The 2026 NBA draft starts tonight, and former Tennessee State guard Aaron Nkrumah looks to make history. While HBCU players are etched into the fabric of NBA history, the modern NBA has featured only a few former black college basketball players, and none have been selected in the NBA draft since Norfolk State’s Kyle O’Quinn in 2012.
Nkrumah looks to change the paradigm of history, and hear his name called on either Tuesday or Wednesday of this year’s NBA draft. During his time with the Tigers, he’s proven himself capable of playing professional basketball. One of the biggest breakthroughs of Nolan Smith’s first season at Tennessee State came in the form of Aaron Nkrumah’s emergence as a star. The Worcester, Massachusetts native developed into one of the Ohio Valley Conference’s premier players, ultimately capturing OVC Player of the Year honors.
The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while making his mark on the defensive end as well. Nkrumah led the conference in steals per game at 2.9 and finished the season with 87 steals, ranking among the nation’s most disruptive perimeter defenders.
His stellar regular season earned him an invite to the NBA Draft Combine. After being featured in the NBA G League Combine, Nkrumah gathered attention during two scrimmage games. Per an early May report by ClutchPoints Senior NBA Reporter Brett Siegel, Nkrumah scored 31 points and knocked down three 3-pointers.
In Siegel’s latest NBA mock draft, he has the HBCU star selected with the 45th overall pick in the second round by the Sacramento Kings.
“Nobody has won more during the pre-draft process than Aaron Nkrumah, a constant workhorse who has earned his spot in the second round of the draft,” Sigel wrote. “Nkrumah has worked out for a handful of teams, including the Sacramento Kings, and everyone has been impressed with the two-way energy he can bring as a second-round pick.”
Siegel sees Nkrumah as a guard who can give the Kings bench depth and value at his spot in the draft.
“For the Kings specifically, Nkrumah could fill many gaps on the bench, especially since they are searching for players who can wear multiple hats and bring toughness on defense. Nkrumah’s non-stop motor would make him a terrific pick for Sacramento in this spot.”
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