Former Mountain West Standouts Jaden Henley and M.J. Collins Aim to Raise Draft Stock at 2026 G‑League Combine

TL;DR: Jaden Henley (17.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and M.J. Collins (17.5 ppg) will use the 2026 NBA G‑League Combine to address shooting and playmaking gaps that could lift their draft positions.

The 2026 NBA Draft approaches in less than two months, and the G‑League Combine in Chicago runs Friday‑Sunday. Former Mountain West players Jaden Henley and M.J. Collins are among the prospects hoping to impress scouts.

Henley finished the 2025‑26 season at Grand Canyon with career highs: 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 46.6 % from the field and posted a 56.2 % true‑shooting percentage (a measure that includes free throws and three‑point shots). Despite his scoring, his three‑point accuracy lingered at 26.8 % on 3.8 attempts per game, well below the NBA average of roughly 35 %.

Collins, in his sole season at Utah State, averaged 17.5 points and recorded a 62.0 % true‑shooting percentage. He improved his three‑point mark to 36.1 % after previously hovering under 30 % at Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt. Free‑throw success rose to 81.0 % last season, indicating better shooting mechanics.

Both players bring size and athleticism: Henley stands 6‑foot‑7, 200 lb, offering defensive versatility across multiple positions; Collins measures 6‑foot‑4, 190 lb, known for relentless off‑ball movement and secondary creation. Their primary challenge at the combine will be translating regular‑season scoring into measurable shooting drills and playmaking tests.

For Henley, a noticeable uptick in three‑point consistency could shift his perception from a rim‑focused finisher to a stretch‑forward capable of spacing the floor. For Collins, replicating his 36 % three‑point rate under combine conditions would confirm that his recent improvement is sustainable, not a statistical outlier.

Scouts will also evaluate defensive footwork, rebounding effort and decision‑making in controlled drills. Strong performances could move Henley into the late‑first‑round conversation and push Collins toward a mid‑second‑round slot.

The next indicator will be the combine’s official measurements and drill results, released after Sunday’s sessions. Those numbers will shape where each player lands on draft boards heading into the June lottery.