This strong draft class just keeps looking better and better.
As we approach the new year, with 1/3 of the season behind us and Christmas in the rear view mirror, the draft board is coming into more clarity and what I’m seeing is an absolutely loaded group of prospects that will help shape and define the NBA landscape for the next decade. There are a few big risers on this big board but no one has moved up more than Illinois guard Keaton Wagler who flies all the way from no.41 into the top 10.
As always there’s a delicate balance between ranking prospects based on perceived upside vs favoring the more NBA-ready, proven talents. Recent NBA draft trends have elevated the pro-ready players who can contribute to winning now, while not taking up too much cap space.
Having been a fan of the draft for 35 years and having covered it on this site for 17 years I’ve seen so, so many young prospects fail to live up to the hype and fade into obscurity – and this has helped shape my draft philosophy in favor of the more proven players. NBA teams will always be intrigued by the very young, unproven, high-upside players but drafting really good, proven basketball players is often a smarter move than drafting potential.
On this big board I’ve included a number of prospects that I predict will go back to school next season. I tried to look at all draft eligible prospects and put them all together in one top 70 big board. There are about 15 to 20 prospects on this list that I think will return to school (or stay overseas) next season.
2026 NBA Draft Big Board 3.0
 | TIER 1 – SUPERSTAR – FRANCHISE CORNERSTONE |
| 1 | Darryn Peterson – 6-5 – Kansas – Peterson has missed most of the past month with a hamstring injury (which makes it tempting to forget about his immense talents) but assuming he comes back healthy and plays like himself he’ll be right there in the running for the no.1 pick and for the top spot on big boards. Hopefully we see him back in action soon. |
| 2 | AJ Dybantsa – 6-9 – BYU – AJ has been playing at a dominant level, seemingly improving each and every game and making a very strong push to be the top pick in the draft. He’s a dominant scorer who is pretty much unstoppable when he puts his mind to getting to the basket. It would be nice to see a bit more 3pt volume but there’s really not much more you can ask him to do. He’s a franchise changer. |
| 3 | Cameron Boozer – 6-9 – Duke – My eval of Cameroon Boozer remains the same: a rock solid prospect who has an exceptionally high floor but probably doesn’t have the same ceiling as AJ or DP (or Caleb for that matter). For now I have him in this top tier but there’s a chance he’s more of a All NBA player rather than a Franchise Cornerstone level talent. |
| TIER 2 – ALL-NBA LEVEL PLAYER | |
| 4 | Caleb Wilson – 6-10 – North Carolina – I can’t get enough Caleb Wilson stock. He’s the type of raw talent that scouts drool over and the sky is the limit for how good he can be. I had him at no.3 on my last big board and, while that might have been premature, I still think there’s a chance he could rise into that elite upper echelon of players. |
| 5 | Kingston Flemings – 6-3 – Houston – Flemings continues to shine for the Cougars and is making a strong case as the best point guard in the draft class. Coming into the season I was high on Flemings but not nearly high enough. He’s a stud who looks like a high level NBA starting point guard. |
| TIER 3 – ALL STAR LEVEL PLAYER | |
| 6 | Mikel Brown Jr. – 6-5 – Louisville – It hasn’t been the best start to the season so far for Mikel but I’m still very intrigued by his abilities with the ball in his hands and see him as a very likely top 10 pick. Don’t be surprised to see him light it up over the second half of the season. |
| 7 | Labaron Philon – 6-3 – Alabama – Philon always looks to be in such control of the game, looking like a 10 year vet out there on the court. He doesn’t have the explosive athleticism of a player like Kingston Flemings but he’s a similar player with how much of an impact he has on the court. |
| 8 | Jayden Quaintance – 6-10 – Kentucky – It’s great to see JQ back in action after missing the first part of the season recovering from the ACl tear last year. He instantly showed why we all have him ranked so high. He’s an elite defensive player with legit center size and a developing skill set. It would be nice to see some more offensive development but we have to remember just how young he is, and that development will likely come. |
| TIER 4 – HIGH LEVEL STARTER – POSSIBLE ALL STAR | |
| 9 | Neoklis Avdalas – 6-9 – Virginia Tech (Greece) – Neo is a difficult eval with obvious attributes as a ball-handling 6-9 wing/guard who plays a very modern game. He’s got dribble/pass/shoot ability and plenty of athleticism. His draft stock and NBA value will be greatly enhanced if his 3pt shot falls at a good clip. |
| 10 | Keaton Wagler – 6-6 – Illinois. – A silky-smooth combo guard with a great looking jumper and nice offensive package. Has been hugely impressive early in his college career showing an intriguing mix of passing vision, feel for the game and offensive firepower. One of the biggest surprises of the season so far. |
| 11 | Yaxel Lendeborg – 6-9 – Michigan – Yaxel might be the best player in college basketball, right up there with AJ and Cam. I don’t think his age will hurt his draft stock, as he’s still fairly new to basketball and has been on an awesome upward trajectory for the past few years. His draft range seems to be about 8-18 range but I’d bet he goes towards the top part of that range. |
| 12 | Braylon Mullins – 6-5 – UConn – I was taking a wait and see approach with Mullins after he missed some time to start the season. Now I have seen and I like what I’ve seen. He’s an elite shooter with ideal size, great instincts and plenty of athleticism. He’s been streaky with his shot in recent games but I think he’ll have some big performances over the second half of the season and could rise into lottery territory. |
| 13 | Darius Acuff Jr. – 6-2 – Arkansas – This guy can play. I’ve been a bit lower on him to start the season but he just keeps putting up numbers and making winning plays and looking like a NBA starter. His lack of height is mitigated by his great strength and aggressive style of play and he’s got all the talent and intangibles you look for in a lead guard. |
| 14 | Cameron Carr – 6-6 – Baylor – Carr wasn’t the highest ranked recruit and has never been the biggest name on his team but he’s got a crystal clear NBA skill set as a lethal 3pt shooter with deep range and really intriguing athletic ability. He’s an awesome dunker and above the rim player with exceptional length. This ranking might be a bit high but because he’s got such a clear NBA projection his draft stock gets a bump. |
| TIER 5 – POSSIBLE STARTER – SOLID ROTATION PLAYER | |
| 15 | Henri Veesaar – 7-0 – North Carolina (Estonia) – Veesaar is a stud. He’s gone from being a role player to a budding star and I think he can be a really solid starting level center in the NBA. He’s not the most powerfully built player but shows toughness on the boards and a really nice feel on the offensive end. His floor spacing ability is the cherry on top. |
| 16 | Hannes Steinback – 6-11 – Washington (Germany) – Steinback isn’t flashy but just gets it done on the court, showing great hands, a good feel for being in the right place at the right time and flashes of an expanded offensive game. He’s one of the best rebounders in college basketball, a skill that should translate to the NBA level. |
| 17 | Koa Peat – 6-8 – Arizona – I love Koa Peat as a do-it-all forward who impacts both ends and does a lot of the dirty work but if he’s not hitting 3’s then his value drops. He’s only a freshman and so there’s plenty of time for him to expand his game but at this point he’s not a threat from downtown. |
| 18 | Christian Anderson – 6-2 – Texas Tech – The dude is just really good at basketball. He’s not the most flashy or electric player and lacks ideal size but he’s hugely impactful on the court and can take over the game with his scoring and play-making abilities. |
| 19 | Thomas Haugh – 6-9 – Florida – I could see him going as high as top 14 on draft night but in a draft with so much talent it’s hard to fit all the prospects in the lottery. One wildcard idea is that he could stay in school one more year, be the best player in college basketball and be a top 10 pick in 2027. But that’s probably wishful thinking for Florida fans. |
| 20 | Tounde Yessoufou – 6-6 – Baylor (Benin) – It pains my heart to have Tounde this low but there are just so many other good prospects in this class. Tounde is an impressive athlete who can overpower college level defenders but has a ways to go with refining his game. |
| 21 | Chris Cenac Jr. – 6-10 – Houston – A high upside player who just shows flashes. He’s probably a year or two away from being NBA ready but the draft is about upside and Cenac Jr. has plenty of that. |
| 22 | Nate Ament – 6-9 – Tennessee – This low ranking is partially based on Ament’s lack of burst and separation ability and partially based on the number of other high level prospects we have in this draft class. I think Ament can play a role at the NBA level but to me it doesn’t look like he’s going to be a primary option. |
| 23 | Karim Lopez – 6-8 – NZ Breakers, NBL (Mexico) – This is another ranking that has more to do with the strength of this draft class than with how Lopez projects as a prospect. I think in a weaker draft he could be a lottery level talent but this year he could fall a bit. I like how he’s improved his game since last year but would love to see him do more work on his frame and develop his athleticism/quickness. |
| 24 | Bennett Stirtz – 6-4 – Iowa – Stirtz has been really good so far this year and looks like a first rounder but I’m not sure if he has the upside to be ranked ahead of some of the younger prospects in the mid teens/early twenties area of the draft board. I think NBA spacing will be good for his game but his lack of blow-by speed could limit his role. |
| 25 | Brayden Burries – 6-4 – Arizona – Burries has had a bit of a roll-coaster of a season but has been playing really well lately and regaining the mid first round buzz that some of us had going for him pre season (I had him no.15 on my pre season board). |
| 26 | Dash Daniels – 6-5 – Australia – Dash might not be a first contract guy and it could be a few years before he’s ready to contribute to a NBA team. But once he matures and he polishes up his offensive game I think he can be a solid rotation player with starter potential. |
| TIER 6 – ROTATION PLAYER – BENCH PLAYER – POSSIBLE STARTER | |
| 27 | Milon Momcilovic – 6-8 – Iowa State – Milon has always been a good shooter but oh man, he’s shooting the lights out this season. He’s not a great athlete but has good size and is lethal from downtown. |
| 28 | Morez Johnson – 6-10 – Michigan – A tough and physical big man who loves to mix it up inside. Isn’t a high flyer but is solid and strong and definitely makes his presence felt. He sets good screens, attacks the glass well and is an enforcer in the paint. |
| 29 | Flory Bidunga – 6-10 – Kansas (Congo) – Flory is a sold role player who can fill a role on a NBA team. He’s probably not going to be a starter in the near future and is offensive limitations could keep him from being a starter but his high energy style of play could be valuable off the bench. |
| 30 | Daniel Jacobson – 7-4 – Purdue – I don’t necessarily think Jacobson is a this year guy but he’s easily among the top 50 prospects in this class and it wouldn’t be a total surprise if he rises into first round territory. He’s a really impressive mover for a guy who is 7-4 and he shows flashes of how dominant he can be with that big frame and agility. |
| 31 | Tomislav Ivisic – 7-1 – Illinois (Croatia) – I’m a huge fan of Tomislav’s game and think he is vastly underrated. He’s got great passing vision for a 7-1 player, is deadly from downtown and holds his own in the lane on both ends. He fits the mold of a modern floor-spacing, slick-passing big. |
| 32 | Dailyn Swain – 6-8 – Texas – An NBA level athlete with all the tools but will have to continue to develop his game. Shows some really nice flashes and it’s easy to see a path to him developing into a solid NBA wing. |
| 33 | Cayden Boozer – 6-4 – Duke – (The other) Boozer is an outside shot away from being a complete player and a first round lock. If his shot improves throughout this year he’ll be one of the best guards in college basketball, with his passing vision, knack for scoring in the lane and defensive intensity. Even if the shot doesn’t totally pan out he’ll be a great college player who will go on to have a long pro career. |
| 34 | Joshua Jefferson – 6-9 – Iowa State – Jefferson is old, a bit slow and doesn’t really excite you with his style of play but man, he is just damn good at the game of basketball. At some point in the draft it’s less about upside and more about finding NBA players who can contribute to winning games. |
| 35 | JT Toppin – 6-9 – Texas Tech – Toppin might have been a first rounder last year but chose to return to dominate college basketball. He’s going to put up big numbers on a good Texas Tech team and should be in the running for national player of the year. He’s probably not going to improve his draft stock a ton but he’s just a solid player and a solid prospect with late first round potential. |
| 36 | Isaiah Evans – 6-7 – Duke – Evans is probably more of a bench scorer than a starter and so his draft stock is probably not as high as some think. He’s made really good improvements in his all-around game since last season and if he continues that trend he’ll have a long NBA career. |
| TIER 7 – BENCH PLAYER – MAYBE STICKS IN THE LEAGUE – DEVELOPMENTAL | |
| 37 | Amari Allen – 6-8 – Alabama – Allen is a heady, mature and efficient player who looks like a NBA level role player. He’s probably going back to school, which would be a good thing, and could work his way into first round territory next year, if he does stay. |
| 38 | Meleek Thomas – 6-5 – Arkansas – A microwave shooter/scorer who can get hot but lacks consistency. Will need to round out his game and do more than just score the rock. Could use some more time in school and would likely spend a lot of time in the G League if he enters the draft this year. |
| 39 | Sergio de Larrea – 6-6 – Spain – A slick passing big guard who doesn’t blow you away with athleticism but is crafty, shifty and can get to his spots. A bit older than other international prospects but has a lot of game. |
| 40 | Keyshawn Hall – 6-7 – Auburn – I’m a big Keyshawn Hall fan. He’s got a pro-ready frame and a really nice 3pt shot. I’d take him mid second. |
| 41 | Patrick Ngongba II – 6-10 – Duke – Not flashy but highly effective and could be in for a breakout season. He does all the big man things well and is a fundamentally sound player who is highly effective. |
| 42 | Dwayne Aristode – 6-7 – Arizona (Netherlands) – When it’s all said and done this ranking could be way too low. Aristode is a powerfully built wing with a chiseled frame and a lot of talent. He’s part of a really strong recruiting class for the Wildcats and, while he’s not the biggest name in the group he could surprise to the upside. |
| 43 | Eric Reibe – 7-1 – UConn (Germany) – Reibe is probably staying in school for another year but if he declares for the 2026 draft he’d be intriguing in the late first/early second round range. |
| 44 | Shelton Henderson – 6-6 – Miami – A powerhouse of an athlete who can be a dominant force going to the rim. If he can figure out how to shoot the ball he’ll be nightmare to guard. |
| 45 | Mouhamed Faye – 6-10 – Reggio Emilio (Senegal) – One of the top interior defenders and rebounders in this draft class Faye was a late withdrawal from last year’s draft and will look to solidify his draft stock this season. |
| 46 | Paul McNeil Jr. – 6-5 – NC State – A high scoring guard who is wired to score the ball and has taken some nice steps with his playmaking and feel for the game. Gets his shots within the flow of the offense. |
| 47 | Dame Sarr – 6-7 – Duke (Italy) – Sarr shows some very high level flashes but can also look very raw and not nearly NBA ready at times. He’s a candidate to stay in school and be a 2027 pick but if he comes out this year he’s likely a second rounder. |
| 48 | Ebuka Okorie – 6-2 – Stanford – An ultra-talented scorer with a great feel for getting his shot. Lacks ideal size and could be well served to stay in school and make some massive NIL money before declaring. |
| 49 | Matt Able – 6-5 – NC State – A well built and athletic scoring guard with a nice jumper and NBA range. Could be a two-year player but has really good tools and looks the part of a NBA level 2-guard. |
| 50 | Ryan Conwell – 6-4 – Louisville – A rock solid 6-4 guard who loves to let it fly from downtown. Is better in an off-ball role but can give you some minutes at point. An older player but one who could contribute early. |
| 51 | Aday Mara – 7-3 – Michigan – I might be too low on Mara, given his unique size/skill but I struggle to see his game translating well to the next level. Another year in school could be in order. |
| 52 | Isiah Harwell – 6-5 – Houston – A high level shooter and scorer who has clear NBA potential but could be a two or three year player. There are a handful of other Houston guards that get more attention but Harwell has NBA level tools and, if the 3pt shot starts falling over the second half of the season he could make a move up draft boards. |
| 53 | Juke Harris – 6-7 – Wake Forest – A big guard/wing who can really score the ball. Has taken a major leap this season and is looking like a potential NBA player. |
| 54 | Omer Mayer – 6-4 – Purdue – Mayer is a big time talent who plays a supportive role in year one for the Boilermakers and will probably end up as a multi-year player but I had to put him on this list as I think he’s easily one of the top 70 draft eligible NBA prospects. |
| 55 | Coen Carr – 6-7 – Michigan State – There’s athleticism and then there’s Coen Carr. He’s an insane above the rim player but is also starting to round out his game and is on a nice trajectory as a prospect. |
| 56 | Milos Uzan – 6-5 – Houston – Uzan is a big point guard with great passing vision and the mental make-up you look for in a PG/leader. He’s a feisty defender who really gets after ball handlers. |
| 57 | Nikolas Khamenia – 6-9 – Duke – A highly skilled scorer with good size. I quick decision maker and high IQ player with solid athleticism. Could be a one and done but more likely a multi-year guy. |
| 58 | Bruce Thornton – 6-2 – Ohio State – He’s a baller, a gamer and a winner who looks the part of a solid back up point guard at the NBA level. |
| 59 | Zuby Ejiofor – 6-9 – St. John’s – A high energy big man who has taken the next step with his scoring and his overall skill level. Lacks ideal size but is quick, powerful and plays with an edge. |
| 60 | Emanuel Sharpe – 6-3 – Houston – A strong and aggressive guard who is a bit of tweener but is a gamer and a winner. A big time shot maker who could be a solid option off the bench for a NBA team. |
| 61 | Alex Condon – 6-11 – Florida (Australia) – Condon does a lot the dirty work of setting screens, crashing the glass, defending in the lane and running the floor hard. His game isn’t flashy but he brings value on both ends and looks the part of a NBA role playing big. |
| 62 | Alex Karaban – 6-8 – UConn – Karaban will go down as one of the greats in the UConn programs history. His NBA role is a little murky but big shot-makers have value and he’ll get a long look from NBA teams. He might not be a high upside guy but he does some things at a high level and has a chance to be a solid role player at the next level. |
| 63 | Ognjen Srzentic – 6-7 – Serbia – A skinny and wiry wing with a lot of offensive talent. Will have to develop his frame for the next level but is young and has time. |
| 64 | Tahaad Pettiford – 6-1 – Auburn – Small guards have a tough time making it in the NBA but Pettiford is just so dynamic with the ball in his hands that he has a shot to be a first rounder. He’s got a skinny and wiry frame but good length with a 6-5 wingspan, which helps him hold his own defensively. He’s one of the most exciting, fun and electric players in the county. |
| 65 | David Markovic – 6-9 – Illinois – One of the biggest surprises of the young season, Markovic has been a rebounding machine and incredibly efficient on the offensive end. |
| 66 | Johann Grunloh – 6-10 – Virginia (Germany) – Grunloh brings a high-energy physical presence to Virginia’s front line. He’s solid in the post and can step out and hit the 3 but is a bit heavy-footed and not the most dynamic athlete. |
| 67 | Richie Saunders – 6-5 – BYU – A flamethrower from outside, Saunders is a natural scorer who moves well without the ball and lets it fly with a ton of confidence. |
| 68 | Motiejus Krivas – 7-2 – Arizona (Lithuania) – The lengthy Lithuanian is a solid post presence who controls the boards and has a big impact on the defensive end. He’s not a high volume offensive player and scores mainly within a few feet of the rim. I don’t see him as a starter in the NBA but think he can be a serviceable big off the bench. |
| 69 | Jaden Bradley – 6-2 – Arizona – Bradley has gotten better and better every season and now looks like a solid back-up point guard option. He’s learned to harness his athletic talents and become more of a passer and play-maker. I’m a big fan. |
| 70 | Jalen Haralson – 6-7 – Notre Dame – Haralson probably stays in school for another year but he’s a talented dude with a NBA future who deserves to get some draft hype. |
| > | Back to the mock draft |
Thanks so much for reading my work!