The Toronto Raptors enter the 2026 NBA Draft with a need at the center position and appear to be targeting a lob threat/rim-protector at No. 19 or in free agency. But when scouting this 2026 class, there are very limited players of that mold that are mocked in Toronto, so maybe it’s worth considering a different route.
Whether it was the Masai Ujiri era or this new regime, led by Bobby Webster, the philosophy never changed. When it comes to drafting, the Raptors often lean into versatility, high motor, defense-first prospects, and St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor is exactly that type of player.
In his senior year under Rick Pitino, Ejiofor was both the Johnnies' defensive anchor and offensive hub, giving him a tremendous workload. What enabled him to be given that responsibility was his versatility and maturity.
In baseball, there’s a term with prospects called a “five-tool player,” and Ejiofor is the NBA counterpart of that. He’s a high-level player in all facets of the game, whether it’s defense, both at the rim and on perimeter, passing, rebounding, scoring, and even floor spacing—he does it all.
For a Raptors team whose limited frontcourt depth is expected to take a hit with Sandro Mamu likely departing in free agency, Ejiofor could be a perfect replacement.
Zuby Ejiofor can bring versatility to the Raptors frontcourt
This past season, Ejiofor won Big East Player of the Year and Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He posted averages of 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.2 steals while shooting 53.6 percent from the field and draining 30.5 percent of his threes. These stats might already paint a picture of how impactful he was for a really good St. John’s team, but the tape is still worth a watch.
Some critics point to his physicality and strength being too much for college hoopers and that aspect not translating as well to the NBA. I can’t see that he is on the same level as Cam Boozer strength-wise, and with a bit of time, that will be a major weapon for both players in the league.
What initially sparked this article idea was that Toronto has already brought Ejiofor in for a private workout. Now, I’m not saying that overly means anything. However, it does tell us he’s on Toronto’s radar.
One thing that may raise some questions about his fit with the Raptors is that he measured at just 6-foot-7.5 at the NBA Draft Combine. My pushback to that point is that he weighed in at 245+ pounds and has a 7-foot-2 wingspan. On top of that, he showed elite-level rebounding awareness and defensive understanding that only got stronger over the course of his college career.
Sure, is he going to get outmatched in size and struggle at times? Yes, of course. At the same time, his heart and high motor made up for that lack of height in the entirety of his senior season.
I know a ton of Raptors fans want a giant 7-footer in the draft, but this team needs to fill more needs than simply getting a 7-footer. I’d much rather have an elite defensive big with a strong post and face-up game who has improved as a shooter and can pass the ball at a high level over some play-finishing giant.
If the Raptors are looking to fill several needs with their singular first-round pick, targeting Zuby Ejiofor would be a great way to accomplish that.
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