With the ultra-talented 2026 NBA Draft now in the books we turn our attention to the future to see the next crop of basketball talents on the NBA horizon.
The 2027 NBA Draft has been widely panned as being a weak draft. I don’t fully agree with this take. It’s true that there is no clear cut superstar prospect at the top of the draft but besides that one negative I think overall it’s a pretty strong group of prospects.
Looking even farther ahead, the 2028 draft class appears to have some big time talents at the top (which is really all we can say about a draft class that’s so far out). The depth of the 2028 class will be determined by which players return to school after next season, which we won’t find out until next Spring.
Overall, I see a ton of talent on the NBA horizon, including a number of future All-Stars and probably a handful of All-NBA level players.
What I don’t see (at least not yet) is that clear-cut generational superstar prospect. There’s no Victor Wembanyama or LeBron James level prospect who you look at years ahead of time and think, this guy is almost certainly going to change a franchise.
Of course, that doesn’t mean one won’t emerge. These players are incredibly young and have plenty of time to take their games to new heights. A prospect can make an enormous leap over the course of a year or two, and there are several players on this list who have the physical tools and talent to eventually enter that superstar conversation.
At this point, though, I see these classes as being more balanced at the top than being defined by one obvious generational player. There are big guards, jumbo wings, mobile 7-footers and elite athletes all over the place. It’s going to be fascinating to see which of these guys separates themselves from the pack.
Top 10 Prospects On The NBA Horizon (2027 and 2028 Draft Prospects)
1. Tyran Stokes – SF – Kansas
If there’s one prospect from next year’s class who I think has a chance to become a true superstar, it’s Kansas wing Tyran Stokes.
Stokes already has an NBA-ready frame with great strength, explosive athleticism and a massive amount of natural talent. He’s built like a power wing but has the skill level to create offense on the perimeter. He can overpower smaller defenders, get downhill off the bounce and make plays through contact, while also having the athletic ability to be a major factor in transition.
The big question is consistency. There are times when Stokes looks like the obvious best player on the floor and other times when he doesn’t completely impose himself on the game. Continuing to develop his jumper, decision-making and winning habits will be important.
A year playing under Bill Self should be great for his development. Self will demand that he defend, play within a team concept and compete on every possession.
I think Stokes will ultimately be a top-three pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, and of all the prospects in that class I think he possesses the highest pure upside. If everything comes together, he’s one of the few players on the horizon who could potentially become a legitimate first-option NBA star.
2. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje – PF/C – Duke (Spain)
Boumtje Boumtje is one of the most intriguing long-term prospects in the world and has the combination of size, mobility and emerging perimeter skill that NBA teams covet in modern big men.
At around 7 feet tall, JBB moves exceptionally well for his size. He’s light on his feet, gets up and down the floor and doesn’t look out of place operating away from the basket. He can put the ball on the floor a little bit, attack a closeout and has shown some intriguing face-up ability.
The biggest development in his game has been his outside shot. His left-handed jumper looks increasingly natural and gives him the potential to become a legitimate floor-spacing big. With his height and release point it’s an extremely difficult shot to contest.
He’s still developing physically and learning how to consistently impact games, especially defensively and on the glass, but the tools are all there. He’s the type of prospect who could look dramatically different two years from now once he fills out his frame and gains experience.
3. Jordan Smith Jr. – PG/SG – Arkansas
I’ve had Smith Jr. projected as the top pick in the 2027 draft for a few months now and he’s probably the prospect in that class I feel most confident about translating immediately to the college level.
I think his ultimate upside might not be quite as high as Stokes, but I feel more confident that Smith will have a monster season next year under Coach Cal and put himself right in the running for the No. 1 pick.
He’s an explosive and powerful guard who can create his own offense, attack the rim and put pressure on a defense. He’s got that combination of strength, burst and scoring ability that reminds me quite a bit of Donovan Mitchell, except I think Smith is a little more advanced at the same stage.
There’s a maturity to his game that I really like. He doesn’t simply rely on athleticism and has the ability to change speeds, create separation and play through contact. He also has the physical tools to become an excellent NBA defender.
Smith might ultimately become more of an awesome second star on a championship-level team rather than a true franchise-carrying superstar, but I hate trying to put a ceiling on a guard this talented at such a young age.
I’m a huge fan of his game and can’t wait to see what he does in college this year. He’s going to have every opportunity to establish himself as the best player in the 2027 draft class.
4. Nikola Kusturica – SF – UCLA (Serbia)
Kusturica is one of the most talented young perimeter prospects in Europe and has the type of all-around offensive game that should translate extremely well to the NBA.
He’s got excellent size for a wing and already shows an advanced understanding of how to create offense. He’s comfortable handling the ball, can score from multiple levels and has a natural feel for making plays for teammates. There aren’t many players his age who combine his size with this level of perimeter skill.
Kusturica isn’t necessarily a blow-you-away athlete, but he moves well, has good coordination and plays with a lot of control. His ability to manipulate defenders and make plays with the ball gives him the potential to eventually function as a primary or secondary creator.
As a 2009-born player he isn’t draft eligible until 2028 and so we get to see him in college ball for two years!
Regardless of the route he takes, he’s one of the most polished prospects on this list and has a very high floor to go along with considerable upside. If the athleticism, strength and defensive impact continue to develop, Kusturica has a chance to become a big-time NBA wing.
5. CJ Rosser – SF/PF – Orlando, FL
One of the elite recruits in the 2027 high school class, Rosser is a long and wiry forward with a really nice-looking shot and high-end athleticism.
At around 6-10 he moves exceptionally well and has the type of fluidity you normally see in a wing. He can cover ground with long strides, elevate around the rim and has intriguing ability to handle the ball and create offense from the perimeter.
What makes Rosser especially exciting is the possibility that his offensive skill set eventually catches up with his physical tools. There simply aren’t many players his size who can move like this while also showing legitimate shooting potential.
He’s still very young and has plenty of physical development ahead of him. Adding strength will be important, as will becoming more polished as a ball handler and playmaker. But when you’re projecting players this far into the future, you’re looking for traits that can’t be taught, and Rosser has plenty of them.
If he continues along his current trajectory, I see him as one of the leading candidates to be a top pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. His combination of size, athleticism, shooting upside and positional versatility gives him a very high ceiling.
6. Marcus Spears Jr. – PF – Texas
Spears Jr. is a sensational athlete with incredible physical tools and perhaps as much raw upside as anybody in his class.
He’s not as polished as some of the other prospects near the top of this list, but his ceiling is off the charts because of the way he moves at his size. He flies up and down the court, explodes above the rim and can make plays defensively that very few players his age are capable of making.
He’s the type of forward who can completely change a game without having plays called for him. He runs the floor, crashes the glass, finishes lobs, blocks shots and covers an enormous amount of ground defensively.
The offensive skill set is still developing. His jumper, handle and overall creation ability will go a long way toward determining just how high his ceiling ultimately becomes. If he develops into a legitimate perimeter threat rather than primarily an athletic finisher, watch out.
Spears is exactly the type of prospect who could make an enormous jump over the next few years. The physical foundation is already there. Now it’s about adding skill and polish.
7. Beckham Black – PG – Duncanville, TX
Black is one of my favorite young guards in the country and a player who combines excellent size with a really intriguing all-around skill set.
He’s a big lead guard who plays with confidence and has the ability to impact the game as both a scorer and facilitator. He sees the floor well, can get into the paint and has the size to see over smaller defenders and deliver passes from different angles.
There’s also an edge to the way Black plays that stands out. He’s competitive, physical and doesn’t shy away from big moments. His size gives him the potential to become a versatile defender while also creating matchup problems on the offensive end.
The jumper and overall scoring efficiency will be important areas to watch as he develops. If he becomes a consistently dangerous outside shooter, it’ll open up everything else in his game.
Big guards who can run an offense, defend multiple positions and create their own shot have enormous value in today’s NBA, and Black has a chance to check all three boxes. He’s one of the most interesting guard prospects in the 2028 draft picture.
8. Nathan Soliman – PF – France
Soliman is another high-upside French prospect who fits the mold of the modern NBA forward.
He’s long, mobile and athletic with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. He moves well for his size and has shown flashes of perimeter skill that suggest there’s a lot more offensive development to come.
Defensively Soliman has the length and mobility to cover a huge amount of space, contest shots around the basket and potentially defend multiple positions. He can make plays above the rim while also having the foot speed to operate away from the paint.
He’s another prospect where you’re betting heavily on the physical tools and developmental trajectory. France continues to produce long, versatile NBA athletes, and Soliman looks like he could be one of the next major prospects coming through that pipeline.
9. Bruce Branch III – SF – BYU
Branch is an extremely talented wing with an intriguing blend of size, length, athleticism and scoring ability.
He’s got the physical profile NBA teams are constantly searching for on the wing and can impact the game in a number of different ways. He can attack the basket, finish in transition and use his length to make plays defensively.
The biggest thing I’m watching with Branch is the development of his overall perimeter game. If the jumper becomes a consistent weapon and his handle continues to tighten up, he has the tools to become much more than a complementary wing.
His length gives him real defensive upside as well. He has the potential to guard multiple positions and create turnovers while still providing enough size to battle bigger forwards.
BYU should be a really interesting environment for him. The college game will force him to make quicker decisions and become more efficient in the half court. If he puts everything together, Branch has the talent to quickly establish himself as one of the premier prospects in the 2027 class.
10. Stefan Joksimovic – SF/PG – Slovenia
Joksimovic might be one of the most fascinating players on this entire list because of his combination of size and feel for the game.
He’s essentially a jumbo playmaker who has the potential to initiate offense while possessing the size of a forward. Slovenian basketball has obviously produced some incredibly skilled perimeter players over the years, and Joksimovic fits that tradition with his advanced understanding of spacing, passing angles and offensive timing.
He’s comfortable with the ball in his hands and shows flashes of being able to operate as a primary creator. At his size, that immediately makes him a difficult match-up. Smaller defenders can struggle with his length while bigger defenders can have trouble staying in front of him.
He’s still a long way from being a finished product. Developing his explosiveness, strength, shooting consistency and defensive impact will determine whether he becomes a true high-level NBA prospect or more of a skilled complementary player.
The Big Picture
The biggest takeaway for me is just how much size and versatility there is in this next wave of NBA talent.
Stokes and Smith look like potential stars at the top of the 2027 class, while Boumtje Boumtje, Rosser, Kusturica, Spears and Black give the 2028 draft a lot of talent at the top. And there will inevitably be players we aren’t talking about yet who explode onto the scene over the next couple of years.
I wouldn’t put any of these guys in the Wemby or LeBron category right now but you don’t need a generational prospect to have a great draft class.
If the development goes right, I think we’re looking at a group that could produce multiple All-Stars, some All-NBA players and potentially one or two players who eventually establish themselves among the very best players in the league.
Here’s my full 2027 NBA Mock Draft and 2028 NBA Mock Draft
Thanks so much for reading!