Joshua Jefferson is a right-handed power forward who makes winning plays. Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocked shots per game this season at Iowa State. He was named First Team All-Big 12 and led the conference in box score plus/minus. Jefferson is also the Big 12 career leader in box score plus/minus. At 6'8" with a 6'10.75" wingspan and 246 pounds, Jefferson has a strong build for a power forward. He played two seasons at Saint Mary’s before finishing his NCAA career with two seasons at Iowa State. Offensively, Jefferson’s game is all about team. He shares it willingly, reads the floor, and posted a 1.87-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He also had two triple-doubles this season. Jefferson does a good job getting to the foul line, ranking second in the Big 12 in free throw attempts. He uses his off-hand (left) well. He shot a career-best 35.0% from three-point range this season and made 72.2% from the free throw line for his career. Those numbers keep the shooting projection alive, though he still needs to prove he can consistently stretch NBA defenses. Defensively, Jefferson’s instincts are strong. His DDiff was plus 3.1, and he gets steals at a high rate because he reads the game quickly. His dig-downs and tie-ups pester opposing bigs, and he consistently finds ways to make useful plays without needing the offense to revolve around him. The athletic testing was not good. Jefferson posted the slowest lane agility time at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine and also struggled in the three-quarter court sprint. He jumped a 33" max vertical, making him very clearly a well below-average runner and jumper by NBA standards. Still, his strength, feel, passing, defensive instincts, foul-drawing, and winning production make him a highly interesting frontcourt prospect.
