Oregon center Nate Bittle remains firmly on the NBA Draft radar heading into the final stretch before draft night.
The 7-foot senior checked in at No. 61 overall in ESPN's updated Top 100 Big Board for the 2026 NBA Draft, a ranking compiled by ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo following the NCAA withdrawal deadline. Bittle's placement puts him among the top college prospects still available in this year's draft pool and reinforces the continued professional interest around one of Oregon's most productive and experienced frontcourt players.
ESPN's updated rankings came after the May 27 NCAA withdrawal deadline, a key marker in the draft process as college players had to decide whether to remain in the draft or return to school. According to Woo, the deadline brought few major surprises, with 14 players from ESPN's Top 100 opting to return to college. Woo noted that NIL opportunities have changed the draft calculus for many prospects, particularly those not viewed as consensus first-round picks.
During the 2025-26 season, he averaged a team-leading 16.8 points per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from three-point range and 73.2 percent from the free throw line. He also added 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 blocks in 31.1 minutes per game.
Despite missing seven games due to injury, Bittle started all 25 games he played and scored in double figures in all but two contests. He had eight games of 20 or more points, including season-high 28-point performances against Gonzaga and Rutgers. He also finished his Oregon career with 1,000 career points and 176 blocked shots, the third-most in program history.
Bittle's final season built off a strong 2024-25 campaign in which he earned Third Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defense honors. That year, he averaged 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while leading the Big Ten with 75 total blocks.
Beyond the production, Bittle also earned strong praise from Oregon head coach Dana Altman for his loyalty and toughness. Altman pointed to Bittle's decision to stay at Oregon and his willingness to battle back through multiple ankle injuries as examples of what he values in college athletics.
"He's an Oregon guy," Altman said, later adding, "I'm a big fan for the rest of my life because he did everything that I feel is right about college athletics."