A Rising Star's Path to the NBA
Aaron Nkrumah, a standout guard from Tennessee State, has inked an Exhibit 10 deal with the Denver Nuggets, a move that caps a whirlwind journey from obscurity to the brink of NBA action.
The 2025‑26 season saw Nkrumah dominate the Ohio Valley Conference, guiding the Tigers to a 23‑10 record, capturing the conference tournament and securing the program’s first NCAA tournament berth in three decades. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.9 steals per game, while the team posted a scoring average above 80 points.
Though initially left out of the Portsmouth Invitational, he earned a late invitation to the NBA G League Elite Camp, where he impressed with 31 points and three three‑pointers in scrimmages, catching the eye of league evaluators and securing a spot at the NBA Draft Combine.
His defensive prowess and scoring outburst have drawn comparisons to Robert Covington, the former Tennessee State standout who, after going undrafted in 2013, forged an 11‑year NBA career and earned All‑Defensive First Team honors in 2018. Covington’s trajectory mirrors the pathway Nkrumah now follows.
The contract, a one‑year, non‑guaranteed Exhibit 10, places Nkrumah on a roster that will see him join the Nuggets for the NBA 2K27 Summer League in Las Vegas, where he hopes to translate his collegiate success into professional minutes.
Beyond the personal milestone, his signing underscores Tennessee State’s growing reputation as an incubator for NBA talent, offering a clear route for HBCU players to reach the league’s highest stage.