Sophomore center Jaden Toombs looks to shatter draft droughts. With elite size and playmaking flashes, he transitions from a rotational piece into a high-upside cornerstone for Andy Enfield.
For eight years, Shake Milton stood alone as SMU's most recent NBA Draft pick until Jaron Pierre Jr. joined the conversation this summer.
He might want to enjoy the title while it lasts.
Pierre's selection at No. 58 by the New Orleans Pelicans ended a drought that stretched all the way back to Milton in 2018, but SMU may not need nearly as long to produce its next NBA prospect.
In fact, the best candidate was already sitting on Andy Enfield's bench while Pierre played his way into the draft, and it's Jaden Toombs.
The 6-10, 230-pound center didn't exactly produce numbers that screamed "future NBA Draft pick" during his freshman campaign. Toombs averaged 8.3 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing just 20 minutes per game and starting only five times.
But the limited opportunity deserves some context.
Veteran center Samet Yiğitoğlu occupied the starting spot, while Pierre, Boopie Miller, B.J. Edwards and Corey Washington handled much of the offensive responsibility for a veteran-heavy SMU roster.
That group is now gone, leaving Toombs with an opportunity to transform from an encouraging rotational piece into something much more important during his sophomore season.
And we've already seen what that could look like.
Toombs' most complete performance came against Syracuse in the ACC Tournament, when the freshman produced 16 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
The scoring and rebounding were certainly impressive. Six assists from a 230-pound center might've been even more interesting.
Toombs ultimately finished his debut season shooting 56.8 percent from the field, displaying an ability to efficiently score around the basket while occasionally creating opportunities for others.
Now he'll have to prove those flashes can survive additional responsibility.
And that's probably what separates Toombs from the rest of SMU's potential 2027 NBA Draft candidates entering the season.
Billy White III may possess the most mysterious upside on the roster. The 6-foot-8 forward was a highly regarded member of the 2026 recruiting class before reclassifying and spending last season as a redshirt.
There's plenty to like there, but no collegiate sample to evaluate yet.
Nigel Walls remains another intriguing 6-10 developmental piece, while Jermaine O'Neal Jr. showed flashes during his freshman campaign.
Rowan Brumbaugh and SMU's veteran additions could certainly become important pieces of Enfield's rotation, too.
But none currently offers the same combination of established college production, NBA size and an obvious opportunity for an expanded role as Toombs.
That doesn't make him a 2027 NBA Draft lock.
Far from it.
Toombs still has to prove last season's efficiency can translate to a larger workload, establish himself against ACC competition and develop enough to separate himself from the countless productive college big men competing for the same limited number of NBA opportunities.
But for the first time in eight years, SMU isn't entering a season wondering when its next potential NBA Draft pick might emerge.
One may have been developing behind the last one all along.
And if Toombs capitalizes on the opportunity now sitting in front of him, Pierre's reign as SMU's most recent draft pick could end considerably faster than Milton's did.
