off the field. “Ryan has such a great personality and has fit right in,” Matz said. “That’s the great thing about this group. Everyone feels like they fit in and there aren’t any cliques or anything in the clubhouse.” Assuming he remains in the lineup on Tuesday, Vilade will try to help Martinez win a second straight start. Martinez limited the Reds to one run in eight innings while striking out a season-high six on Wednesday. He has struggled badly in six career outings (two starts) against Cleveland, going 1-2 with an 8.56 ERA. The Guardians have lost three in a row, their longest skid of the season, and appear to have reached a turning point after falling to .500 for the first time since March 31. Cleveland is expected to recall former No. 1 overall draft pick Travis Bazzana from Triple-A Columbus before Tuesday game and make him its everyday second baseman. The Australian had a .287 average with two homers, 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 24 games with the Clippers. “We know it’s a long season,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We’re 30 games in. There’s a long way to go. And again, for a lot of our guys, they’re in these situations for maybe the first or second time.” Cleveland hopes Bazzana can adapt as quickly as rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter, who hit four homers in his first three career regular-season games. DeLauter doubled in the ninth inning Monday off Bryan Baker, giving the Guardians two on with one out, but the Tampa Bay closer struck out the next two batters for his seventh save. DeLauter has collected a hit in five of his past six contests, and he has reached base in 24 of 27 total games. He also is the eighth-hardest player to strike out in the majors. “The moment’s not too big for him,” Vogt said. “Chase has been great all year and continues to have good at-bats.” Once considered Cleveland’s ace in waiting, Bibee has put together strong starts in his past two outings, tossing 12 innings of two-run ball against the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. The Guardians are 1-5 in his six starts. Bibee beat the Rays the first time he faced them in 2023, but he is 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA against them in four career starts. He has worked deep into games vs. Tampa Bay, averaging more than 6 1/3 innings per appearance. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Ryan #Vilade #Rays #chase #seriesclinching #win #Guardians

The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.

The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.

This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.

The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

Age

1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman
2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman
3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman
4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman
5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman
6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman
7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman
8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman
9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior
10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman
11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior
12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman
13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 2007
14Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore
15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore
16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior
17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman
18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior
19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore
20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman
21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior
22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman
23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior
24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore
25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior
26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman
27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore
28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman
29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore
30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore

Let’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pick

It feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:

Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higher

Caleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.

Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:

There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.

I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.

I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.

Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?

I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.

Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:

The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.

I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.

The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.

Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lottery

The Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.

  • I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.
  • Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streaming

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:

#NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds">NBA mock draft 2026: Update after college basketball entry deadline with final lottery odds The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.PickTeamPlayerPositionSchoolAge1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 200714Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomoreLet’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pickIt feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higherCaleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lotteryThe Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.I spent March Madness following Michigan and reporting out a feature on how Yaxel Lendeborg grew up into a potential lottery pick. He told me about the NBA’s feedback at the combine last year, how he views his pro translation, and what this year at Michigan meant to him. I think you’ll like what he had to say:I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streamingHere’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing: #NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds

thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.

This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.

The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

Age

1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman
2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman
3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman
4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman
5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman
6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman
7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman
8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman
9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior
10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman
11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior
12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman
13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 2007
14Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore
15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore
16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior
17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman
18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior
19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore
20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman
21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior
22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman
23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior
24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore
25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior
26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman
27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore
28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman
29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore
30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore

Let’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pick

It feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:

Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higher

Caleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.

Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:

There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.

I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.

I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.

Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?

I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.

Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:

The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.

I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.

The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.

Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lottery

The Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.

  • I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.
  • Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streaming

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:

#NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds">NBA mock draft 2026: Update after college basketball entry deadline with final lottery odds

The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.

The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.

This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.

The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

Age

1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman
2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman
3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman
4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman
5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman
6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman
7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman
8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman
9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior
10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman
11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior
12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman
13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 2007
14Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore
15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore
16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior
17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman
18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior
19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore
20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman
21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior
22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman
23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior
24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore
25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior
26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman
27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore
28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman
29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore
30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore

Let’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pick

It feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:

Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higher

Caleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.

Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:

There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.

I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.

I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.

Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?

I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.

Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:

The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.

I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.

The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.

Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lottery

The Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.

  • I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.
  • Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streaming

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:

#NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds

There was a common thread that ran through the rare and precious victory for Kerala Blasters in the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi last week.

It was again an assist from Ebindas Yesudasan, his fifth this season, that drove Kerala Blasters to a win against Odisha FC. The 20-year-old came off the bench midway through the second half and in the fourth minute of stoppage time whipped in a corner which was headed in by another substitute Matias Hernandez for the winning goal. 

The win was Kerala’s Blasters’ second at home during a fraught campaign which saw sacking of a coach, boycott from home fans and a real fear of relegation. 

Amidst this chaos, Ebindas has shone like a beacon. The under-23 Indian star’s dead ball skills have put Kerala Blasters in good stead during set pieces. Ebindas also excelled as a ball snatcher and his flawless distribution also came in for praise, making him one of the standout performers for the club this season.

“I should give credit to my coaches and team-mates for having confidence in me. Well I worked a lot in improving my individual skills and as a team we have spent a considerable amount of time on set pieces. I am happy I am able to contribute for the team and it is very satisfying to see us win,” he said.

ALSO READ: Chennaiyin FC’s fall from grace: Why has the two-time ISL champion struggled to recreate past glory?

A product of the LIFFA academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Ebindas said the stint with Kannur Warriors in Super League Kerala (SLK) helped him to improve as a player. “SLK was a good learning experience and came at the right time for me. I learnt a lot from observing foreign players and playing in front of huge demanding crowds helped me to handle pressure. It has helped me a lot in ISL. But I know I need to improve a lot, especially my physique and I am working on it,” said Ebindas. 

“I have played for under-16, under-20 and under-23 Indian teams. I am hoping that my performance in ISL will open the doors for selection to the senior Indian team,” he added.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#ISL #Ebindas #deadball #brilliance #drives #Kerala #Blasters #resurgence">ISL 2025-26: Ebindas’ dead-ball brilliance drives Kerala Blasters’ resurgence There was a common thread that ran through the rare and precious victory for Kerala Blasters in the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi last week.It was again an assist from Ebindas Yesudasan, his fifth this season, that drove Kerala Blasters to a win against Odisha FC. The 20-year-old came off the bench midway through the second half and in the fourth minute of stoppage time whipped in a corner which was headed in by another substitute Matias Hernandez for the winning goal. The win was Kerala’s Blasters’ second at home during a fraught campaign which saw sacking of a coach, boycott from home fans and a real fear of relegation. Amidst this chaos, Ebindas has shone like a beacon. The under-23 Indian star’s dead ball skills have put Kerala Blasters in good stead during set pieces. Ebindas also excelled as a ball snatcher and his flawless distribution also came in for praise, making him one of the standout performers for the club this season.“I should give credit to my coaches and team-mates for having confidence in me. Well I worked a lot in improving my individual skills and as a team we have spent a considerable amount of time on set pieces. I am happy I am able to contribute for the team and it is very satisfying to see us win,” he said.ALSO READ: Chennaiyin FC’s fall from grace: Why has the two-time ISL champion struggled to recreate past glory?A product of the LIFFA academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Ebindas said the stint with Kannur Warriors in Super League Kerala (SLK) helped him to improve as a player. “SLK was a good learning experience and came at the right time for me. I learnt a lot from observing foreign players and playing in front of huge demanding crowds helped me to handle pressure. It has helped me a lot in ISL. But I know I need to improve a lot, especially my physique and I am working on it,” said Ebindas. “I have played for under-16, under-20 and under-23 Indian teams. I am hoping that my performance in ISL will open the doors for selection to the senior Indian team,” he added.Published on Apr 28, 2026 #ISL #Ebindas #deadball #brilliance #drives #Kerala #Blasters #resurgence

Chennaiyin FC’s fall from grace: Why has the two-time ISL champion struggled to recreate past glory?

A product of the LIFFA academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Ebindas said the stint with Kannur Warriors in Super League Kerala (SLK) helped him to improve as a player. “SLK was a good learning experience and came at the right time for me. I learnt a lot from observing foreign players and playing in front of huge demanding crowds helped me to handle pressure. It has helped me a lot in ISL. But I know I need to improve a lot, especially my physique and I am working on it,” said Ebindas. 

“I have played for under-16, under-20 and under-23 Indian teams. I am hoping that my performance in ISL will open the doors for selection to the senior Indian team,” he added.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#ISL #Ebindas #deadball #brilliance #drives #Kerala #Blasters #resurgence">ISL 2025-26: Ebindas’ dead-ball brilliance drives Kerala Blasters’ resurgence

There was a common thread that ran through the rare and precious victory for Kerala Blasters in the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi last week.

It was again an assist from Ebindas Yesudasan, his fifth this season, that drove Kerala Blasters to a win against Odisha FC. The 20-year-old came off the bench midway through the second half and in the fourth minute of stoppage time whipped in a corner which was headed in by another substitute Matias Hernandez for the winning goal. 

The win was Kerala’s Blasters’ second at home during a fraught campaign which saw sacking of a coach, boycott from home fans and a real fear of relegation. 

Amidst this chaos, Ebindas has shone like a beacon. The under-23 Indian star’s dead ball skills have put Kerala Blasters in good stead during set pieces. Ebindas also excelled as a ball snatcher and his flawless distribution also came in for praise, making him one of the standout performers for the club this season.

“I should give credit to my coaches and team-mates for having confidence in me. Well I worked a lot in improving my individual skills and as a team we have spent a considerable amount of time on set pieces. I am happy I am able to contribute for the team and it is very satisfying to see us win,” he said.

ALSO READ: Chennaiyin FC’s fall from grace: Why has the two-time ISL champion struggled to recreate past glory?

A product of the LIFFA academy in Thiruvananthapuram, Ebindas said the stint with Kannur Warriors in Super League Kerala (SLK) helped him to improve as a player. “SLK was a good learning experience and came at the right time for me. I learnt a lot from observing foreign players and playing in front of huge demanding crowds helped me to handle pressure. It has helped me a lot in ISL. But I know I need to improve a lot, especially my physique and I am working on it,” said Ebindas. 

“I have played for under-16, under-20 and under-23 Indian teams. I am hoping that my performance in ISL will open the doors for selection to the senior Indian team,” he added.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#ISL #Ebindas #deadball #brilliance #drives #Kerala #Blasters #resurgence

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