The Indiana Pacers announced that they will host a series of draft workouts in 2026, inviting a select group of college prospects to showcase their abilities before the franchise’s basketball operations staff.
The sessions come despite the team’s lack of a 2026 first‑round pick, a consequence of earlier trades that stripped the Pacers of their original selection.
Prospects set to appear
Former Carmel star Peter Suder is among the invited players. He led Carmel High School to Class 4A state championships in 2019 and 2021 and was recognized as an Indiana All‑Star before moving on to Miami (Ohio), where he earned first‑team All‑Mid‑American Conference honors in each of his final two seasons.
Also on the list is Tucker DeVries, a forward who spent five seasons under his father Darian DeVries at Drake before transferring to Indiana. He averaged double‑digit points throughout his college career and was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year twice.
The workout roster expands to include Nimari Burnett, who contributed 8.2 points per game to Michigan’s national championship team after stints at Texas Tech and Alabama, Sam Hoiberg, son of Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg and a recent All‑Defensive team honoree, Emanuel Sharp, a former Houston standout with first‑team All‑Big 12 honors, and Seth Trimble, a North Carolina guard who posted 14 points per game this season.
Purpose of the workouts
While the Pacers do not possess a draft pick, the workouts serve a dual function. They provide a platform for evaluating talent that could be acquired via trade and for identifying undrafted free agents who might bolster the Noblesville Boom, the franchise’s G‑League affiliate.
Team officials say the open format allows coaches to assess not only raw skill but also fit within the organization’s culture and development philosophy. The workouts also generate buzz among local fans eager to see future Pacers in action.
The initiative reflects a broader trend across the NBA, where teams are using pre‑draft workouts as scouting tools beyond the traditional combine setting, especially when roster needs are fluid and trade rumors abound.