This June, the NBA will welcome a talented crop of prospects. The 2026 draft class is filled with prospects from one of the most loaded college freshman classes in years.
Each NBA team has different reasons for drafting players. While there is no official list of top-ranked players for the draft, rankings from ESPN, NBAdraft.net or Bleacher Report predict the same three prospects: Darryn Peterson from the University of Kansas, Duke University’s Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa from Brigham Young University. The most talented and who will be taken first out of these three is highly contested.
I have struggled with ranking these three, but I understand it now and even have my own personal top five.
1: Darryn Peterson - 22.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game
Peterson has “NBA star” written all over him. His pure shot-making ability from all over the court and pro-level poise that he possesses as a 6-foot-6-inch guard are sure to translate to the NBA. While the other two of the “big three” prospects display weaknesses that concern scouts, Peterson has shown no holes in his game.
Lingering hamstring cramps have sidelined him from nine of Kansas’ 18 games, but he is nursing to full health, and the hamstring is no long-term worry. The game comes easily to Peterson, especially this past Friday against Baylor, when he scored 26 points in only 23 minutes while missing just two shots.
2: AJ Dybantsa - 22.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists per game.
BYU’s freshman forward Dybantsa has impressed on one of the nation’s top teams. His blend of size, skill and high-level playmaking on both offense and defense is pro-caliber. However, Dybantsa’s 3-point shot is inconsistent, and that has been an issue at times, making his game feel slightly incomplete.
The potential is always on full display for Dybantsa, and I am sure he will become a star; however, the way he uses his 6-foot-10-inch frame to bully college defenders and get easy baskets around the rim will not translate to the NBA as easily as Peterson’s playstyle will. That is what bumped Dybantsa to #2 for me.
3: Cameron Boozer - 23.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists per game.
Boozer, Duke’s anchor, is the nation’s third leading scorer and also ranks in the top 20 in rebounding. He stands at just 6-feet-9-inches, but his constant physicality and drive make him look like the biggest guy on the court at all times. Boozer’s low-post presence attracts so much gravity from defenses, and that has led to him showing how skilled and willing a passer he is. That blend of scoring prowess with the ability to create for others makes Boozer a winner and a very safe draft pick.
Boozer falls at the bottom of the big three because of his lack of versatility compared to both Peterson and Dybantsa. That’s no knock on him; it simply means that their upsides are higher due to their abilities to score off the dribble at a higher rate, a skill that is rampant throughout the NBA.
4: Caleb Wilson: 19.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists per game.
Wilson has been the heart of the North Carolina Tar Heels this season. His athleticism is almost unheard of, with several highlight reel dunks already this season. He is a high-energy defender who blocks 1.4 shots per game, deterring opponents from even testing him around the rim.
The offense is a work in progress, but Wilson is a confident player who finishes at the rim efficiently and rebounds with a passion. Wilson is a consistent jump shot away from entering top-three conversations, and I believe he can be very productive at the next level.
5: Kingston Flemings: 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists per game.
The Houston Cougars point guard, Flemings, is wise beyond his years for a freshman. He is an extremely calm player who makes big-time shots nightly. He scored 23 points earlier this season in a big-time win against #14-ranked Texas Tech while leading the charge late-game. Flemings can score from anywhere on the court and is also a high-level playmaker for his teammates.
He is a capable 3-point shooter, but I would love to see him take more attempts from there as the season progresses. A fully-developed 3-point shot will make Flemings nearly unstoppable.
It has been five years since we have had a legit NBA prospect here at Ohio University, when the great Jason Preston led the Bobcats to a March Madness berth before being selected 33rd overall in the 2021 draft. How awesome would it be to have another star prospect on campus?
We can hope that one of our guys, like Jackson Paveletzke, can replicate that and earn a draft selection, but the 2026 NBA draft will be one for the ages, especially with these top players.
Jack Muldowney is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Jack Muldowney about their column? Email/tweet them at jm760224@ohio.edu or @JackMuldowney1.
