The Wizards waited 50 picks between selections in the 2026 NBA Draft but walked away with two players on Night 2, selecting USF forward/center Izaiyah Nelson at No. 51 overall and Australian guard Malique Lewis at No. 60, the NBA Draft’s version of the “Mr. Irrelevant” pick.
Nelson played three seasons at Arkansas State, earning Third Team All-Sun Belt honors in 2025, before transferring to South Florida to follow coach Bryan Hodgson. In his lone season with the Bulls, Nelson was the American Conference’s Player, Defensive Player, and Newcomer of the Year after averaging 15.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Lewis, 21, grew up in Trinidad and Tobago before moving to play in Spain at age 16, and he spent two seasons there and one in Mexico before heading down under to play for the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the NBL.
Last season, his second with the Phoenix, he averaged 6.9 points, 4.3 boards, and 1.2 steals per game.
