MM 5.14: Maryland men’s basketball alum Ja’Kobi Gillespie balls out at NBA Draft Combine
This is the Maryland Minute, a short story followed by a roundup of Terps-related news.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 13: Ja'Kobi Gillespie talks to the media after the game during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 13, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images While the freshmen at the top of the 2026 NBA Draft class are being touted as one of the best groups to grace basketball in a long time, several upperclassmen are flying under the radar with strong performances.
Former Terp Ja’Kobi Gillespie was one of those — until he announced himself to the scouts in attendance at the second combine game Wednesday with a 24-point first half. Jakobi Gillespie is feeling it! He finishes the first half with 24 points 👀 pic.
twitter. com/2gPPrmxeZa — NBA Draft (@NBADraft) May 13, 2026 The former Belmont, Maryland and Tennessee guard finished with 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting — including a 5-of-8 mark from deep — and added five assists and three steals over roughly 26 minutes of playing time. Gillespie has had an exceptional combine.
He shot a combined 65. 8% across all shooting drills — the tenth-best mark among all players — and placed well in every type of test. Ja’Kobi Gillespie was in the top 35 of EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY at the NBA combine!