Hannes Steinbach Drafted 14th Overall By Charlotte Hornets
June 23, 2026 | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK – Following a prolific, record-setting freshman season on Montlake, Hannes Steinbach became the latest Husky to achieve his dream of ascending to the professional ranks on Tuesday, being drafted 14th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2026 NBA Draft.
"It's very exciting to be a part of the Charlotte Hornets now," Steinbach said. "It's a very cool shared moment with my family and friends. Just very excited for the future."
The Würzburg, Germany, native is the 63rd former Husky to be drafted into the NBA, the first since Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels were both selected in the first round in 2020 and the highest drafted Husky since Markelle Fultz was drafted first overall in 2017
Steinbach is Washington's 11th first round draft pick since 2010, tied for the eighth most selections for a single school in that time frame.
The 6-10 forward took the college game by storm this past season, making the move to Montlake from Würzburg Baskets in his native Germany. Steinbach's 22 double doubles not only tied for the nation's lead and blew past UW's freshman record, but came up just one shy of Jon Brockman's single season program record.
Steinbach's 22 double doubles were the most by a Big Ten freshman since at least 1996-97, surpassing former Ohio State standout Jared Sullinger.
An All-Big Ten Third Team and Freshman All-Big Ten honoree, Steinbach led the nation in rebounding at 11.8 per game, including a sensational 24-rebound effort versus USC, the most by a Husky since 1977.
A dynamic threat on both ends of the court, Steinbach also ranked eighth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 18.5 point per contest. Doing his work inside efficiently, Steinbach's 57.7 percent field goal percentage was good for the third best in the Big Ten.
The rookie put forth the 19th season in history in which a Husky averaged a double double over the course of a full season, becoming the first freshman to do so.
The fourth-highest drafted player from Germany in NBA history, Steinbach continues a rich tradition of German Huskies drafted into the NBA, joining the likes of Detlef Schrempf and Chris Welp, both of whom had their jerseys lifted to the rafters at Alaska Airlines Arena this season.
"It means a lot hearing those names," Steinbach said. "I think it shows how much German basketball has grown and how much it will grow in the future. I'm very excited about that."
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