In the event you requested 10 folks earlier than the beginning of the 2025-26 faculty basketball season who ought to be the No. 1 choose within the 2026 NBA Draft, likelihood is, you’d get a number of totally different combos about how the primary three picks would shake out. Simply over two months later, on the midpoint of the season, the talk has gotten even stronger.
There nonetheless is not a clear-cut No. 1 on this class. And that is a great factor. Take your choose as a result of one in every of Kansas‘ Darryn Peterson, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, or Duke’s Cameron Boozer goes to listen to their identify known as by NBA commissioner Adam Silver in lower than six months.
A part of what has ramped up the talk is how properly Boozer and Dybantsa have performed. Boozer is the clear favourite (-220 on FanDuel) to win Nationwide Participant of the 12 months this season, whereas Dybantsa has been on an offensive tear the final month and a half. Dybantsa has scored a minimum of 20 factors in 9 consecutive video games and is the primary Massive 12 participant to perform the feat since Trae Younger did it throughout the 2017-18 season.
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As for Peterson, he has been extra of a thriller. There are flashes on why it could be foolish for any NBA govt to move on him as a result of he is among the most proficient scorers faculty basketball has seen. Nonetheless, as a result of a hamstring damage/cramping, Peterson has performed in simply seven video games. When he is been on the ground, Peterson has been good as marketed. He scored 32 factors final week in a comeback win over TCU, which might function reassurance for Peterson-truthers on the market that there’s nonetheless a robust risk he goes No. 1 this summer season.
CBS Sports activities’ Isaac Trotter and Cameron Salerno dive into varied matters within the sport they’re shopping for or promoting, beginning with the dialog across the No. 1 total choose within the 2026 NBA Draft.
Purchase or promote: Darryn Peterson is the most effective prospect within the 2026 NBA Draft
Salerno: Purchase. One of the best ways I can describe Peterson is that this. One among my good associates (who does not watch faculty basketball a lot however loves the NBA) watched highlights of Peterson with me, and the takeaway from him was that Peterson did not appear like a freshman. It is just about the precise means I really feel, too. Do not get me incorrect, I would not need to be the overall supervisor who has to determine between Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, or Cam Boozer at No. 1. Nevertheless, Peterson offers me the vibes of somebody who generally is a scoring champ within the NBA sooner or later. You possibly can’t move on that risk. He makes it look easy along with his shotmaking. You are allowed to be involved concerning the cramping. That is high-quality. However there’s zero likelihood I am passing on Peterson in the event you made me choose one of many gamers. I am assured 10 years from now, we’ll look again at this as a generational class. However I am nonetheless rocking with Peterson, it doesn’t matter what occurs the remainder of the way in which.
Trotter: Purchase. Peterson has now scored 158 factors in 190 minutes this season … with a nagging leg damage and noticeably much less burst. This dude is a cheat code. There’s loads of medical knowledge to recommend that soft-tissue accidents, like Peterson’s hamstring, will not be predictors for an injury-riddled future. I do not assume Peterson is an injury-prone participant. I believe he is an all-time expertise coping with a nagging damage. When he is on the ground, he is a superb, versatile shooter with handles, as well. Peterson makes a troublesome recreation look extremely simple, despite the fact that he is not at 100% capability.
BYU’s AJ Dybantsa has been dominant. He unequivocally won’t go quietly on this race and appears each bit the a part of a worthy No. 1 total choose. However Peterson stays on prime of the board for me. The scale, capturing, deal with, creativity and defensive potential is just too tantalizing to disregard.
Purchase or promote: UNC’s Caleb Wilson is the fourth-best prospect on this class
Salerno: Purchase. This can be a dialog I had with Trotter after the primary week of the season. From the second I watched Wilson play in opposition to Division I competitors, I used to be in love. The best way he performs the sport can be what stands out to me. He acts like he is a walk-on with the little performs he makes regardless of being a former five-star recruit who’s greater than possible going within the lottery this summer season. There are issues about Wilson’s ending on the rim, and so they’re justified. Nevertheless, that will not be a priority if he dunks the ball each time. I am half joking and half severe with that assertion. Wilson is a particular expertise. I do know we discuss concerning the “Massive Three” on this class on a regular basis (and rightfully so), however Wilson is a future star within the league. He is my clear-cut No. 4 prospect if the draft had been tomorrow.
Trotter: Purchase. Wilson will not be some overly polished offensive hub, however there’s magnificence in relentlessness. Wilson’s motor is his superpower. He’ll chase each offensive rebound. He’ll run the ground like a deer each single time. He’ll fly round on protection as a lot as humanly potential. There is no such thing as a off swap, and it raises the extent of aggressive hearth for everybody else on the roster. Each single basketball staff might use a Wilson, who has develop into the Kevin Garnett of faculty basketball.
David Jensen / Getty Photographs
Purchase or promote: Somebody apart from Duke will win the ACC
Salerno: Promote. Coming into the season, I assumed two groups would problem Duke for the ACC title: Louisville and NC State. I used to be bullish on each groups. Nonetheless, I picked Duke to win the ACC, and it was nearly a no brainer choice. Even two months later, I really feel the identical means. I’d be very shocked if anybody apart from Duke gained the ACC common season title.
Duke remains to be attempting to determine its finest beginning lineup. It is one thing that is been tinkered with all through the course of the season. Boozer is the most effective participant within the league, and Isaiah Evans reveals flashes of why he was a five-star prospect within the first place. You will be involved after watching the sport in opposition to Florida State earlier this month, however it was an off recreation. The ACC is best this 12 months than final 12 months. That is not essentially a excessive bar, however in our newest CBS Sports activities Brackology projections, we had 10 groups within the area. That may be an unbelievable consequence for the convention after 4 groups went dancing final 12 months. Duke remains to be the heavy favourite (-260 on FanDuel) to win the ACC. It could be very shocking if anybody apart from the Blue Devils gained the regular-season title.
Trotter: Promote. Duke is the heavy favourite by each predictive mannequin, for good cause. Duke has the No. 1 participant within the league, and Jon Scheyer has confirmed that he is among the elite X’s and O’s coaches within the sport. The schedule is not simple, however not having to play Miami and ex-Duke assistant Jai Lucas actually helps the Blue Devils’ attraction, too. (You are not fooling me, ACC schedule-makers.) However Duke will not be a flawless basketball staff proper now. It is modified its beginning lineup once more this previous week in opposition to SMU. A part of that was a message to sophomore huge man Patrick Ngongba. A part of it was to get the most effective defensive wing (Dame Sarr) onto the ground to protect SMU star Jaron Pierre Jr. Scheyer, in a means, remains to be trying to find the most effective lineup combos to repair a protection that has leaked oil a number of instances for the previous month.
Duke’s roster frankly is not as proficient as final 12 months. It actually doesn’t have the defensive personnel both, however Duke remains to be very a lot in pole place to win a much-improved ACC. North Carolina is nice, however the backcourt is slightly shaky. Virginia is de facto good, however it is not essentially the most athletic bunch. Clemson is sort of good, however the guard play is not dynamic. Louisville is proficient however does not fairly have sufficient expert measurement. SMU could be very proficient, however it solely bought to play Duke as soon as … on the highway. Duke will not run the desk within the ACC, however it can win this league by a recreation.
Purchase or promote: Houston’s Kingston Flemings is the most effective frosh PG in his class
Salerno: Promote … however. It is shut. Like, actually shut. I believe Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. is the most effective true level guard on this class. For context, we aren’t contemplating Peterson a degree guard for this train. What Acuff has been doing the final month or so has been particular. One other issue for me is how properly John Calipari has completed at producing level guards who’re prepared for NBA competitors. The observe document speaks for itself, however that is not the one cause I am going with Acuff right here. He’s a real flooring normal who can do the whole lot you want from a degree guard on the NBA stage. Coming into the season, Mikel Brown Jr. was my No. 1 level guard. Nevertheless, Acuff has closed the hole.
Trotter: Purchase. Flemings strikes otherwise. The shiftiness and burst are overwhelming. I examine his nasty crossover dribble to a working again making a jump-cut within the gap to make a linebacker miss. That is the kind of stuff Flemings is doing on the hardwood. He makes good defenders disappear with violent, sudden, explosive drives. Flemings is as much as a 2.86-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. That is crazy-good ball management for a real freshman who understands the project for a Houston membership that may destroy opponents on the offensive glass. In Houston’s six greatest video games, Flemings has posted a 125.4 offensive score with a bonkers 35.2 help price and a minuscule 11.5 turnover price. He is a troublesome, aggressive chief who drives profitable. This Houston staff has some veterans who’ve been there and completed that on the largest of phases, however they’re willingly passing the ball to Flemings in enormous moments as a result of good issues hold taking place when the ball is in his fingers.
That issues to me. Darius Acuff is super. Mikel Brown Jr. has such a beautiful jumper, and the absurd dimes soar off the tape at you. Flemings is PG1, although.
Ed Mulholland / Getty Photographs
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Purchase or promote: Houston’s JoJo Tugler is the most effective defensive participant within the nation
Salerno: Purchase. I used to be very tempted to go along with Michigan’s Aday Mara as a result of he is such an eraser every time he is on the ground. Nevertheless, I nonetheless assume Tugler is the most effective defensive participant within the nation. Tugler is averaging 1.6 blocks and 1.9 steals (profession excessive). He’s the anchor of the whole lot coach Kelvin Sampson desires to perform on that finish of the ground. The opposite identify I’d think about (when he is totally wholesome) is Kentucky‘s Jayden Quaintance. What he did final season at Arizona State on the defensive finish of the ground, regardless of being the youngest participant within the sport, was unbelievable. Tugler is such an impactful and precious participant on the defensive finish.
Trotter: Promote. Tugler is my choose for Massive 12 Defensive Participant of the 12 months, however Michigan‘s Aday Mara is placing collectively one of the dominant defensive showings in latest reminiscence. Opponents shoot simply 40% on the rim when Mara is on the ground. He fully adjustments the tenor of opposing offenses along with his rim safety. When Mara is on the ground and might sag into the paint, he turns every recreation right into a jump-shooting contest as a result of he nearly single-handedly builds a brick wall across the rim. His 12.2 block proportion is ludicrous, and he is a wonderful rebounder as properly. Mara is essentially the most impactful defender on Michigan’s No. 1-rated protection. He will get the nod for now.
Purchase or promote: Nebraska will win the Massive Ten regular-season title
Salerno: Promote. Nebraska has been the story of the 12 months in faculty basketball by the primary two months of the season. If the season ended immediately, Fred Hoiberg could be one in every of — if not the highest candidate — for Nationwide Coach of the 12 months. The Cornhuskers have wins on their resume over Illinois and Michigan State, however the schedule goes to get a lot harder down the stretch.
For starters, Nebraska has to face Michigan on the highway and Purdue and Illinois at residence. Nebraska is predicted to be the underdog in 5 of its 15 remaining convention video games, per KenPom. If that occurs, ending 15-5 in Massive Ten play could be unbelievable, however I am undecided if that might be sufficient to win the outright title. Michigan State gained 17 video games final season, and Purdue additionally gained 17 throughout the 2023-24 marketing campaign. My choose to win the Massive Ten title is similar one I made a couple of months in the past: Michigan. Certain, the Wolverines have flaws that had been on show final week throughout a loss to Wisconsin and (one other) near-upset loss to Penn State, however I imagine in Dusty Might and the expertise on the roster. The showdown between Michigan and Nebraska on Jan. 27 might go a great distance in figuring out a regular-season champion.
Trotter: Promote. Nebraska quietly has the Seventeenth-easiest Massive Ten slate remaining. The Huskers survived the double-dip highway journey to Ohio State and Indiana with two tough-as-nails victories. Out of the blue, Nebraska’s Massive Ten title race implications might be tied intently to 3 video games: Michigan on the highway, Illinois at residence and Purdue at residence. Pinnacle Financial institution Enviornment has develop into a terrifying place to play, and that constructing might be on hearth when the Illini and Boilermakers come to city.
I do not assume Nebraska wins the league as a result of its lack of tip-top athleticism might rear its ugly head in a matchup in opposition to Michigan, however it is going to be alive within the title race getting into the ultimate week of the common season.