The 2025 NBA Draft class — led by top-three picks Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe — was superb on the prime, although its depth was kneecapped by NIL packages that coaxed gamers again to the faculty ranks.
Nonetheless, the 2026 NBA Draft class — led by a trio of potential superstars in Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa and bolstered by a deep group that current actual worth into the second spherical — has an opportunity to be nice.
It is nonetheless very early, to be clear, given we’re nonetheless 11 months out from realizing the potential of the 2026 class. However NBA groups are ecstatic about what subsequent 12 months’s incoming class might convey each by way of top-end star energy and in affect gamers elsewhere.
2026 NBA Mock Draft: BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa soars to prime of way-too-early lottery projection
Gary Parrish
Finally, identical to any draft class, it is going to be judged on stars it produces — of which there are a lot of candidates on the prime. There are three early No. 1 choose candidates in 2026 led by Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa, all of whom convey various things to the desk.
Dybantsa is essentially the most toolsy wing within the class. Peterson is essentially the most polished guard. Boozer is essentially the most well-rounded ahead. It might current a desire of fashion and substance at No. 1, relying on which crew wins the draft lottery.
For now, I’ve Boozer at No. 1, thanks partly by Utah being projected at No. 1 at present, in line with Tankathon. Boozer’s father performed in Utah, so there’s an apparent connection there. However Dybantsa completed his highschool profession and can play at BYU in Utah, so even what looks like an apparent resolution for this entrance workplace could also be difficult. By subsequent summer time we are going to maybe have a extra clear image of how groups view this class after the upcoming faculty season, however proper now the projected first spherical beneath is a snapshot in time of how issues could unfold.
Let’s get to it.
1. Utah Jazz
Cameron Boozer, Duke
The son of NBA legend Carlos Boozer and the dual of one other potential one-and-done from Duke, Cayden Boozer, Cameron is a close to can’t-miss expertise due to his built-out 6-foot-9 body and highly effective recreation. He can rating in and out and has guard-like versatility with the power to attain at each stage and make superior reads for his place. Each Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa are thrilling prospects who could possibly be the No. 1 choose, however Boozer is the one of many present large three I really feel most assured may have a protracted and fruitful NBA profession as a multi-time All-Star. One added wrinkle to look at right here is that his father, Carlos, who performed with Utah from 2004-2010 and was a fan favourite, joined the crew’s entrance workplace earlier this 12 months.
2. Washington Wizards
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
The polish and pizazz Peterson possesses as a preternatural combo guard provides him an actual shot at being the No. 1 choose subsequent summer time. He is extra a taking pictures guard than a lead guard — although I think Kansas coach Invoice Self will flip the keys over to him this season — however his shot-making and general talent with the ball is sweet sufficient to place him in virtually any scenario and thrive.
3. Brooklyn Nets
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
The concept of Dybantsa as a built-in-a-lab, 6-foot-9 scoring wing — the archetype NBA groups so covet constructing round — places him firmly within the combine to go No. 1. I choose Peterson and Boozer to him proper now as a result of he has stretches of inconsistency smattered in with the flashes of star energy, however he has the general expertise and potential to turn out to be the most important star of this class. How he suits at BYU this season in a scenario prone to be constructed round his strengths shall be among the many extra fascinating storylines this season.
4. Charlotte Hornets
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Louisville has a star on its fingers in Mikel Brown Jr., who could possibly be the primary true level guard taken within the 2026 draft. He has been extremely productive on the FIBA circuit with Crew USA on the U18 and U19 nationwide groups, which included a gold medal in 2024, and the combo of his talent and really feel as a lead initiator may have loads of groups excited for him as a possible top-five choose.
5. Portland Path Blazers
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
Every time I watch Yessoufou I’ve to squint my eyes and shake the optical phantasm that I’m watching him, not Anthony Edwards. They’re near-twins in measurement, girth and motion expertise, and Yessoufou equally profiles as a big-bodied scoring wing who has actual flashes of stardom. I am a bit larger than consensus on him proper now, however I can see him rising into this vary by season’s finish as he walks into an incredible scenario for guards enjoying below Scott Drew at Baylor.
6. Memphis Grizzlies
Dame Sarr, Duke
Sarr has spent the final three seasons enjoying for FC Barcelona and heads to Duke as a freshman this season the place he shall be prominently featured alongside potential No. 1 choose Cameron Boozer and the No. 1-ranked incoming recruiting class. He is a 6-foot-8 wing with a protracted wingspan and a real defensive playmaker who can enter the combination as a No. 1 choose contender if he grooms his shot right into a extra constant weapon over the following 12 months. Decide acquired by way of Phoenix..
7. Chicago Bulls
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
John Calipari has one other true freshman celebrity on his fingers in Acuff Jr., who heads to Arkansas this season with an opportunity to be a stat-stuffing monster with the Hogs. My colleague Adam Finkelstein known as him “essentially the most dominant and dynamic lead guard within the class” after scouting him final April. Decide acquired by way of Philadelphia.
8. Sacramento Kings
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Ranked because the No. 4 general participant within the Class of 2025 and seen virtually universally as a future top-five choose, right here I’ve Ament slipping a bit to No. 8. He is an superior prospect, to make sure: he is 6-foot-10 and might rating in and out, with a excessive taking pictures launch and instruments to be a defensive menace. However he is nonetheless very a lot a work-in-progress bodily and on the skinnier aspect in want of including weight and physicality to spherical out a part of his recreation.
9. Atlanta Hawks
Karim Lopez, Mexico
Lopez is an 18-year-old Mexican enjoying for the New Zealand Breakers within the NBL — the identical crew that produced 2022 lottery choose Ousmane Dieng and from the identical league that helped produce 2024 No. 2 choose Alex Sarr. He is a giant wing who can shoot the leather-based off the ball and checks packing containers each statistically and bodily to turn out to be an affect defender on the subsequent stage. Decide acquired by way of New Orleans.
10. Toronto Raptors
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Stirtz broke out in a giant method final season starring for Drake after transferring up from Division II Northwest Missouri State and is in line to be one of many faces of faculty basketball this season at Iowa. He led all of Division I final season in Win Shares (forward of Participant of the 12 months winner Cooper Flagg) and has the expertise to be a scoring level guard who can win with really feel and talent.
11. Miami Warmth
Labaron Philon, Alabama
Philon turned down a possible alternative to be a late first-round choose in 2025 and is in line to reap the rewards as he returns to Alabama for a starring position main Nate Oats’ run-and-fun offense in Tuscaloosa. He is a blur with the ball in his fingers who can increase his inventory considerably by bettering his shot consistency and constructing off a freshman marketing campaign wherein he hit solely 31.5% of his 3s.
12. Memphis Grizzlies
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
I fell in love with Lendeborg final season at UAB and NBA groups did the identical on the Mix, the place he performed his method from a late first or early second spherical choose right into a expertise prone to be chosen someplace within the 20s. He in the end determined to return to varsity and is in line to be a star at Michigan this season. He has a cool recreation as a 6-foot-9 large who can play-make, knock down 3s and plug each spot defensively (funky within the non-derogatory sense), and coach Dusty Might’s employees may have a plan in place to characteristic him as one of the distinctive skills within the sport.
13. Milwaukee Bucks
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Coming off a season wherein a five-star recruit (Drake Powell) struggled on offense however flashed stardom with protection earlier than falling to the No. 22 choose within the draft, I am a bit extra skeptical Wilson — additionally a five-star who’s one thing of a mission on offense however has wonderful defensive instruments — walks into his freshman season at Carolina and turns into a lottery choose. However Wilson’s instruments are undeniably superior, and I am a believer in his two-way versatility as a shot-blocker and floor-spacer who might be additive attacking closeouts once in a while.
14. Dallas Mavericks
Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
Cenac Jr. is the highest-rated recruit to decide on Houston in class historical past and is line to be one of many stars of a Cougars crew prone to open because the preseason No. 1 crew in faculty hoops. He has a giant 6-foot-10 body and a do-it-all talent set that, mixed together with his distinctive motion means for his measurement, might push him into the top-10 discussions for subsequent 12 months.
15. San Antonio Spurs
Braylon Mullins, UConn
UConn has a star on the way in which in Braylon Mullins, who may pound-for-pound be probably the greatest and most versatile shooters within the 2026 class. He received “Mr. Basketball” within the state of Indiana in 2025 and averaged 32.9 factors, 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per recreation for Greenfield-Central.
16. Indiana Pacers
Koa Peat, Arizona
Peat was a top-five participant in his class for a number of years earlier than ending at No. 11, as he burst onto the scene as a star freshman earlier than really fizzling out a bit. Regardless of being an early bloomer, although, I do not imagine he is hit a plateau as a prospect. He has room to develop as a shooter as he develops his really feel and talent, however he is been a producer — and a winner — all through his highschool tenure.
17. Detroit Pistons
Sprint Daniels, Australia
The youthful brother of rising Hawks star Dyson Daniels, Sprint is equally constructed with a giant body and a bulldog mentality on protection. He has proven some progress as a shooter and rated within the 63rd percentile on catch-and-shoot alternatives final season within the NBL, per Synergy knowledge.
18. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Thomas Haugh, Florida
No participant outdoors of Walter Clayton Jr. was extra impactful and extra spectacular throughout Florida’s title run than Haugh. He averaged 11.7 factors, 7.0 rebounds and a couple of.7 assists per recreation within the NCAA Event and was fabulous in large spots creating off the bounce, registered steals or deflections and simply normally being a net-positive together with his vitality and size.
19. Golden State Warriors
Jayden Quintance, Kentucky
I am not as large a believer in Quintance as most of my colleagues within the draft neighborhood. Sue me. He was an impactful participant on the defensive finish final season at Arizona State, sure, however there are some actual query marks by way of his offensive potential. He is additionally coming off an ACL tear from February and it is very doable he will not instantly return to kind this season at Kentucky. I am shopping for long-term inventory, however I feel we needs to be skeptical about him being a surefire lottery choose this 12 months.
20. Atlanta Hawks
Isaiah Evans, Duke
Evans is in line to take in a significant promotion at Duke this season with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel — final 12 months’s two most expert shot-makers for the Blue Devils — off to the NBA. He confirmed promise when given alternatives and may have loads of possibilities this season to thrive as a go-to scorer enjoying alongside Cameron Boozer.
21. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Alex Condon, Florida
It was an unpleasant end to the season for Condon after build up potential first-round buzz all through most of final season. However he is a 6-11 large who has taking pictures potential and might put the ball on the deck as a creator. If he can enhance off final season and be a constant weapon for Florida, he might work his method into this vary subsequent summer time.
22. Boston Celtics
Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
Pettiford is one among my favourite draft prospects on planet Earth due to his ridiculous shot-making audacity mixed together with his aggressive edge and angle. He is a plus-athlete, too, although his 6-foot-1 body might hinder him from rising a lot additional than this. At Auburn this season he could possibly be an All-American candidate.
23. Los Angeles Lakers
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
I could be an on island right here — that is effective! — however I am a giant believer in Reed as an NBA participant regardless of his limitations on offense. A few of UConn’s finest defensive lineups final season featured Reed, and he was a monster on the glass, ending No. 2 amongst all gamers in offensive rebounding price and No. 12 in defensive rebounding price whereas posting a 9.1% block price (twenty sixth nationally). He was additionally very environment friendly as a scorer (which helps while you end twenty third nationally in whole dunks, however I digress.) Superior participant.
24. Denver Nuggets
Karter Knox, Arkansas
Knox emerged late within the season for Arkansas as a two-way drive, and he completed the season as a 35% 3-point shooter whereas score out within the 96th percentile ending on at-rim alternatives, per Synergy knowledge. Enhancing as a stand-still shooter this season might catapult him into lottery convos.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves
Milos Uzan, Houston
On a deep Houston crew, Uzan broke by means of as one among its most constant weapons as a switch, hitting 40.8% on 3s and including 3.0 assists and 11.4 factors per recreation. He grew all through the season and is in line to be the main scorer for Houston this season because it enters the 12 months as a possible preseason No. 1.
26. Charlotte Hornets
Joseph Tugler, Houston
As at all times with Tugler, the questions surrounding his future NBA means focus on what he can do on offense versus what he can do on protection. TBD on if he can turn out to be a extra constant and efficient shooter. However he’s a dominant defender whose affect on that finish could be sufficient to get him chosen in Spherical 1 regardless of clear deficiencies on the opposite finish.
27. New York Knicks
Cayden Boozer, Duke
Cayden will not get the shine his twin brother Cameron will at Duke, however there may be an NBA future for him as properly. He has good measurement for a lead guard and performs a selfless model that impacts profitable. He is aware of when to name his personal quantity and when to dish to teammates, and I am a giant fan of the depth stage he brings on each ends.
28. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Nikolas Khamenia, Duke
An amazing passer for a 6-foot-8 ahead, Khamenia has the bodily instruments and basketball information to be an affect participant within the NBA due to his versatility and measurement. He is a profitable participant who completed highschool at Harvard-Westlake in California with a 122-12 document.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
It is not a Kyle Boone mock draft and not using a first-round look from JT Toppin. He is had a first-round grade for me for 2 years earlier than returning to varsity every of the final two years. If he has one other large season, I anticipate he’ll be within the combine within the late first.
30. Washington Wizards
Nathan Bittle, Oregon
Bittle’s return to varsity was an underrated growth this offseason; I had a second-round grade on him and thought he’d be an superior goal for groups wanting so as to add frontcourt depth. He averaged 14.2 factors, 2.1 blocks and seven.6 rebounds per recreation final season at Oregon.