Major Villanova target projected as first-round pick in 2026 NBA Draft
Will Luigi Suigo opt to remain in the draft or come to college?
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MAY 25: Ilja Kurucs, #00 of U18 Zalgiris Kaunas and Luigi Suigo, #19 of U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in action during Adidas NextGen Euroleague Finals Championship game between U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs U18 Zalgiris Kaunas at Mubadala Arena on May 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Grau/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images) The saga surrounding Italian center Luigi Suigo has been one that Villanova fans have kept a close eye on. Suigo is currently entered into the 2026 NBA Draft but has expressed interest in coming to college if he is not one of the top 20 picks — or at least in the first round.
The early thought is that Suigo would go in the second round, which could lead to him playing in college for one year and potentially coming to Villanova. But will that change in the coming weeks? Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports put together his latest mock draft and it features Suigo going No.
27 to the Boston Celtics. Would this be enough to keep Suigo out of college? O’Connor writes: “Suigo has said he wants to be the Italian Wemby and, at 7-foot-3 with passing feel and shooting touch, you can see why a teenager might put that out into the universe.
Suigo lacks the handle and self-creation chops to ever be the best player on a team, but his dynamic skills as a passer, shooter, and lob threat layer cleanly on top of baseline center duties as a screener, finisher, and rim protector. Becoming the Italian Marc Gasol is a more realistic goal, and would still be an excellent outcome. Sounds like a perfect fit for the Celtics system.