Noam Yaakov Climbs Draft Boards as Early Second-Round Candidate

Draft expert Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has given Israeli guard Noam Yaakov his highest projection yet for the 2026 NBA Draft, ranking him 47th overall in his latest top 100 and placing him in the category of players who should get a Two-Way contract.

Vecenie wrote that Yaakov is “one of the most exciting players in the draft,” but said he has been able to stand out in a league where, in Vecenie’s view, no one had the athleticism to stop him. He added that Yaakov is very creative but still not fully developed and needs to create easier shots for himself. Vecenie said Yaakov’s ball-handling makes him a player with long-term upside, which matters in a draft class without real depth after the first round.

Yaakov has been rising in projections. A few weeks ago, Vecenie had him at No. 51, while ESPN ranked him 59th. If Yaakov is not selected in the draft and does not secure a contract through the summer league, he is expected to play next season for the University of Utah.

Another player, Emmanuel Sharp, was ranked 33rd by Vecenie. At this stage, there is broad agreement among analysts that Yaakov is likely to go in the early second round, with the New York Knicks, who hold the 31st pick, seen as one of the leading possibilities.