A proven winner with a lethal jumper, Tre Donaldson brings defensive grit and elite playmaking from Miami to the draft radar as a potential second-round steal.
We are just five days out from the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, and we at KingsRoundtable will continue to hammer out the final few profiles for various prospects in this year's class.
Recently, we have covered projected second round talents like Gonzaga big man Graham Ike, Arizona forward Tobe Awaka, and South Carolina guard Kobe Knox.
In this profile, I will showcase Miami guard Tre Donaldson, another player predicted to be drafted in this range.
Proven Winner
Where Donaldson went, success followed, dating back to his high school days.
In 2022, Donaldson led Florida State High School to a Class 3A State Championship, scoring 22 points with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the championship game.
Donaldson averaged over 11 points per game, ranking second on team with 63 three-pointers made.
After defeating Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, Donaldson led the Wolverines to a 16th conference championship.
For his senior season, Donaldson joined first-year head coach Jai Lucas at Miami, helping lead the Hurricanes to a complete turnaround.
After winning just seven games the season prior, Miami achieved a 26-9 record, earning a March Madness bid.
Donaldson shined, earning All-ACC Second Team honors for his 16.4 points, a team-high 5.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.
3-and-D
Despite being slightly undersized, Donaldson's 200-pound frame allows him to play physical defense at the point of attack.
The 6-foot-3 guard averaged a career-best 1.4 steals per game, while playing solid on-ball defense.
On offense, Donaldson is an NBA-level 3-point shooter, who can take and make tough jumpers off the dribble.
In the opening round of March Madness, Donaldson knocked down a season-high five deep balls, scoring 17 points while adding eight rebounds and six assists to knock off Missouri 80-66.
Areas For Improvement
Donaldson's offensive game is pretty well-rounded, but he can struggle to convert at the free-throw line.
As a sub-73% career foul shooter, Donaldson needs to be able to capitalize on his opportunities for easy ones.
He did show growth last season, jumping from 69% to 76.6% from the charity stripe.
Draft Projection
If Donaldson is not taken within the top-60 picks, he instantly becomes one of the top guard options for an UDFA contract.
On ESPN's big board, Donaldson is ranked as the No. 76 overall prospect.
Are Kings a Fit?
While Sacramento will likely address the backcourt with the No. 7 overall pick, Donaldson's 3-point shooting and playmaking would be dynamic off the bench.
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