The 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar. 

Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved. 

Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future.

And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026-27. 

For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No. 25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on.   

In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Doncic or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future.  

If the Lakers choose the latter path, there isn’t a shortage of options of prospects who they should consider drafting. 

Toward the top of that list should be St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor, whose hustle, defensive versatility and energetic style of play would be a welcome addition to the Lakers’ front court.

Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s, big

2025-26 stats (St. John’s): 16.3 points (53.6% shooting), 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, 1.2 steals, 30 minutes in 37 games

2024-25 stats (St. John’s): 14.7 points (57.7% shooting), 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, 31.8 minutes in 36 games

2023-24 stats (St. John’s): 4.3 points (48.9% shooting), 3.1 rebounds, 11.2 minutes in 33 games

2022-23 stats (Kansas): 1.2 points (65% shooting), 1.7 rebounds, 5.1 minutes in 25 games

Measurements: 6-foot-7 ½ (without shoes), 245 pounds, 7-foot-2 wingspan, 8-foot-11 standing reach  

Why draft Zuby Ejiofor?

Despite being an undersized big man, Ejiofor was an impactful defender throughout college because of his wingspan, instincts, strength and communication. 

Ejiofor can switch onto perimeter ball handlers and contain them in isolations. And even if they get a step by him, he has the length and quickness to recover to either block or contest the shot. 

And four years of college basketball helped showcase that he’s regularly in the right position defensively. 

Ejiofor’s time in college allowed him to make significant strides as a passer/playmaker — which will be his strongest offensive skills in the NBA besides his reliable screening. 

But his best attribute is how hard he plays — which has proven to be a skill.

It was evident in the 3.3 offensive rebounds he averaged in 2025-26 and the 4.4 offensive rebounds he averaged as a junior. 

It was clear in the all-around growth he made as a player from his freshman year at Kansas to leading St. John’s to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.

A star-driven team like the Lakers could use more players like Ejiofor who give it their all on every possession, which raises the collective hustle and energy of the team.

Areas of improvement?

Ejiofor being undersized hurts him when it comes to scoring and finishing at the rim against bigger and longer players.

And if his 3-point shot isn’t going to be consistent (30.5% in 2025-26; 27.7% in college), then it’s going to be difficult for him to be viewed as an offensive threat outside of hustle plays because he’s limited in other areas since he isn’t an offensive creator.

If the shot doesn’t develop, Ejiofor’s ceiling likely would be as a change-of-pace energetic big man.