The Prize(s) 

1. Cameron Boozer: 6-foot-8.25, Forward, Duke 

Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game as a freshman, leading the nation in Box Plus-Minus (17.1) at 18 years old. The big, powerful forward has a perceived lack of athleticism and on-ball ability, which is why many prefer AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. Well, that’s complete nonsense. Boozer has elite touch around the basket, great feel as a passer, and a reliable three-ball (39.1%). He also has underrated perimeter skills. He should step into the NBA and post big numbers while also contributing to winning. He’s a special player. 

2. AJ Dybantsa: 6-foot-8.5, Wing, BYU 

Dybantsa was a grown man playing amongst kids last year. In his lone season in Provo, he averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, living up to the insane hype he entered the season with. Dybantsa is very athletic, he has a wide range of pro-style moves and counters, and he’s extremely mature. Combining all of that with an NBA-ready body means he should be an awesome pro. He just needs to keep working on the jumper, and he needs to be more consistent in how he impacts games defensively. 

3. Darryn Peterson: 6-foot-4.5, Guard, Kansas AJ Dybantsa - 6-foot-8.5, Wing, BYU 

Peterson’s shot-making at Kansas was truly impressive, even in what was a very strange season. However, the downhill attacking and on-ball ability he flashed in high school was pretty much nonexistent. Have injuries, or whatever else, robbed him of his burst and athleticism? Did he not have the fire he needed to play his best basketball for the Jayhawks? Something was up. But Peterson’s skillset makes him a worthy gamble near the top of the draft. Even if he never looks like the playmaker he was at Huntington Prep, he has a floor as a dynamic scorer at the two. 

Next Best Thing(s) 

4. Darius Acuff Jr.: 6-foot-2, Guard, Arkansas 

There’s undoubtedly a world in which Acuff doesn’t reach his potential. Acuff being the best version of himself requires him having the runway to be his next team’s offensive engine, and he’ll also need a competent front office to put the right pieces around him. However, in the event he actually gets that, there’s legitimate superstar upside. He’s a killer as a pull-up shooter, he’s a tremendous pick-and-roll operator, and he’s a strong leader. There wasn’t a guard in college basketball that put better stuff on tape than he did, and his advanced game should translate. 

5. Caleb Wilson: 6-foot-9.25, Forward, UNC

Wilson wasn’t able to finish out his freshman season in Chapel Hill healthy, so it feels like we haven’t seen him play in forever. However, he averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, showcasing his big-time athleticism and ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Wilson does need to work diligently on his game, as he can’t shoot and his handle is loose. He can’t be a wing without improving both. He also needs to add significant strength in order to be a full-time big. But his length, athleticism, and motor, along with his instincts, make him a strong top-five pick. 

High-End Starters With Major Upside 

6. Keaton Wagler: 6-foot-5, Guard, Illinois

Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game as the engine of one of college basketball’s most potent offenses last season. He has a lethal jumper, he has serious wiggle as a driver, and he has good positional size. His game should translate nicely with the way the NBA game is played, but he will have to overcome his lack of speed. 

7. Aday Mara: 7-foot-3, Center, Michigan 

Mara took a couple of years to develop, but he finally broke out with Michigan. He’s the best bet in the draft to be a high-level starting five, as he’s a good shot-blocker, a strong rebounder, and he has some intriguing offensive skills. Mara is a good passer, plus he has shown off some good touch. If he turns into a reliable stand-still shooter, he’ll make his next team very happy. His physical play during March Madness was admirable, and he should impact NBA postseason games with that same approach. 

8. Brayden Burries: 6-foot-3.75, Guard, Arizona

Burries’ ability to immediately blend in for a very good Arizona team was impressive last year, and he ended up being the best player the Wildcats had. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, playing very well on both ends of the floor. Burries is a solid shooter, flashes three-level scoring ability, and he plays hard. That gives him a pretty high floor, but don’t sleep on his ceiling either. It’s not easy to create the type of rim pressure he does. 

9. Mikel Brown Jr.: 6-foot-3.5, Guard, Louisville

In the Bart Torvik database, Brown and Trae Young are the only high-major freshmen to shoot at least 14 threes per 100 possessions while also finishing with an assist rate of 29.0% or higher. Brown is a dangerous three-point shooter, plus he’s a very clever playmaker. Brown just needs to pack on some muscle and prove he gives a damn defensively. His freshman year at Louisville was very disappointing. 

10. Kingston Flemings: 6-foot-2.5, Guard, Houston

For a bunch of scouts and analysts, Flemings’ combine measurements knocked him down a few spots. In college, Flemings was a strong point-of-attack defender, but people are now worried about the possibility of him being picked on defensively. Smaller guards always are. But Flemings is tough, smart, and driven. There’s a chance he figures it out. And offensively, he can do it all, which is why he might be given the keys to run the show. 

11. Labaron Philon Jr. - 6-foot-2.5, Guard, Alabama

There’s a very small gap between Philon and some of the other dynamic guards in this draft. The only reason he’s a little lower than them is that he’s a little older. He also had a bit of a disappointing season as a defender. However, he’s a world-class pick-and-roll operator, he can score at all three levels, and he’s at least disruptive offensively. It almost feels like being an elite sixth man is his floor, but he should be a good starter. 

Likely Starters/Key Rotation Pieces 

12. Morez Johnson Jr.: 6-foot-9, Forward, Michigan 

Johnson isn’t 7-foot-3 and that’s why he’s not higher than Mara on this board, but he was arguably the best two-way player on Michigan. His fingerprints were all over the Wolverines winning the NCAA Tournament, as he was a good rebounder, a strong multi-positional defender, and he was able to do whatever was needed offensively. Johnson should now be a strong role player in the NBA, and there’s some room for him to be more than that if the jumper keeps getting better. 

13. Yaxel Lendeborg: 6-foot-8.75, Forward, Michigan

Lendeborg was the star of the show for that title-winning Michigan team. After dominating with UAB for two years, the forward made the leap to the Big Ten and continued to be one of the best players in college basketball. He can shoot, pass, and defend, and he’s good on the boards. The only downside with Lendeborg is that he’ll be 24 when the 2026-27 season starts. But a playoff-ready team will overlook that and see an immediate contributor. 

14. Hannes Steinbach: 6-foot-10.25, Forward, Washington 

If Steinbach had a more reliable jumper, or a little more athleticism, he’d be a projected can’t-miss All-Star. He’s arguably the best rebounder in the draft, he’s an awesome finisher, and he has good touch around the basket. There’s a lot to love about the way he attacks the game, and pairing him with a good pick-and-roll playmaker would make for some lethal actions. Steinbach has also shown off an improved jumper. If it’s legit, look out. 

15. Bennett Stirtz: 6-foot-2.5, Guard, Iowa 

Stirtz was the best player — and the only reliable creator — for an Iowa team that made the Elite Eight last year. For whatever reason, he doesn’t get his due compared to the other guards in this draft, but there’s a chance he’s a huge steal. Not only is Stirtz a very good three-point shooter, his numbers from two-point range are tremendous as well. He’s a good finisher, and he has good shot-making ability in the paint. He’s also a good playmaker. He could flourish in a quicker system, with more spacing around him. 

16. Jayden Quaintance: 6-foot-9, Center, Kentucky 

If Quaintance played a little more for Kentucky this year, people would feel better about his knee. However, the big man suffered a torn ACL in his freshman season with Arizona State, then he wasn’t able to play much for the Wildcats. We genuinely have no idea whether he has recovered, and it sounds like teams are worried about his medicals. If Quaintance can find a way to put it behind him, he’s an elite defensive big that can cover on the perimeter. That’s rare. He’s also a good rim-running threat, and he can handle better than most centers. The upside is huge, but the downside is there too. 

17. Nate Ament: 6-foot-9.5, Wing, Tennessee

The tools are undoubtedly there for Ament. He’s long, he’s fluid, and he moves well for a player his size. The issue with Ament is that he’s often compared to some of the NBA’s bigger, longer scorers. Realistically, Ament needs to improve his three-point shooting, focusing on becoming a three-and-D player before anything else. From there, he can attack some other weaknesses. But for now, the defense is the only thing to trust at the next level. 

18. Dailyn Swain: 6-foot-6.5, Wing, Texas 

If Swain had a consistent jumper, he’d easily be a top-10 pick. He’s relentless when it comes to attacking the rim, which makes him hard to guard given his size and length. He has also provided people with reasons to believe in the jumper, whether that’s with reliable free throw shooting or decent touch inside. If he can figure that out, he’ll be a steal in this draft. And that’s especially true if he gets back to defending the way he did at Xavier. 

19. Cameron Carr: 6-foot-4.5, Wing, Baylor

Carr had a solid season for Baylor, averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He also shot 37.4% from deep. However, Carr really got himself on the NBA radar with a crazy combine showing. He has otherworldly length, and he shot the hell out of the three-ball in the combine scrimmages. He looks like a really good three-and-D bet, and he has some more upside than just that. 

20. Ebuka Okorie: 6-foot-1.25, Guard, Stanford

Okorie is a little smaller than you’d want him to be, and that’s especially true with him having shot only 35.4% from three last year. At his size, he’ll need to be a lethal off-the-dribble shooter in order to pan out in the pros. But Okorie’s ability to create space for himself off the bounce, and get himself to the rim, is special. He’s an intriguing offensive player. 

21. Karim Lopez: 6-foot-8.25, Forward, New Zealand Breakers

Lopez is probably the best international prospect in this draft. He has good size, he possesses a well-rounded game, and it’s clear he takes pride in working on his game. However, while Lopez is good at many things, he isn’t great at any one thing. That makes it hard to imagine how he’ll fit in with his next team, but he should eventually make an impact if he lands with a good one. 

22. Allen Graves - 6-foot-7.75, Forward, Santa Clara 

Graves can shoot, make plays out of the post, and do a bunch of things well defensively. That’s why he stood out at Santa Clara, and he’s a player that analytic-forward franchises will really value. It’s also clear he won a good amount of scouts over, as he turned down a ton of money to go back to college. He seems like the type of player that could eventually be a star in his role. 

23. Joshua Jefferson - 6-foot-7.75, Forward, Iowa State 

Jefferson is another guy that could end up being a high-level role player. Jefferson used to be mostly a high-motor player that impacted games by doing the dirty work, but he worked to become a reliable floor-spacing forward. He’s also a very good playmaker for a big. Jefferson is a little undersized for a four, but he has the skills to make up for that. A winning team should value his skillset. 

24. Christian Anderson: 6-foot-1, Guard, Texas Tech

Anderson shot 41.5% from three for Texas Tech last season, and he also averaged 7.4 assists per game. He’s a dangerous pick-and-roll initiator, he can really shoot, and he was good at putting pressure on the rim in college. His size is what’s holding him back. Will he be as good at attacking the basket against bigger opponents? And can he impact games defensively? Anderson should be a good pro given his polished game, but his upside is a question mark. 

25. Chris Cenac Jr.: 6-foot-10.25, Center, Houston

There’s something about Cenac that makes him hard to quit. The big man definitely needs to improve his jumper, as it’s clear he wants to be a face-up big. But it’s hard not to respect that this toolsy big man chose to play for Houston, meaning he wanted to be coached up — and coached hard — by Kelvin Sampson. That speaks to his character, and the size and athleticism are there. 

Rotation Hopefuls

26. Sergio De Larrea - 6-foot-6, Guard, Valencia

27. Henri Veesaar - 6-foot-11.25, Center, UNC

28. Zuby Ejiofor - 6-foot-7.5, Forward, St. John’s 

29. Meleek Thomas - 6-foot-3, Guard, Arkansas

30. Koa Peat - 6-foot-7, Forward, Arizona

31. Isaiah Evans - 6-foot-5.5, Wing, Duke

32. Alex Karaban - 6-foot-6.75, Wing, UConn

33. Tarris Reed Jr. - 6-foot-9.75, Center, UConn 

34. Baba Miller - 6-foot-10.5, Forward, Cincinnati 

35. Richie Saunders - 6-foot-5, Guard, BYU

36. Jack Kayil - 6-foot-3.5, Guard, Alba Berlin

37. Ryan Conwell - 6-foot-2, Guard, Louisville

38. Trevon Brazile - 6-foot-9.5, Forward, Arkansas

The Rest (Two-Way Players, Fliers, Etc.)

39. Tyler Bilodeau - 6-foot-7.25, Forward, UCLA

40. Jaden Bradley - 6-foot-2.5, Guard, Arizona

41. Emanuel Sharp - 6-foot-2.75, Guard, Houston

42. Felix Okpara - 6-foot-10, Center, Tennessee

43. Izaiyah Nelson - 6-foot-8.25, Forward, South Florida 

44. Dillon Mitchell - 6-foot-6.75, Wing, St. John’s

45. Ja’Kobi Gillespie - 5-foot-11.75, Guard, Tennessee

46. Bruce Thornton - 6-foot, Guard, Ohio State

47. Tobias Jensen - 6-foot-6, Wing, Ratiopharm Ulm 

48. Maliq Brown - 6-foot-8, Forward, Duke 

49. Tobe Awaka - 6-foot-8, Forward, Arizona 

50. Ugonn Onyenso - 6-foot-11, Center, Virginia

51. Otega Oweh - 6-foot-4.25, Guard, Kentucky 

52. Elijah Mahi - 6-foot-6, Wing, Santa Clara

53. Fletcher Loyer - 6-foot-3.5, Guard, Purdue

54. Bryce Hopkins - 6-foot-6, Wing, St. John’s 

55. Rafael Castro - 6-foot-9, Forward, George Washington

56. Braden Smith - 5-foot-10.25, Guard, Purdue

57. Noam Yaacov - 6-foot-1.25, Guard, Oostende

58. Tobi Lawal - 6-foot-7.25, Forward, Virginia Tech

59. Tyler Nickel - 6-foot-6, Wing, Vanderbilt

60. Nick Martinelli - 6-foot-6.5, Wing, Northwestern