As the NCAA regular season ends, mock drafts for the 2026 NBA Draft spotlight a deep class of freshmen prospects. AJ Dybantsa of BYU leads projections with his scoring prowess, while Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Cameron Boozer of Duke round out the top trio. A SB Nation poll names Dybantsa the most exciting future NBA player to watch.
The 2026 NBA Draft class has generated significant buzz due to its talent depth, particularly among freshmen. Multiple mock drafts position BYU's AJ Dybantsa as the potential No. 1 pick, praising his 24.8 points per game average, 52.1 percent field goal shooting, and nearly four assists, drawing comparisons to Tracy McGrady. Kansas' Darryn Peterson, a 6-foot-6 guard, is projected high despite injury concerns, noted for his elite efficiency and playmaking, likened to Kobe Bryant. Duke's Cameron Boozer, a 6-foot-9 power forward, is seen as the safest top prospect with polished skills and high basketball IQ, comparable to Chris Webber.
In a simulated lottery mock from Bleacher Report, Portland selects Dybantsa first, Atlanta takes Peterson second via Milwaukee's pick, and Milwaukee grabs Boozer third via New Orleans. Other top projections include Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. to Sacramento and Illinois' Keaton Wagler to Brooklyn. A SB Nation poll of NBA readers voted Dybantsa the most exciting prospect to watch in the NBA, with respondents preferring four-year college players over one-and-dones for non-lottery picks.
TNT analyst Jalen Rose commented on Dybantsa's recent remarks about possibly returning to BYU to graduate, as urged by his mother. Averaging 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 53 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three, Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring by a slim margin with one game left. Rose advised declaring for the draft, calling him the top-ranked player but noting his unique family dynamic might make a return feasible, though not ideal for his career.
Illinois coach Brad Underwood praised Wagler, a draft riser after a 46-point game against Purdue, comparing his emergence to Tracy McGrady's early impact. The class's strength has fueled tanking discussions among NBA teams, with projections emphasizing versatile wings and playmakers.
