There’s been a lot of discussion recently about where Cooper Flagg would rank if he had never reclassified and had instead stayed in 2025 recruiting class (and been part of this 2026 draft class). Would he still be the no.1 pick if he was in a draft with DP, AJ and Cam? And how do all of these prospects stack up against previous draft classes?
With those questions in mind I decided to rank the consensus top 3 picks in the 2026 draft against the top 3 picks from the previous three drafts (2025, 2024 and 2023). Here’s how I would rank these 12 players as prospects (as they were seen coming into the draft):
| 1 | Victor Wembanyama – C – France There is no world in the multiverse where any incoming NBA prospect would surpass the 7-5 super-humanoid sensation from France. Injuries were a bit of a concern but that’s the only thing short of total planetary annihilation that could have kept Wemby from being the top prospect on this list. Coming into the 2023 NBA Draft Wemby was considered by some people to be the greatest prospect in any sport in all of human history. And I was one of those people. |
| 2 | Cooper Flagg – PF – Duke What Flagg did in his one season at Duke and in the scrimmages against team U.S.A were pretty mind-bending. It was clear to me that he was an elite talent and he’s proving that so far in his NBA rookie season. If he had stayed in the 2025 recruiting class I would have him ranked no.1 this draft cycle but it would be close between him and Peterson. |
| 3 | Darryn Peterson – SG – Kansas DP is the best guard prospect I’ve seen in a long, long time and gives me some Kobe Bryant vibes. Back in the day I had the privilege of seeing Kobe play many high school games during his time at Lower Merion and so I have a pretty good idea about how good of a prospect he was going into the 1996 draft. And I think Peterson is almost up there with the legend as a truly elite prospect. There’s a little bit of concern with the lingering upper leg injury but that’s most likely a passing thing that won’t slow him down during his time in the NBA. It’s been tough to get a good evaluation on him with the injury slowing him down but we got to see plenty during his HS years and enough this year to hold him in such high regard. |
| 4 | AJ Dybantsa – SF – BYU I want to be all-in on AJ but I have some lingering doubts about how his bully-ball style will translate and if he can develop into more of a point forward type that will elevate the play of those around him. He’s shown enough of that for me to hold him at no.2 in my big board in this very strong draft class and I still think there’s some superstar upside for him to unlock. |
| 5 | Cameron Boozer – PF – Duke I have Boozer graded almost as high as AJ. I think Boozer is going to continue to do in the NBA exactly what he’s been doing in high school and in college: score efficiently and from inside and out while being a heady play-maker and a legitimate first option on offense and a guy who plays both ends. He’s a very smart defender who makes up for some athletic short-comings with his good technique, strength and tremendous basketball I.Q. I don’t necessarily see superstar upside with him but the chances of him being an All Star are very, very high. |
| 6 | Dylan Harper – SG – Rutgers Harper was my clear no.2 prospect coming into a very strong 2025 NBA Draft. His teammate Ace Bailey was in the mix for a while but as the draft approached Harper gained separation. I don’t think anybody thought of him as a generational talent but he graded out as a solid top 3 pick who projected as an All Star level player. He’s been good to start his career and I still think there are a handful of All Star games in his future. |
| 7 | Scoot Henderson – PG – G League Ignite I was really high on Henderson heading into the 2023 draft. In hindsight that wasn’t a great eval on my part and he’s not been the player I thought he was. Injuries have played a part in his very slow start to his career but he also has a game that isn’t a great fit in today’s NBA with his lack of positional versatility and his questionable outside shot. I think he can still be a good player in the league but I wouldn’t hold my breath for him developing into a star. |
| 8 | VJ Edgecombe – SG – Baylor VJ has been awesome to start his NBA career. I was really high on him coming into the draft and couldn’t help but compare him to Dwyane Wade with the way he moves on the court – that comp so far looks like it might be warranted. VJ was in such a strong draft class in 2025 that he was a bit lower on my board but as a prospect he graded out higher than the guys below him on this list. |
| 9 | Zaccharie Risacher – SF – France I was way too high on Risacher. He was no.1 on my 2024 draft board and that appears to be a major mistake. It was also aan obviously weak draft so take that no.1 ranking with a grain of salt. He’s got a chance to be a solid NBA player but nowhere near what you want a first overall pick to be. |
| 10 | Alex Sarr – C – France Sarr is a stud. I should have been higher on him and had him no.1 in the underwhelming 2024 draft class. His defensive versatility has translated well and he’s got a chance to develop into a potential All-Defensive team player. Watching him play with AD will be a lot of fun and should also help his development. |
| 11 | Brandon Miller – SF – Alabama I had some mixed evaluations of B. Miller coming into the 2023 draft. I saw the Paul George-like potential but very much considered him a potential number two option on a winning team rather than a franchise player. Hopefully he can stay healthy and kick his career into high gear. |
| 12 | Reed Sheppard – PG/SG – Kentucky I think when it’s all said and done Sheppard will have out-played my projection for him. I liked him coming out but didn’t see him as a top 3 pick. He hasn’t fully hit his stride yet in Houston but has shown some really nice things and there’s a lot of potential there to unlock. |