Miami will enter next week's NBA Draft with three players on ESPN's final Top 100 prospect board, but the rankings also make the challenge in front of Tre Donaldson, Ernest Udeh Jr. and Malik Reneau clear.
ESPN ranked Donaldson No. 71, Udeh No. 72 and Reneau No. 86 in its final 2026 NBA Draft big board, placing all three Hurricanes outside the 60 selections that will be made June 23-24 in Brooklyn.
Luckily, ESPN's board is not the same as a mock draft, so a ranking outside the top 60 does not rule out the possibility of being selected. Teams often value specific roles differently in the second round.
Tre Donaldson and Ernest Udeh come in at No. 71 and No. 72
Donaldson is the highest-ranked Hurricane on ESPN's final board. The senior guard averaged 16.4 points, a team-high 5.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds.
Donaldson handled a major offensive workload for the Hurricanes, created shots for himself and teammates and gave Miami a steady ball-handler late in games.
His draft case comes down to whether a team believes his experience, playmaking and ability to run an offense can translate into a reserve guard role.
Udeh sits one spot behind Donaldson, and his NBA projection looks completely different.
The 6-foot-11 center was Miami's defensive identity under Jai Lucas. Udeh averaged 6.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 72.7% from the field and making the All-ACC Defensive Team.
Udeh's path in the NBA is built around rebounding, rim running, screen setting and defensive mobility. Those are traits that can translate to the pros if a team puts him in the correct position with reasonable expectations.
Malik Reneau comes in at No. 86
The senior forward came to Coral Gables from Indiana and was Miami's top scorer. Reneau averaged a team-best 18.9 points, added 6.5 rebounds and shot 54% from the field while earning first-team All-ACC.
He has size at 6-foot-9, strength around the basket and a proven ability to score against high-major competition.
But in the NBA, he would likely need to prove he can score efficiently in a smaller role while improving enough as a perimeter shooter and defender to stay on the court.
The G League Combine gave all three a chance to make their case
The answer for Miami's core three players may come after the 60th pick, when teams begin sorting through two-way contracts, Exhibit 10 deals and Summer League rosters.
Donaldson, Udeh and Reneau all received invitations to the NBA G League Draft Combine in May, where prospects took part in five-on-five games, strength testing and agility drills in front of NBA and G League scouts, coaches and front-office executives.
Their production, combine work and ability to fit a specific NBA role ensure that their professional opportunities will not end when the second round does.
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