Nets target explosive freshman Kingston Flemings at No. 5, a dynamic guard whose road game dominance shines.
Despite making an NBA-record five selections in the first round last year, the Brooklyn Nets failed to secure a top-five pick.
However, this season is a different story, as the Nets currently sit at No. 14 in the East, with a 15-46 record. Currently, this ranks as a bottom-three record in the league, positioning Brooklyn to make a top-end selection in late June.
On Monday, Sam Vecenie, reporter for The Athletic, released his latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft. The Nets slotted as having the fifth overall pick, projected to add Houston's Kingston Flemings, a talented freshman point guard.
ClutchPoints' Nets reporter Erik Slater recently endorsed this selection, as highlighted on Nets Roundtable Writer Dean Simon's article.
Flemings has been one of the biggest risers in all of college basketball this season, jumping into lottery projections after one of the best freshman seasons in Houston history.
The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 16.6 points per game, while adding 5.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest. Flemings has displayed a high level of offensive versatility, using his athleticism to attack the rim and getting to his spots in the mid range. He can also knock down the deep ball, shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range.
Vecenie highlighted what Flemings can do, calling him "wildly explosive and powerful."
"The Houston guard is leading Kelvin Sampson’s offense wonderfully, attacking the rim and creating easy shots both through his ability to get paint touches and to kick out to his teammates. He’s averaging 16.4 points and 5.2 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from 3, but he is also very much an eye-test player," Vecenie wrote. "You can feel his explosiveness and burst every time he touches the court. He’s also an excellent decision-maker and has gotten better defensively throughout the year."
Flemings benefits from one of the top home-floor environments in all of college basketball, playing at the Fertitta Center, where head coach Kelvin Sampson has amassed an incredible 51-1 record.
However, Flemings has actually been significantly better away from home with his scoring average jumping up to 20.2 on the road.
On Jan. 24, the Cougars traveled to United Supermarkets Arena to take on then-ranked No. 12 Texas Tech in a heated ranked matchup. Flemings exploded for a whopping 42 points, shooting over 50 percent from the field and knocking down four 3-pointers, making him the first Cougar to score 40 points in a game since Rob McKiver scored 52 on Feb. 27, 2008.
Flemings would be a lethal pairing next to Nets leading scorer Michael Porter Jr., who could also provide major playmaking ability, competitive drive and defensive prowess.
ㅤ
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!