This draft cycle has been marked by two main things: the elite freshmen at the top of the class and a couple of lesser known prospects soaring up the draft board. At the top of the draft DP, AJ and Cam have all lived up to expectations and are still 1,2 and 3 on most draft boards. Meanwhile Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler have had meteoric rises and are both looking like top 10 picks with top 5 potential. And Caleb Wilson is right there in the mix with the top 3 as well.
There is one big change on this Big Board: I’ve moved AJ and Cam down one tier to the “All NBA Level” and now Darryn Petterson sits alone in the Superstar Tier 1. This isn’t a knock against the other two, they are both phenomenal prospects. But Tier 1 players are very rare (think Wemby, Cooper Flagg, AD) and it’s unusual to have more than 1 in a single draft.
Players rising up the board include Hannes Steinbach, Karim Lopez, Nate Ament, Dailyn Swain, Ebuka Okorie and Rueben Chinyelu, amongst others.
A few names that are sliding down the board include Jayden Quaintance, Neo Avdalas, Isaiah Evans and Dash Daniels. I’ve had all of the later three in the top 30 at some points this season but now all three are ranked just below a first round grade.
And one player evaluation I continue to struggle with is Aday Mara. I can see a lot of the appeal but part of me thinks he’ll get roasted at the NBA level, especially early in his career. I’ve seen him mocked near the lottery range on some boards but to me he’s a borderline first rounder.
For a more extensive review of this draft class check out my State Of The 2026 NBA Draft article here. And now, here’s the big board:
2026 NBA Draft Big Board 4.0
 | TIER 1 – SUPERSTAR – FRANCHISE CORNERSTONE |
| 1 | Darryn Peterson – 6-5 – Kansas – Peterson is a special, special talent and the fact that he’s been slowed by a leg injury does nothing to change my opinion of him as the top draft prospect in the class. Hopefully he gets back to full health soon and shows the nation just how incredibly talented he is. If he reaches his full potential he can be not only the face of a franchise but one of the top basketball players in the world. |
| TIER 2 – ALL-NBA LEVEL PLAYER | |
| 2 | AJ Dybantsa – 6-9 – BYU – I love watching AJ play, with his breathtaking athleticism and his powerful drives displacing defenders like a 6-9 bowling ball scattering pins. I do have some slight hesitations when projecting his skill-set to the NBA. There’s no doubt he’ll score the ball at a high level but can he become a knockdown 3pt shooter (which would open up the rest of his offensive game)? And will his play-making continue to develop to the point of him being a point/forward type? I’ve been steady with him as my no.2 prospect in the class but I can easily see a world where Boozer or even Wilson/Flemings takes over this spot. AJ holds this spot for now but it’s very tenuous. |
| 3 | Cameron Boozer – 6-9 – Duke – Boozer’s NBA projection comes down to a battle between the boring, efficient, productive player that fills up the stat sheet and makes winning plays vs. the somewhat heavy-footed, lumbering, below the rim finishing player that struggles to get separation. He’s going to be really good in the NBA but there’s definitely a world where he tops out as an All Star rather than a superstar. In some draft classes he’d be no.1 or an easy no.2 but in this strong class there’s a chance he falls to no.3. |
| 4 | Caleb Wilson – 6-10 – North Carolina – Part of me wants to rank Wilson higher than this. I think his upside is right there with Dybantsa and Boozer. He’s a sensational athlete with a budding skill-set that makes scouts drool and he can be a force on both ends. Maybe he’s not as much of a sure thing as the others but I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he ends up as the second best player from this draft. |
| 5 | Kingston Flemings – 6-4 – Houston – I’ve been high on Flemings for a long time but now he’s taken his game to even greater heights and is looking like an elite prospect who could be the face of a NBA franchise. It’s rare to have this many elite prospects in one draft but the way Flemings is playing justifies this lofty projection. I think we’ll hear some whispers about him breaking into the top 3 if he continues this level of play. |
| TIER 3 – ALL STAR LEVEL PLAYER | |
| 6 | Keaton Wagler – 6-6 – Illinois. – Wagler has been a rising star this season and in recent weeks has taken his game to new heights. He’s been sensational with the ball in his hands, making plays for teammates and draining deep 3’s. He’s not the quickest dude but he’s got an affective herky-jerky style that in some ways reminds me of SGA. I know that’s high praise but Wagler has been looking that good. |
| 7 | Darius Acuff Jr. – 6-2 – Arkansas – Acuff Jr. is tough as nails and plays with a ton of grit. He’s not the biggest guard out there and so many his perceived upside isn’t as high as some of the other point guards on this list but he’s an awesome talent who can take over games when needed. The Dame Lillard comps make sense to me and, even if he doesn’t reach that level of stardom, he’s a worthy lottery pick. |
| TIER 4 – HIGH LEVEL STARTER – POSSIBLE ALL STAR | |
| 8 | Labaron Philon – 6-3 – Alabama – Philon has taken a huge step this season as the leader of the Alabama team. He plays with great pace and seems to be in full control of the flow of the game on the offensive end. He’s not the biggest guard out there but he’s a stingy and pesky defender who really gets after it. |
| 9 | Braylon Mullins – 6-6 – UConn – Mullins just looks the part. When watching him move about on the court and rise up for picture perfect jumpers he just looks like a high level NBA player. He’s had an uneven season, due in part to missing the first month, but the talent is so clearly there and he’s an easy projection to the NBA future. |
| 10 | Mikel Brown Jr. – 6-5 – Louisville – It’s been a rough season so far for Brown who has struggled with some minor injuries and struggled to shoot the ball. But I’m still a big believer in his talents and wouldn’t be surprised to see him regain some draft buzz in February/March. I think he’s a much better player than what we’ve seen so far and so I’m keeping him in the mid lottery range. |
| 11 | Karim Lopez – 6-8 – NZ Breakers, NBL (Mexico) – Lopez is really finding his stride in the NBL. He’s got a lot of poise and a ton of power for a 18yo playing against grown men and is starting to get very comfortable with a bigger role. He’s a unique prospect as a big wing who lacks speed/burst but plays with both finesse and power and has a nice feel and good touch on his drives to the basket. If he was playing college ball he’d probably be getting a lot more hype. |
| 12 | Hannes Steinbach – 6-11 – Washington (Germany) – Steinbach is one of my favorite players to watch, with his high energy play, great rebounding and his flashes of athleticism. I think he’d be a really solid pick in the late lottery for a team that needs a plug and play big man who can hit the boards and get hustle buckets. I see a lot of David Lee in his game. |
| TIER 5 – POSSIBLE STARTER – SOLID ROTATION PLAYER | |
| 13 | Nate Ament – 6-10 – Tennessee – Ament has started to find his rhythm after a lackluster start to his Tennessee career and is right there in the lottery conversation. I still worry that he’s more Austin Daye than MPJ and that his lack of burst/speed will really hinder his NBA projection. Still, 6-10 wings who can dribble, pass and shoot don’t grow on trees and are highly coveted at the NBA level. |
| 14 | Henri Veesaar – 7-0 – North Carolina (Estonia) – Veesaar is unlikely to be a star in the NBA but at this point of the draft board finding a really solid starting level center who can stretch the floor would be a really good value. He’s a high feel player who makes really good reads and is a good big-to-big passer. I’m higher on him than most and think he’ll be really good in the NBA. |
| 15 | Koa Peat – 6-8 – Arizona – At times Peat looks like a top 10 pick and at other times he appears to be a solid role player/glue-guy who probably isn’t a lottery level talent in this strong draft class. Overall he grades out as a mid first rounder who should be very solid from day one and probably has some underrated star potential. He’s not likely to develop into a first option offensive player but as his game matures I think we’ll see him hitting 3’s at a nice clip and taking on more of a role on the offensive end. He’s kind of a tough eval for me but I wouldn’t let him slip too far past the lottery. |
| 16 | Yaxel Lendeborg – 6-9 – Michigan – I kind of hate how low Yaxel ended up on my board this time. He’s had a really good start to the season but has been a bit more pedestrian in recent weeks. He’s an older prospect but I think he still has plenty of upside to tap. And he’s a very NBA ready player who would be a nice addition to any roster. I think he has a pretty wide draft range between about 10 to 20. |
| 17 | Brayden Burries – 6-4 – Arizona – After a woeful start Burries has been balling for Arizona. He’s a great competitor, plays both ends and can be streaky from downtown. I’m not sure if I see him as a full time starter in the league but he does have the upside to get there. |
| 18 | Chris Cenac Jr. – 6-10 – Houston – When it comes to pure upside potential there are only a few prospects I would put above Cenac Jr. He’s going to take some time and could even spend another year in school but for a team willing to develop his talents the payoff could be huge. |
| 19 | Cameron Carr – 6-6 – Baylor – After a few years of hype Carr is in the midst of a breakout season and has been really impressive for the Bears this year. His combination of 3pt shooting, above the rim ability and disruptive defensive has the full attention of NBA scouts. The biggest question in my eyes is whether he’s more of an off-the-ball role player or if he can develop his on-ball creativity. |
| 20 | Thomas Haugh – 6-9 – Florida – Haugh might not be the sexiest pick but NBA teams will be highly intrigued by the 6-9 do-it-all forward who competes at a high level and impacts both ends. |
| 21 | Jayden Quaintance – 6-10 – Kentucky – It’s been a really tough year for JQ after ACL surgery last March and some ongoing issues with his recovery. It might make sense for him to shut it down for the season and focus on the draft process, or on being a top pick in 2027. He’s a unique defensive talent but the injury history and the lack of an offensive game hurts his draft stock. He’s still incredibly young and has plenty of time to develop into a good NBA player. |
| 22 | Christian Anderson – 6-2 – Texas Tech – I think there’s a real chance Anderson out-plays this ranking. He’s not the biggest guard out there but is so skilled, is a great decision-maker no the court and has a rare combination of play-making and scoring ability. He’s also going to get a really big NIL offer so there’s a chance he returns to school if he’s projected in this range. |
| 23 | 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. |
| 24 | Bennett Stirtz – 6-4 – Iowa – I was a little too high on Stirtz to start the season but I still like him as a mid/late first rounder. He could be a nice third guard who has some versatility playing on or off the ball. |
| 25 | Tounde Yessoufou – 6-6 – Baylor (Benin) – I feel like we all keep waiting for Tounde to find his rhythm and put together a more complete game but so far he’s been looking like more of an athlete than a polished basketball player. Still, it’s hard to bet against such a high level athlete who also has a really strong work ethic. A team drafting in the late teens or twenties could get a steal. |
| 26 | Ebuka Okorie – 6-2 – Stanford – Okorie has been an absolute stud this year, coming in as an under recruited guy and scorching opponents to the tune of 21 points per game while looking to be in total control of the offense. |
| 27 | Morez Johnson Jr. – 6-10 – Michigan – Every NBA team can use a player like Morez. He’s a powerful, high-energy enforcer who has a big impact in the paint, changes ends well and can anchor a defense, despite not being the biggest center out there. |
| 28 | 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. |
| TIER 6 – ROTATION PLAYER – BENCH PLAYER – POSSIBLE STARTER | |
| 29 | 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. |
| 30 | 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. |
| 31 | 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. |
| 32 | Miikka Muurinen – 6-10 Partizan, Belgrade (Finland) – Muurinen will probably wait until the 2027 draft but this big board includes all draft eligible players. He’s had a tough adjustment to playing pro ball and hasn’t seen many minutes this year so there’s not a lot of new tape to evaluate. Still, the flashes we’ve seen from him over the past few years suggests that he’s a legit NBA talent. If he comes out this year his draft stock will be all over the place but if he waits one more year I think he could go in the lottery. |
| 33 | 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 early to mid second round, and can also see him continuing to rise up the board. |
| 34 | Milon Momcilovic – 6-8 – Iowa State – The best 3pt shooter in the county and one of the best on Planet Earth, Milon doesn’t have a great all around game and will be more of a specialist at the NBA level. |
| 35 | 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 and make him a first round lock. There’s a high chance he’s a first rounder this year but I’m just not all the way bought in on his NBA projection. |
| 36 | Flory Bidunga – 6-10 – Kansas (Congo) – Flory is a high energy role-playing big man who projects as a guy who can come off the bench and provide meaningful minutes. He changes ends really well and puts a lot of pressure on opposing bigs with his quickness up and down the court. I think he’s going to solid early in his career but won’t really bring a lot of value until his second contract. |
| 37 | Daniel Jacobson – 7-4 – Purdue – I know he’s not a this year guy but he’s easily in my top 50, so I thought I’d add him to the board. He’s got a good shot to be a first rounder next season. |
| 38 | Neoklis Avdalas – 6-9 – Virginia Tech (Greece) – After a hot start Avdalas has struggled a bit and his draft stock is taking a hit. There’s still a lot of intrigue here as you don’t see 6-9 ball-handlers with good movement skills very often. But it’s clear that he’s not the same level of prospect as a Egor Demin or a Matas Buzelis etc. I still think he can recover some draft momentum and maybe sneak into the first round but he’d have to turn things around in a hurry. |
| TIER 7 – BENCH PLAYER – MAYBE STICKS IN THE LEAGUE – DEVELOPMENTAL | |
| 39 | Massamba Diop – 7-1 – Arizona State (Senegal) – Diop is an extremely gifted 7-1 athlete who is very smooth, twitchy and agile with his movements. He’s got good touch around the rim and on push shots out to about 12 feet. And he does a good job of protecting the rim and has the makings of becoming a defensive anchor. He’s very much a developmental player but has tools you can’t teach and a lot of upside to grow into. I like him early second round. |
| 40 | Tyler Tanner – 6-0 – Vanderbilt – Tanner has been sensational this season and could be ranked higher but I have a hard time trusting small guards and he’s extra small. Yes, he’s a high level athlete with good length that somewhat offsets his lack of size but I’m not ready to put him in my first round. He’s a strong candidate to return to school next season. |
| 41 | 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. |
| 42 | Rueben Chinyelu – C – Florida – A defensive menace with great length and strength. Only a junior, he could be back next season and really see his draft stock fly. He’s still a developmental player but he’s on a really nice trajectory as a prospect and I expect that to continue. He reminds me of a modern day Dale Davis. |
| 43 | 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. |
| 44 | Dash Daniels – 6-5 – Australia – He’s very young, a great defender and has NBA bloodlines but I’m not sure he’ll be ready to contribute anytime soon and will probably be more of a second contract guy (if he makes it that far). I think he has upside but is far from a sure thing. |
| 45 | 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. |
| 46 | 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. |
| 47 | 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. |
| 48 | Tyler Bilodeau – 6-9 – UCLA – Tyler isn’t a great athlete and might not have great upside but he’s just a damn good basketball player who can really shoot the rock. He’s got a toughness to his game that allows him to hold his own in the paint against bigger players. But it’s his shooting ability that will get him on a NBA court. |
| 49 | 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. |
| 50 | 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. |
| 51 | 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. |
| 52 | 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. He’s a much older prospect and should be ready to play some minutes early in his career. |
| 53 | Mouhamed Faye – 6-10 – Paris Basket (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. |
| 54 | 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. I really hope he returns to school and puts on a show next season but if he does declare he’s a likely second round pick. |
| 55 | Cayden Boozer – 6-4 – Duke – Boozer keeps sliding down the draft board and is looking more like a player who could use another year in school. It’s not that he’s been bad this season, he just needs to keep improving his jumper and finding his rhythm in college basketball. He’s a very unselfish player so the scoring stats won’t always looks good but in my mind he still projects as a solid rotation guard (eventually) at the NBA level. |
| 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. I see him as a possible third or fourth guard who could come in and spell the starter. |
| 57 | Tomislav Ivisic – 7-1 – Illinois (Croatia) – He’s not had the season I expected and has taken a tumble down my draft board. I could still see him getting drafted and having a NBA career but I’m not as high on him as I was. |
| 58 | 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. |
| 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 | 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. |
| 62 | 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. |
| 63 | 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. |
| 64 | Braden Smith – 6-0 – Purdue – Super undersized by incredibly dynamic, Smith could be a fun guard to have coming off the bench to change the tempo. |
| 65 | Andrej Stojakovic – 6-6 – Illinois – He’s made some impressive strides with his all around game and his at the rim finishing. The jumper seems to come and go but if he can get more consistent he’s got a real chance to make it. |
| 66 | Alex Condon – 7-0 – Florida – A solid all around center who does a bit of everything but doesn’t really stand in one area. I think he might take some time but could eventually earn a few NBA minutes. |
| 67 | 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. |
| 68 | 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. |
| 69 | Baba Miller – 6-11 – Cincinnati – It’s been a long road for Baba to get here but he’s been playing really good ball this year and still has that impressive combination of size and mobility. He’s shown a willingness to harness his athletic prowess and live more in the post, make plays in transition and play more like a big forward instead of a guard. |
| 70 | 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. |
| > | Back to the mock draft |
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