NBA Draft: UW’s Hannes Steinbach selected 14th overall by Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets selected UW Huskies freshman standout Hannes Steinbach with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night in Brooklyn, New York.

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A Würzburg, Germany, native, Steinbach averaged 18.5 points while shooting 57.7% from the field, 34% from 3-point range and 75.9% from the free-throw line over 30 games in his lone season with the Huskies.

He showcased his greatest skill as a rebounder, leading the country with 11.8 rebounds per game, which included a 24-rebound effort against USC on March 3.

Steinbach added 1.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals while playing 34.6 minutes per contest.

The 6-foot-11 forward/center was a walking double-double at UW, achieving the feat a whopping 22 times. He also scored in double figures in every game this past season.

Steinbach is the 18th UW player to be selected in the first round and the eighth to do so after playing only college season. He’s the school’s first first-round pick since since Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels, who were also one-and-done players, went in the first round in 2020. He’s the highest selection from the program since Markelle Fultz went No. 1 overall in 2017.

In being drafted by the Hornets, Steinbach is joining a team that went 44-38 last season, finished ninth in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the NBA’s play-in tournament.

For the full results from the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, click here. 

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