2026 NBA Mock Draft: Gary Parrish predicts all 30 first-round picks forward of Sunday’s lottery

Partly as a result of he had an unimaginable freshman 12 months, partly as a result of Peterson didn’t, Dybantsa, once more, has emerged as the favourite within the betting markets to be chosen first subsequent month. He is a jumbo-sized wing and pure scorer who led the EYBL in factors per recreation after his freshman season of highschool and your complete nation in factors per recreation throughout his freshman 12 months at BYU. Based mostly on that trajectory, and Dybantsa’s superior bodily instruments, it ought to shock no person if he additionally sometime leads the NBA in scoring.

Peterson’s expertise is plain, however there are apparent questions amongst entrance workplace members about his competitiveness and skill to maximise his items due to the way in which his one season at Kansas unfolded. He was particular in spots, clearly. However Peterson was additionally out and in of the lineup so much — generally by his personal alternative — and that reality has raised considerations in some corners that the electrical playmaker might want to alleviate within the pre-draft course of to make sure he stays an choice at No. 1 and solidifies a spot within the prime two.

Brooklyn wants a star and Wilson has the instruments to turn out to be one if the perimeter taking pictures improves — and perhaps even when it would not. His season ended prematurely due to a number of accidents, the primary of which occurred Feb. 10 in a loss at Miami. It was an terrible improvement for North Carolina (that may’ve price Hubert Davis his job), nevertheless it should not negatively affect Wilson’s inventory a lot, if in any respect, apart from the way it robbed him of the prospect to boost his fame and go away an actual mark in Chapel Hill. The Atlanta native is an elite athlete with a top-shelf motor who shined in matchups in opposition to Duke, Kansas and Ohio State. His vary appears to be second at finest, fourth at worst.

Boozer, the reigning CBS Sports activities Nationwide Participant of the 12 months, has very low bust-potential given how he is merely by no means not been superior in a manner that impacts successful at any stage at which he is performed. That mentioned, some do fear that his star potential can be low partially as a result of he is largely a below-the-rim ahead who can battle with the kind of measurement and athleticism he’ll persistently face within the NBA. My guess is that Boozer will likely be good and even make All-Star groups — however I am much less positive he’ll finally be a top-three participant from this loaded draft, which is among the many causes I might see him falling to this spot the place the Jazz might snatch him up and add him to a frontcourt that is already gifted with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Acuff simply grew to become the primary participant to steer the SEC in each factors and assists since Pete Maravich did it at LSU in 1970. Particular expertise. Enjoyable participant. Do I want he had been taller? Sure. Do I want he weren’t a negative-defender? Additionally sure. However the offensive skill-set and dependable jumper are an excessive amount of to cross on at this level on this draft, and that is why I count on Acuff to turn out to be the twelfth participant in historical past to turn out to be a top-five choose after a season with John Calipari.

The Grizzlies appear decided, a technique or one other, to lastly transfer on from the Ja Morant period that lasted seven years and largely simply resulted in some cool highlights and unlucky controversies. Given the variety of high-level lead guards on this draft, it could shock no person if Memphis, after remaining on this vary, selects Morant’s substitute with their first of two first-round picks — and Wagler is the choose right here. He went from a sub-100 prospect within the Class of 2025 to a particular top-10 choose within the 2026 NBA Draft — all in lower than a 12 months — because of his nice positional measurement, means to course of issues and dependable perimeter jumper.

Flemings wasn’t the highest-rated recruit in Houston’s freshman class — however he emerged as this system’s finest prospect and participant whereas serving to the Cougars win 30 video games and advance to the Candy 16. He is the uncommon 19-year-old who’s each a top-tier athlete and a dependable shooter. It is not tough to examine Flemings as a giant a part of what may very well be a brilliant future in Atlanta, sparked by the exit of Trae Younger.

That is the place the draft breaks, a minimum of in my thoughts, however maybe solely as a result of Brown performed simply 21 video games in his one season at Louisville. His again was a problem. Will it’s transferring ahead? That is for the docs to find out. However, if not, Brown is a top-five expertise accessible exterior of the highest 5.

Koa Peat was the discuss of Arizona’s freshman class early — particularly after he received 30 factors in that season-opening win over Florida. However it was Burries, additionally a first-year participant, who emerged because the main scorer for a group that received the Large 12’s regular-season title and superior to the Closing 4. He is a bodily guard who can shoot and rebound. Burries would make sense for a Chicago franchise rebuilding.

Lendeborg transferred from UAB to Michigan and was one of the best participant on a group that received the 2026 NCAA Match one 12 months after he did not even win Participant of the 12 months honors within the sport’s Eleventh-best convention (American). Simply an superior story. That he is already 23 years previous will flip some franchises off — but when Milwaukee decides to maintain Giannis Antetokounmpo, including anyone who’s plug-and-play ought to be the precedence, at which level Lendeborg’s age ought to be largely irrelevant to the decision-making course of.

Johnson has left the door open to return to Michigan, however is anticipated to stay within the draft as an assumed lottery choose. He is one among three projected top-15 prospects who helped the Wolverines win the 2026 NCAA Match. The 6-9 ahead shot above 60% from the sphere as one of many Large Ten’s finest gamers — however his actual worth is on the opposite finish, the place Johnson anchored faculty basketball’s finest protection in his first 12 months at Michigan after transferring from Illinois.

Mara transferred to Michigan after two years at UCLA and was among the many largest causes the Wolverines received the Large Ten regular-season title outright after which additionally the nationwide championship. At a time when being huge is again in type within the NBA, Mara has nice positional measurement and is continually altering photographs. On offense, he is a high-end passer and environment friendly scorer. With Isaiah Hartenstein’s future unclear in OKC, Mara may very well be a cheap substitute if the Thunder do not wish to train the $28.5 million group choice on their beginning middle.

Not each prospect who returns to school really enhances his draft inventory — however Philon positively did. The sophomore guard performed extra on-the-ball for Alabama than he did within the earlier season, and the outcome was higher help numbers and a 3-point proportion that jumped to 39.9. The bizarre variety of top-shelf lead guard prospects accessible this 12 months will push Philon down additional than he’d go in most drafts, however that simply makes him a steal at this level.

Mark Pope is likely to be much less on the new seat at Kentucky if Quaintance had performed greater than 4 video games this season. He price some huge cash and did little. Regardless, I noticed him up shut within the CBS Sports activities Basic, and he made an apparent affect in that recreation. Except the medicals are scary, Quaintance shouldn’t fall a lot additional than this.

Ament had an up-and-down freshman season for the Vols — however the expertise is plain. Lower than a 12 months in the past, the 2025 McDonald’s All-American was thought of a doable top-five choose. So getting Ament right here can be good for a Bulls franchise clearly in rebuild-mode after greater than a decade of largely being caught within the backside half of the Jap Convention.

You may’ve observed this mock draft is gentle on prospects presently taking part in abroad, and that is as a result of a lot of the highest worldwide names have been lured stateside by way of huge NIL/revenue-share funds. Steinbach was one such participant. The 20-year-old German proved to be an elite rebounder on each ends in his one season at Washington. The Grizzlies need assistance in all places in a “transferring ahead” part for the franchise after each Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. had been traded. Getting Wagler and Steinbach within the prime 16, which is what this mock is projecting, might expedite the rebuild.

Carr emerged as an actual first-round choice after transferring from Tennessee to Baylor and having one of many largest breakout years within the sport whereas averaging 14.1 extra factors per recreation with the Bears than he averaged with the Vols. The 21-year-old has lengthy arms and a solid-enough jumpshot. He’d slot in nicely with OKC’s doable dynasty.

Lopez ought to be the primary non-college participant off the board. He is a bodily wing with a lot of positives. If the 3-point shot comes round, and he would not show to be a legal responsibility on protection, Lopez can be a terrific snag right here.

It is uncommon for anyone to finish up as a first-round choose after beginning a school profession on the Division II stage, however Stirtz has an actual likelihood to do it. Issues about how he’ll have the ability to guard his place within the NBA are legitimate. However Stirtz is a lead guard with a very good assist-to-turnover ratio and a dependable jumper. If I had been operating a franchise, I would not overthink this one. He can play.

Cenac is not going to be chosen on this draft in a manner that correlates with the place he was ranked popping out of highschool — however he is nonetheless a doable top-20 choose after beginning for a Houston group that completed 30-7. Some have argued he ought to’ve carried out one other 12 months at Houston, and I get that. However there’s little danger of Cenac falling out of the primary spherical, and a future in San Antonio alongside Victor Wembanyama sounds interesting.

Anderson went from an intriguing freshman at Texas Tech to one of many Large 12’s stars and finest prospects. The sophomore from Atlanta saved the Pink Raiders related even after JT Toppin, the reigning Large 12 Participant of the 12 months, went down with a torn ACL in February. Anderson has been described as one of the best shooter on this class. He made 41.5% of the 7.9 3-pointers he tried this season.

Peat impacts successful in quite a lot of methods and was among the many causes Arizona received the Large 12’s regular-season championship earlier than advancing to the Closing 4. Good measurement. Good physique. Intriguing prospect. The difficulty is that he is a 6-8 wing who would not actually shoot, proof being that Peat solely took 20 3-pointers in 36 video games with the Wildcats. That is not best for the fashionable NBA, and why Peat’s draft vary appears huge.

If Mara helped himself greater than some other prospect within the NCAA Match, Reed is not far under on the listing. The UConn huge averaged 19.5 factors and 13.2 rebounds within the Large Dance whereas serving to the Huskies attain the championship recreation. He might add depth to an Atlanta frontcourt that wants reinforcements.

Seemingly yearly now there’s an off-the-radar prospect who generates consideration largely due to an fascinating statistical profile. Graves is that participant on this draft. The 6-9 ahead was a zero-star prospect within the Class of 2025 however is now a 19-year-old with choices. He might return to school at a brand new college for many cash or stay within the draft, the place his means to make photographs and rebound with a very good physique ought to safe him a assured contract.

Evans is a high-volume 3-point shooter with good positional measurement who shot 38% from past the arc in two seasons with top-of-the-line manufacturers and groups in faculty basketball. That is a very good place to start out his analysis. The 20-year-old wing may very well be a pleasant piece for a Lakers franchise constructing round Luka Doncic.

Jefferson spent 4 years in faculty going from a job participant at Saint Mary’s to a star at Iowa State, the place he was an All-American this season whereas serving to the Cyclones win 29 video games. He is a giant ahead who simply will get issues carried out and tasks as a flexible choice that would theoretically slot in any rotation.

Michael Malone’s first 12 months at UNC would’ve been so much easier if he might’ve saved Veesaar in class, however the gifted huge man determined to forgo his last 12 months of eligibility in favor of knowledgeable profession. Did Veesaar go away cash on the desk with this transfer? Maybe. However it’s a transfer that made the draft deeper after different first-round prospects like Braylon Mullins and Thomas Haugh determined to stay in faculty.

Swain adopted his coach, Sean Miller, from Xavier to Texas and emerged because the Longhorns’ main scorer. The 20-year-old from Ohio is extra of a driver than a shooter — and he in all probability must turn out to be a greater shooter to justify a first-round grade. However there’s positively stuff right here for Minnesota to work with, beginning with the concept that Swain is an explosive athlete who can affect the sport on each ends.

Like a number of others, Yessoufou has choices to return to school for a giant quantity and may really try this. But when the dynamic scorer stays within the draft, he is an apparent choice late within the first spherical. There are considerations about his 3-point proportion, which completed under 32% in his one season at Baylor. However the stage of manufacturing the 20-year-old former McDonald’s All-American has displayed since highschool shouldn’t be ignored.

Kyrie Irving stays beneath contract in Dallas for a minimum of one other 12 months — however that does not imply the Mavericks should not discover level guard choices. Okorie ought to be amongst them if he is nonetheless accessible right here. The 19-year-old led the ACC in scoring and tallied a minimum of 33 factors 5 completely different occasions.