2026 NBA Draft: Aday Mara Scouting Report

Throughout the 2025-26 season, Babcock Hoops will provide comprehensive scouting reports on top 2026 NBA Draft prospects, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and potential at the next level. Our reports offer an in-depth look at each player's development and draft outlook.

Aday Mara

Position: Center

College: Michigan

Class: Junior

Height/Weight: 7'3", 255 lbs

Birthdate: April 7, 2005

Previous College: UCLA

Player Overview

Aday Mara is a uniquely skilled big man with elite size, advanced feel, and exceptional passing instincts for his position. Standing at 7’3” with a 7’7” wingspan, Mara immediately impacts both ends of the floor with his sheer presence and natural feel for the game. Offensively, he’s comfortable facilitating from the high post, elbows, and short roll, displaying touch and vision uncommon for a player his size. He uses angles and timing effectively to score with finesse rather than power, finishing with either hand and utilizing an array of hooks and soft lay-ins. While his physical strength and lateral mobility remain areas of development, his basketball IQ, passing, and touch make him an intriguing prospect.

Strengths

• Elite Measurables: 7’3” frame with exceptional length; changes shots by presence alone and provides immediate positional advantage.

• Passing Ability: Reads the floor like a guard; high-level facilitator from the post and short roll with advanced anticipation and timing.

• Finishing Touch: Skilled finisher who uses angles well and scores efficiently with either hand.

• Rim Protection: Natural shot-blocker with excellent timing and verticality; rarely needs to leave the ground to affect attempts.

• High-IQ Offense: Operates with patience and purpose; understands spacing and excels in structured offensive systems.

• Shooting Potential: Soft touch and developing confidence on mid-range jumpers and pick-and-pop attempts suggest future stretch capability.

  
  

Concerns

• Explosiveness: Not an above-the-rim athlete; limited vertical pop affects finishing through contact and recovery defense.

• Strength & Physicality: Needs to continue developing core and lower-body strength to establish deep position and withstand physical play.

• Lateral Mobility: Lacks quickness in space; can be exposed in pick-and-roll coverages and transition.

• Conditioning: Can struggle with sustained pace and physical demands; tends to get fatigued.

• Defensive Footwork: Occasionally stands upright or opens too early; requires better discipline and technique to stay effective in multiple schemes.

  
  

Bottom Line

Mara projects as a long-term developmental big with rare size, touch, and playmaking instincts that can’t be taught. His offensive feel and passing ability provide a unique foundation to impact games as a connector and facilitator. While his mobility and physicality must continue to develop, his combination of length, IQ, and skill makes him one of the more intriguing interior prospects in college basketball. With continued growth in strength and conditioning, he has the potential to develop into a valuable big man who can provide rim protection and contribute offensively.