After garnering significant buzz ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, former Tennessee State guard Aaron Nkrumah was not selected in either round. While Nkrumah was not selected in the draft, he had the opportunity to sign with a team as an undrafted free agent. Nkrumah picked up significant steam for his play with Tennessee State under head coach Nolan Smith and his performance at the G League and NBA Combine in the offseason.
Nkrumah developed into one of the OVC’s most complete players during the 2025-26 season. The 6-foot-6 guard produced 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while establishing himself as one of the conference’s premier perimeter defenders. He paced the OVC with 2.9 steals per contest and finished the year with 87 total steals, placing him among the national leaders in the category.
Tennessee State's Aaron Nkrumah made the most of being the last player invited to the G League Combine, dropping 22 points on 12 shots in yesterday's scrimmage.
The Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year measured 6'5 barefoot, 189 pounds, with a 6'10.25 wingspan. pic.twitter.com/nw2HX5HnOP
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 10, 2026
His breakout campaign earned him an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine after first participating in the NBA G League Elite Camp. Nkrumah strengthened his draft stock during the showcase, including a 31-point outing with three made 3-pointers. According to an early May report from ClutchPoints senior NBA reporter Brett Siegel, his performances generated increased interest from NBA evaluators ahead of the draft. Siegel also listed Nkrumah in the final edition of his 2026 NBA Mock Draft, slotting him at the 45th pick to be selected 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.”
Now Nkrumah looks to follow the path of fellow Tennessee State alumnus Robert Covington, who was undrafted in 2013 and eventually signed a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets after a successful stint with the team’s summer league squad.
The post Tennessee State’s Aaron Nkrumah not selected in 2026 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.
