It was straightforward to foretell who could be chosen first total within the 2025 NBA Draft greater than a yr prematurely of commissioner Adam Silver calling names.
It was all the time going to be Cooper Flagg.
However the 2026 NBA Draft has extra questions on the prime and options a minimum of three prospects who may moderately lead entrance workplace huge boards proper now — particularly Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer, every of whom will play faculty basketball subsequent season. Peterson goes to Kansas. Dybantsa is enrolled at BYU. Boozer is headed to Duke. Affordable minds can disagree on which order to record these gamers — however, for now, I am going with Dybantsa first, Peterson second and Boozer third.
Dybantsa is a 6-foot-9 wing from the Boston space whom I first hung out with on the Nike EYBL Peach Jam occasion two summers in the past in North Augusta, South Carolina. Simply weeks after ending what was his freshman yr of highschool, he led that event in scoring and regarded each bit like anyone who may ultimately grow to be anyone who occupies house on the prime of NBA Draft boards.
Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel lead 5 Duke gamers picked in 2025 NBA Draft; SEC has 13 stars chosen
David Cobb
Now right here he’s.
Dybantsa and Peterson are scheduled to satisfy as soon as subsequent season — at Allen Fieldhouse on a date to be decided. That’ll be a circle-the-date matchup for followers and scouts alike and among the many highlights of a five-month season that’ll play a task in figuring out which participant goes forward of the opposite when picks are introduced subsequent June.
1. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Dybantsa has been an apparent contender to be the No. 1 total decide within the 2026 NBA Draft for years — and I am placing him within the prime spot regardless of the New England native having one thing lower than an encouraging closing season of highschool basketball at Utah Prep. The 6-9 wing is a dynamic shot-creator and shot-maker who has the look of a future scoring champ. He’ll have scouts on BYU’s campus all season.
2. Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Kansas coach Invoice Self has described Peterson, a 6-5 combo guard, as “one of the best participant he is ever recruited,” which is sort of a press release contemplating he is beforehand coached a No. 1 total decide within the NBA Draft (Andrew Wiggins) and one of many league’s Most Worthwhile Gamers (Joel Embiid). As beforehand famous, heading into the summer season, I personally want Dybantsa to Peterson as a prospect. However I do perceive why others might need that order flipped. And, both method, Dybantsa and Peterson challenge as the primary two gamers off of the board.
3. Atlanta Hawks
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Boozer lacks the long-term upside of Dybantsa and Peterson, a minimum of in most individuals’s minds, however may find yourself being one of the best faculty participant of the three. The 6-9 ahead is super-productive and an plain winner — proof being how he received 4 highschool state championships in Florida and three Nike EYBL titles. If Duke has one other Picket Award winner a yr after Cooper Flagg took the trophy, Boozer, the son of former Duke star Carlos Boozer, will possible be the explanation. Choose acquired by way of New Orleans.
4. Charlotte Hornets
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Whereas Dybantsa and Boozer have been on this monitor for years, Ament is extra of a late-riser. He solely averaged 3.7 factors and 1.5 rebounds for the US ultimately yr’s FIBA Underneath-18 Americas Championship. However, since then, the Virginia native has grown to 6-11, improved as a shooter and passer and emerged as a practical choice within the prime 5 of the 2026 NBA Draft.
5. Memphis Grizzlies
Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
Quantance averaged 9.4 factors, 7.9 rebounds and a couple of.6 blocks in 24 appearances at Arizona State final season and is broadly thought to be one of the best NBA prospect amongst returning faculty gamers. The 6-9 ahead is now at Kentucky and recovering from ACL harm; so so much has modified up to now yr. However the still-17-year-old nonetheless has elite bodily instruments that ought to maintain him within the prime 10 of draft boards heading into the summer season. Choose acquired by way of Phoenix.
6. San Antonio Spurs
Mikel Brown, Louisville
Brown grew 5 inches in highschool, from 5-10 to 6-3, and is now one of the best level guard prospect coming into faculty. The 18 year-old will play subsequent season at Louisville. He is a confirmed shooter who’s nice with the ball in his fingers — and a gifted passer. If Brown provides energy, the ceiling is excessive.
7. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Karim Lopez, Mexico
Lopez carried out nicely for the New England Breakers within the NBL final season regardless of not turning 18 till April. The 6-9 ahead has good genes, as his father performed for Mexico’s nationwide workforce. He tasks as a high-level two-way wing who performs arduous and possesses official capturing potential. Choose acquired by way of Philadelphia.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Darius Acuff, Arkansas
John Calipari has coached 43 first-round picks on the collegiate degree. Acuff ought to transfer the quantity to 44. The 6-2 lead guard from Detroit has a pleasant first step and apparent two-way instruments. He was named MVP on the 2024 FIBA Underneath-18 Ameri-Cup, an occasion held in Argentina that the US received.
9. Toronto Raptors
Isaiah Evans, Duke
Evans solely averaged 13.7 minutes per recreation final season at Duke, the place he was little greater than a 3-point specialist off of the bench — proof being how 81.4% of his field-goal makes an attempt got here from past the arc. The encouraging signal is that he made 41.6% of these 3-pointers. Mix that with the truth that Evans remains to be 6-6 with actual two-way potential, and he ought to have an opportunity to affix Boozer as Blue Devils within the lottery.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a 6-9 ahead with a 7-foot wingspan who ought to play an enormous function in North Carolina bouncing again from a disappointing season. Ideally, he’ll grow to be a flexible ahead who impacts issues on each ends of the court docket. However, at this level, Wilson excels due to his bodily presents greater than his skillset.
11. Chicago Bulls
Tounde Yessoufou, Benin
Yessoufu is a 6-5 explosive wing who already appears to be like the half regardless of being simply 19 years outdated. He nonetheless lacks a few of the talent he’ll have to flourish on the subsequent degree, however his bodily instruments, mixed with a great motor, ought to give Baylor a first-round decide for the sixth consecutive yr.
12. Portland Path Blazers
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Three gamers from Florida’s workforce that received the nationwide title had been chosen in final week’s NBA Draft — particularly Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard. Haugh ought to be part of them as an NBA Draft decide subsequent June after rising as one of many Gators’ stars. His athleticism, versatility and capturing contact are among the many causes Florida has an opportunity to repeat as NCAA Match champions.
13. Sacramento Kings
Chris Cenac, Houston
Cenac was minimize from USA Basketball’s under-19 workforce in June regardless of ending sixth in 247Sports’ Class of 2025 rankings. That speaks to how far he has to go as a participant. However the 6-10 heart remains to be an fascinating prospect, one who figures to begin for a Kelvin Sampson workforce at Houston that ought to have the ability to compete for a second straight journey to the Closing 4.
14. Memphis Grizzlies
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
If Cedric Coward can go from Division III to the lottery, there’s nothing too loopy about Stirtz going from Division II to the lottery. The 6-4 level guard averaged 19.2 factors and 5.7 assists final season at Drake whereas capturing 39.5% from 3-point vary on 4.6 makes an attempt per recreation. After the season, his coach, Ben McCollum, moved to Iowa. Stirtz adopted him and must be a Massive Ten Participant of the Yr candidate subsequent season for the Hawkeyes.