Vanderbilt Duo Tyler Tanner and Tyler Nickel Earn 2026 NBA Draft Combine Invitations

TL;DR: Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner and Tyler Nickel have been invited to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, joining a select group of prospects evaluated by NBA scouts.

Vanderbilt announced on May 1 that both former Commodores will attend the combine scheduled for May 10‑17. The event gathers NBA general managers, scouts, and executives to assess draft‑eligible players before the June 23‑24 draft in Brooklyn.

Tanner, a sophomore guard, posted 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 48.5% from the field, 36.8% from three‑point range and 85.3% from the free‑throw line. He started all 36 games, helping Vanderbilt achieve a 27‑9 record—the program’s best in 33 years—and reach the NCAA Tournament’s second round.

Forward Tyler Nickel averaged 13.5 points per game in the 2025‑26 season and hit 40% of his three‑point attempts. After stints at North Carolina and Virginia Tech, Nickel completed his fourth year at Vanderbilt and is unlikely to retain collegiate eligibility under current NCAA rules.

The combine offers Tanner a chance to gauge NBA interest while preserving the option to return to college before the May 27 withdrawal deadline. For Nickel, the event serves as a final showcase before he enters the draft pool with no remaining eligibility.

Both players will face rigorous physical testing, skill drills, and scrimmages designed to reveal strengths and weaknesses. Strong performances can boost draft stock; weaker showings often prompt prospects to reconsider staying in school.

Vanderbilt’s back‑to‑back invitations highlight the program’s growing reputation for developing NBA‑ready talent. Scouts will watch how Tanner’s scoring efficiency and Nickel’s perimeter shooting translate against elite competition.

What to watch next: The combine results, followed by the June draft, will determine whether Vanderbilt’s prospects secure NBA contracts or return to college for further development.