Hannes Steinbach
PF/C, Washington
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown: Würzburg, Germany
Class: Freshman
Sportsvival moves back into its NBA Draft prospect coverage with one of the more productive frontcourt players in the 2026 class. Hannes Steinbach came to Washington from Germany and quickly became one of the best rebounders in college basketball. He has the size to play inside, the mobility to survive away from the rim, and enough developing offensive skill to make NBA teams take a long look at him as a first-round type prospect.
Background
Steinbach is from Würzburg, Germany, and came through the Würzburg Baskets program before joining Washington. The Huskies list him as a freshman forward from Würzburg with Würzburg Baskets as his previous school. Washington announced his signing in April 2025, calling him one of the top European prospects in his age group before he arrived in Seattle.
Before Washington, Steinbach played for Würzburg Baskets in Germany’s top division. Washington’s official bio lists him at 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds over 41 BBL games during the 2024-25 season, while also noting that he averaged 25.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks with Würzburg’s development team.
He also made noise internationally for Germany. At the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, Steinbach averaged 17.4 points, 13.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, and Washington notes he helped lead Germany to a silver medal while earning All-Star Team honors.
2025-26 Stats
Steinbach’s freshman season at Washington was a huge statement. He started all 30 games and averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while shooting 57.7 percent from the field. Washington’s official bio also says he led the nation with 22 double-doubles and led the country in rebounding.
2025-26 Washington Stats:
30 games, 30 starts
18.5 points per game
11.8 rebounds per game
1.6 assists per game
1.1 steals per game
1.2 blocks per game
57.7 FG%
34.0 3PT%
75.9 FT%
His production was not empty numbers. Steinbach was named Third Team All-Big Ten, made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors from the Associated Press, and was named First Team NABC All-Pacific District.
Strengths
Steinbach’s best NBA trait is his rebounding. He tracks the ball well, has strong hands, and does a great job creating second-chance opportunities. He is not just a big body standing near the rim. He reads angles, fights for position, and can rebound outside of his immediate area.
Offensively, Steinbach is productive because he understands where to be. He scores on putbacks, slips, cuts, transition chances and post touches. His touch around the basket is advanced, and his field-goal percentage shows how efficient he was as a freshman.
The shooting is also worth watching. Steinbach is not a finished floor spacer yet, but his free-throw touch and 34 percent three-point number give scouts something to work with. If he becomes a steady catch-and-shoot big, his value jumps.
He also brings good basketball IQ. He does not need the offense built around him to make an impact. He can play through contact, move without the ball, and help a team win the possession battle.
Cons
The biggest question is positional fit. Steinbach is listed as a forward, but he will be evaluated as both a power forward and small-ball center. He has good size, but NBA teams will want to see whether he can defend stronger centers or consistently stay with quicker forwards.
He is not an explosive vertical athlete. He blocks some shots and competes defensively, but he is not a true above-the-rim rim protector. That could make it harder for him to play long stretches as a full-time NBA center.
Steinbach also has to keep improving as a shooter and passer. He showed flashes in both areas, but NBA teams will want to know if he can space the floor, make quick reads, and avoid becoming too dependent on putbacks and interior scoring.
NBA Comparison
NBA Comparison: Bobby Portis
Steinbach’s game has some Bobby Portis traits because of the size, rebounding, toughness and inside-out development path. Like Portis, Steinbach can impact games with energy, production on the glass, efficient scoring around the rim and a developing jumper. He may not be the same type of emotional spark plug, but the role projection is similar: a productive frontcourt piece who can play physical basketball, rebound, score efficiently and stretch his game enough to stay on the floor.
Draft Outlook
Sportsvival sees Steinbach as one of the more interesting bigs in the 2026 NBA Draft because his rebounding gives him a clear NBA skill. He already proved he can produce against Big Ten competition, and his international background gives him more experience than the average freshman.
The key will be how teams view his position. If they see him as a power forward who can rebound like a center and continue developing as a shooter, he has first-round value. If they view him strictly as a center, the lack of elite rim protection could lower his ceiling.
Still, Steinbach’s production, size, touch and rebounding motor make him a prospect Sportsvival believes should be firmly in the first-round conversation.