As Brooklyn seeks frontcourt depth beyond Nic Claxton, this prolific Washington freshman offers elite rebounding, floor-spacing potential, and the high-floor consistency of an NBA-ready rim protector.
Frontcourt depth is a big area of need for the Brooklyn Nets, who have seemingly maximized the production of longtime starting big man Nic Claxton.
The 2026 NBA draft presents multiple intriguing prospects, including Duke's Cameron Boozer, and Michigan's duo of Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg.
One of the more under-the-radar centers in the class is Washington's Hannes Steinbach, who posted 20 double-doubles on the season, became just the 19th player and first freshman to average a double-double for the Huskies.
Let's dive into what makes Steinbach so effective.
Consistency Is Key
Steinbach is not the most eye-popping prospect in this year's class, especially with dynamic scorers like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Darius Acuff Jr. at the top of the draft board.
But, Steinbach's high ceiling and NBA-prototype skills make him perhaps the most NBA-ready big in the draft.
The Wurzburg, Germany, native became the first Washington player to earn all-conference honors in Washington's Big Ten era, ranking first in the country with 11.8 rebounds per game.
Steinbach possesses great instinct on the offensive glass, frequently positioning himself inside for easy putback opportunities.
The 7-footer moves well for his size and has solid conditioning, running the floor and playing just under 35 minutes per game.
Stretch-Big Range
In today's NBA, even big men are expected to have floor-spacing ability.
Steinbach, who turned 20 on May 1, shot 34 percent from deep in his lone year with Washington, posting four games with two or more makes from 3-point range.
Although his attempts were limited, Steinbach possesses a natural stroke and has the ability to knock down a trail-3.
Defensive Upside
Steinbach blocks 1.2 shots and gets at least one steal per game. He will need to continue to improve as a rim protector at the next level, but usually has solid positioning on defense and thwarts incoming drivers.
In the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, Steinbach swatted away three Wisconsin shot attempts, had one steal and 16 rebounds.
Are Nets a Fit?
The Nets would benefit from a player like Steinbach, who would provide some variation from Claxton's playing style.
Claxton's production has seen a steady decrease since he signed a four-year, $97 million contract extension in 2024.
In both of the seasons prior to his deal, Claxton averaged more points, rebounds, and blocks, and shot nearly 14 percentage points better from the field in his best statistical season in 2022-2023.
Steinbach would instantly provide more floor spacing than Claxton, while coming in with more size and rebounding consistency.
Draft Projection
Currently, Steinbach is seen as a mid-first-round option, likely being one of the first players selected post-lottery.
In ESPN's latest mock draft, Steinbach lands with the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 16.
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