The 2026 NBA Draft was always destined to be one of the strongest in recent memory. Even after Cooper Flagg skipped a year of high school to enter the NBA one season earlier than his top-ranked peers, the national recruiting class of 2025 has long looked absolutely loaded with a legendary top-3 and some really intriguing prospects behind them.
It remains very, very early in the college basketball season, but so far this year’s freshman class isn’t just living up to the hype, it’s exceeding it. The top-three of Duke forward Cameron Boozer, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and BYU wing A.J. Dybantsa are all off to promising starts, and the players projected just below them have been even better than expected. Louisville point guard Mikel Brown Jr., North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, Tennessee wing Nate Ament, and Arizona forward Koa Peat have hit the ground running in their college hoops debuts, while returning players like Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz, Alabama guard Labaron Philon, and Florida forward Thomas Haugh are each taking a step up to solidify themselves as bonafide first-round picks.
At the moment, the strength of this class are threes and fours, while the big man group looks like the weakest position. So much will change between now and March, but it’s never too early to check in with how a draft class is shaping up. There’s already a lot of movement from our preseason board published the day after the 2025 draft. I didn’t really factor team needs into this, and it’s mostly just a snapshot of how I view the best players in this draft class right now. Here’s how we see the 2026 NBA Draft playing out midway through November.
1. Indiana Pacers – Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
Boozer was my preseason No. 1, and it’s still too early to change my mind. Read a longer breakdown of what makes Boozer a special prospect here. In short, Duke’s latest freshman phenom combines power, skill, and elite basketball-IQ to make winning plays all over the floor. I think Boozer has something close to a supercomputer brain that he uses to consistently find advantages in the halfcourt. He can play bully ball with his 250-pound frame just as easily as he can drive-and-kick or sink a three-pointer. He’s going to be a high level passer as a halfcourt hub, and he’s showing he knows how to avoid turnovers. Boozer is going to be a major plus in transition with his outlet passing and his rumbles to the rim. He’s doesn’t wow you with size or athleticism, but he’s solid enough in both areas while also being one of younger players in the class with plenty of room for development. His defense is more of a question mark, and it’s likely he doesn’t sniff No. 1 without a super hot shooting season which hasn’t happened yet. Maybe Darryn Peterson is destined to be the first pick regardless of which team wins the lottery, but I still give Boozer the slightest of edges in the race for No. 1. I’ll admit that it’s much more likely Boozer goes No. 3 than No. 1 in the actual draft, and I may move off this position eventually, but it’s still too early.
2. Washington Wizards – Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Peterson has a case as the best guard prospect of the ‘00s, and it’s possible he would still be the No. 1 pick if he never played another game for Kansas. There are so many things that make Peterson special, but the first thing that jumps out is there’s never been a guard this talented and productive offensively who also dominates defensively. On the offensive end, Peterson is a strong, long, and explosive combo guard with a tight handle, fantastic burst, and impressive shot-making ability from all three levels. He’s a self-created bucket waiting to happen, and his elite conditioning and mentality seems to wear down opponents over time. Peterson also wrecks havoc defensively with razor-sharp instincts, great hands, and a sixth-sense for forcing turnovers. He probably needs to develop into a higher volume three-point shooter or a truly unstoppable finisher to hit his highest-end outcomes, but his floor is super-high as a two-way menace, and his approach seems so pristine that he’ll continue getting better.
3. Atlanta Hawks – A.J. Dybantsa, F, BYU
It feels like Dybantsa was built in a lab to be a prototypical NBA wing with takeover scoring ability. At 6’9 with a 7-foot wingspan and a strong frame, Dybantsa is an explosive perimeter scorer who thrives attacking downhill and also has a history of shooting the ball well from three. Dybantsa isn’t as stiff as some of the previous tall wing scorers to go in the top-10 in recent years, showing great flexibility and bend on his drives to the rim. It’s really hard to stop him one-on-one with his length and explosion going to the basket, and he has enough craft to his game to keep defenses guessing on how he’ll get to the hoop. I’d like to see Dybantsa more engaged on the defensive end given his immense tools, and there’s still plenty of room for development as a playmaker. He can settle for jumpers a little too often, but he’s locked in, it’s a very difficult shot to contest. Dybantsa’s ultimate upside will come down to his shooting and defense, but there’s no doubt he has an excellent foundation to build on.
4. Brooklyn Nets – Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
I’ve been a fan of Wilson’s long-term upside the last two years, and he’s putting it all together right now at he start of his freshman season at North Carolina. At 6’10 with a 7’4 wingspan, Wilson has enormous defensive potential with his motor, length, and versatility. His ground coverage is such a weapon when combined with his seemingly endless fountain of energy, and watching him defend full court is art. His jump shot has always been shaky, but there’s plenty to work with offensively while it develops. Wilson can drop some great dimes with impressive passing vision, he’s a load to deal with on the offensive glass, and he has some scoring touch in the paint. The tools and the mentality are fantastic, and if the shot ever comes around, this could be an elite role player or perhaps something even greater.
5. Sacramento Kings – Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Ament is a tall and skinny wing with flashes of a dribble/pass/shoot skill set and an understanding of knowing how to use his length to force takeaways defensively. At 6’10 with a 7’1 wingspan, Ament is a more graceful offensive player than Wilson but doesn’t have the same strength, explosiveness, or energy. Ament likes to attack off the bounce, and he can create some decent scoring chances for himself with his funky strides, length, and mid-range scoring touch. He’s ahead of where Wilson is at as a shooter, but it’s not a consistent strength for Ament yet either. He not going to overwhelm anyone with his athleticism or power, and it makes his rim finishing on a Tennessee team without much spacing something to monitor. So far, he’s only made 6-of-16 rim attempts (37 percent) against a soft schedule, and it could get uglier in conference play. Ament should at least be solid defensively, and his touch from mid-range and the foul line is encouraging for the development of his three-point stroke. While a player like Dybantsa is in a great system to accentuate his scoring efficiency, that’s going to be an uphill battle for Ament with the Vols. If teams believe he can gain strength and improve as an outside shooter long-term, there’s enough to like here for a possible top-5 and almost certain top-10 pick.
6. Dallas Mavericks – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Brown is an older freshman who has hit the ground running at Louisville as the point guard of a team loaded with firepower. Brown isn’t the biggest guard — he’s listed between 6’5 and 6’3 with a skinny frame that lacks power — but his talent is obvious to see every time he touches the ball. He’s quick off the bounce with fantastic passing vision and the touch to deliver dimes on target from a variety of angles. Shooting might be his best skill right now with a quick trigger and deep range on pull-ups. His shot selection can be a bit concerning when his three-ball isn’t falling, but he’s showing that he’s able to punish switches against slower defenders. His passing gives him offensive utility even on cold shooting nights. Brown’s downhill scoring has looked really good so far, and could be the key to his draft stock. I want to see him cut down the turnovers and show that he should at least be neutral as a defender long-term. Brown will turn 20 years old on Final Four weekend if Louisville can make it that far, making him six months older than last year’s No. 7 pick Jeremiah Fears. Being old for the class could limit his upside a bit to NBA scouts. Brown’s body needs more development, but a quick point guard with deep pull-up shooting and awesome passing vision is likely a lock to be a top-10 pick with potential to push into the top-5.
7. Memphis Grizzlies – Hannes Steinbach, F/C, Washington
Steinbach parlayed excellent production in FIBA play and the German league into first round hype as he entered Washington this season. Listed at 6’11, he’s a powerfully-built big man who plays with arguably best-in-class physicality and can be a game-plan wrecker with his dominance on the glass. Steinbach is an elite rebounder on both ends of the floor, and his ability to gain extra possessions offensively and finish put-backs with power or skill is one of the standout strengths in the class. Steinbach also shows very good awareness on both ends of the floor and knows how to use his big body to his advantage. It feels like he’s a bit caught between positions without a reliable jump shot, which he hasn’t needed to this point but will still likely need to develop long-term. His transition rumbles to the basket and playmaking vision as a passer are a very real parts of the package. He’s likely to be a dominant college player for a freshman and have plenty of utility in the NBA as his skill catches up to his power.
8. Charlotte Hornets – Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky
Quaintance was one of the best defensive bigs in the country last season at Arizona State as a 17-year-old freshman. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL at the end of the season, which has delayed his sophomore debut after transferring to Kentucky. Quaintance is pretty short for an NBA center at 6’9, but his enormous 7’5 wingspan and powerful build makes him play much bigger than he is. He has good mobility for someone so long and strong, and both his verticality and hand-eye coordination as a shot-blocker are outstanding. The questions for Quaintance come on the offensive end, where he doesn’t really shoot threes, was sub-50 percent on free throws, and is still figuring out how to score around the basket. I do like Quaintance’s potential as a facilitator, but it would be nice to see him look better as a roller and dunker’s spot finisher this year. The offensive questions and injury could push him much lower than this on draft night, but a young big man this good defensively will always have appeal.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder – Koa Peat, F, Arizona
I’ve been a big fan of Peat dating back two years, but there was some concern that he matured physically earlier than his peers and wouldn’t have as much long-term upside once they caught up. His excellent debut against Florida quelled some of those concerns, when Peat exploded for 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals on 11-of-18 shooting from the floor. The burly 6’8, 230-pound freshman looked like a man among boys from day one on a college campus, showing bruising one-on-one scoring, mid-range shot-making touch, and some playmaking flashes. Peat can lower his shoulder on a drive and create room to score himself or kick out to teammates. He’s going to make an impact on the offensive glass, and he’s probably going to draw a lot of free throws from attacking smaller defenders. He’s more a play finisher than play creator right now, and he’s going to have to develop his perimeter shot which he’s been extremely reluctant to take so far. It will be interesting to monitor how nimble he is defensively getting over screens and guarding quicker players. I just like how much punishment Peat dishes out physically and I’m intrigued by his ability to extend advantages for someone this size, so that’s enough to stick him here at the start of the year.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder – Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Stirtz followed his head coach Ben McCollum from DII Northwest Missouri State to Drake to Iowa, and his dominance at every stop makes him a legitimate NBA prospect if he can keep it up with the Hawkeyes. He feels like the most well-rounded guard prospect in this class after Peterson, and he’s going to have every opportunity to prove it in a high-usage role against tough Big Ten competition this season. Stirtz is a fantastic pick-and-roll ball handler who effortlessly blends pacing, shot-making, and facilitating to poke holes in the opposing defense. He’s not the most explosive athlete, but still has enough burst to get to his spots and finish at the rim. He made a major leap as a three-point shooter at Drake and showed he can rip shots off the dribble with range when defenses go under screens. His passing vision and touch are both really sharp, and his hands are very good defensively even if he struggles to lock up on ball. It’s easy to doubt a 22-year-old fourth-year college guard as an NBA prospect, but Stirtz’s unusual development trajectory means he should get a longer leash in that regard, and I’d bet on his statistical profile looking pristine at the end of the season.
11. Portland Trail Blazers – Braylon Mullins, G, UConn
Mullins hasn’t debuted yet as he works his way back from an ankle injury, but he figures to be a perfect fit in Dan Hurley’s offense as a knockdown movement shooter with enough athleticism to punish openings in the paint. Mullins’ shooting will be his signature skill, and he chose the right program to help his off-ball game flourish. He’s not a super long or powerful athlete, but at 6’5 he has enough size to compete defensively. I’m excited to see how he looks attacking off the bounce and extending advantages when defenses close out hard on him. UConn is already rolling, and it feels like Mullins will be a plug-and-play fit as a freshman off-ball guard once he gets healthy.
12. Chicago Bulls – Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke
Ngongba was super productive in a small role on Duke’s Final Four team as a freshman, and he’ll get a chance to show he can scale up this season next to Cameron Boozer in the front court. At 6’11, 235 pounds with a 7’4 wingspan, Ngongba is a plus passer for the position, a dependable rebounder, a smart and versatile defender, and an efficient interior scorer. He’s not the bounciest athlete and he’s still in the early stages of developing as a three-point shooter, but he does the things you need a big man to do, and that should put him in contention for the first true center off the board.
13. Memphis Grizzlies – Neokis Avadalas, F, Virginia Tech
Avadalas earned an NBA draft combine invite last year for his play in the Greek league, but chose to go to college instead. It’s already proving to be a very smart decision. Avadalas’ breakout performance against Providence (33 points, six assists, five rebounds) to start the season went mega viral for his step-back threes, ball handling, and supersized playmaking. The 6’9 wing has excellent pacing with the ball in his hands to create open windows for himself and his teammates, and he has the size to shoot or pass over the top of any defender. There are star flashes of offensive ability when he’s really cooking, but he still lives on a tough shot-diet and needs to prove he can be efficient enough to demand so much usage. I like the flashes of Avadalas’ shot blocking and low-turnover decision-making, but want to see how it plays out against ACC competition before moving him higher.
14. Boston Celtics – Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
Cenac is still growing into his body and his game, but he has an intriguing combination of length, mobility, and skill to build on long-term. At 6’10 with a 7’3 wingspan, Cenac is a mobile big who can crash the glass and has shown plenty of shooting flashes in his prep tape. It feels like he picked the best possible program for his defensive development, as head coach Kelvin Sampson will hold him to a high standard of discipline, physicality, and mistake avoidance. The face-up skill set is promising, but scouts will want to see Cenac be better playing with force and finishing in the paint.
15. Miami Heat – Dame Sarr, F, Duke
It’s wild to think this Duke team could have Cedric Coward right now if NBA evaluators didn’t fall in love with him during the 2025 workout cycle. Duke tabbed Sarr to come over from Barcelona to be Coward’s replacement, and he’s already showing signs that he could be a potential lottery pick himself in 2026. Sarr has great dimensions for an NBA wing at nearly 6’8 with a 7-foot wingspan and impressive mobility and bounce around the rim. He’s shown flashes as a shooter and ball handler, but will need to prove himself in both areas this season. Sarr’s defense both on and off the ball will likely be his calling card early in his career, and he should be factor in transition, too. The demand for wings around the league should give Sarr a long leash to prove himself, and there’s certainly enough potential here with his defense, spot-up shooting, and close-out attacking to warrant first-round, one-and-done consideration.
16. Milwaukee Bucks – Tounde Yessoufou, G, Baylor
Yessoufou was a standout on the high school All-Star circuit who is unsurprisingly ready to play a role at the college level from day one given his fantastic physicality. A 6’5 off-ball guard with a jacked frame, Yessoufou gets after it defensively and should become one of the better point-of-attack stoppers in this class. He plays with a high motor and will make multiple efforts on a single possessions, and he can also swallow up smaller ball handlers or rim attackers with his big body. His offense remains a work in progress especially as a shooter, but he should make an impact as a transition scorer, offensive glass cleaner, and cutter. He has offensive questions to answer while going through the Big 12 gauntlet, but his defense and motor should be appealing regardless.
17. Charlotte Hornets – Elyjah Freeman, F, Auburn
Freeman was playing at DII Lincoln Memorial as a freshman before a dominant season put him on the map for NCAA powerhouses and NBA teams. Now at Auburn, Freeman is one of the more intriguing mystery men in college hoops as a long and athletic 6’8 wing with some spectacular flashes as a driver and finisher. If his reported 7’2 wingspan is confirmed, it would put him in rare air with other recent wing prospects. He made 45 percent of his threes on low volume (57 attempts in 31 games) and 80+ percent of his free throws last year in DII, but he’s been cold as a shooter to start this season. Freeman can wow you with his takes to the rim, showing long, graceful strides with eurosteps and deceleration mixed in. He should have plenty of defensive utility too with his length and mobility.
18. Philadelphia 76ers – Thomas Haugh, F, Florida
Haugh was a bench player on Florida’s national championship team, but his well-rounded skill set and defensive intensity should garner greater NBA interest this year. Haugh has a strong 6’9 frame with around a 7-foot wingspan, and he moves well for a player that size. He’s a determined defender who can hang with star scorers or make plays as a help defender off the ball, and he’ll be a contributor on the glass on both ends of the floor. He should be able to space the floor with a 34 percent three-point stroke and 79 percent mark from the foul line. Haugh may never be a big-time one-and-one scorer but he feels like the type of 3-and-D style role player teams covet, especially at this size.
19. Golden State Warriors – Aday Mara, C, Michigan
I had Mara as a top-10 pick in my very first 2024 NBA mock draft published the day after the 2023 draft as he was entering UCLA. After two forgettable years with the Bruins where he struggled to earn consistent minutes, Mara transferred to Michigan and has been regaining NBA interest. The sales pitch on Mara is his ridiculous combination of size (7’3), rim protection, and passing, which are all potentially standout traits. He’s limited athletically and won’t have much scheme versatility defensively. It’s also fair to wonder how much scoring punch he has with shaky touch away from the basket and a career 61 percent free throw stroke. In a deep Michigan front court, Mara should finally get to show his talent.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves – Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
Lopez has been a highly-touted prospect out of Mexico for years, and he’ll be under a microscope playing in the Australian league this season. He can have some awesome ball handling flashes for a 6’9 forward that help make for pretty drives to the rim at his best. Lopez will also get involved on the offensive glass with good bounce around the rim. I’m a little skeptical of his defense and shooting, but the size, athleticism, and ball skills could push him much higher than this come June.
21. Toronto Raptors – Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
Flemings is one of three McDonald’s All-Americans who enrolled at Houston over the offseason, and he might already be one of the most athletic point guards in college basketball. The 6’3 guard is super fast with the ball in his hands and a ridiculous leaper around the basket. Flemings will also win teams over with his passing, and his defensive projection should be good too after a year with Kelvin Sampson. His three-point shot will be a concern, but it’s encouraging that he’s already got a nice mid-range pull-up. He’ll be someone to monitor in Big 12 play.
22. Atlanta Hawks – Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
Anderson feels like he’s off to the races on a breakout sophomore season coming off a fantastic run in FIBA play for Germany (he’s an American but his father was born there). After acting as more of a secondary playmaker as a freshman, Anderson is getting more time on ball this season and flashing his live-dribble passing and pull-up shooting skills. He’s also been really good at avoiding mistakes as an offensive decision-maker, and being disruptive defensively despite his lack of size. Anderson is small and skinny for an NBA guard (his listed height of 6’3 seems generous), and he’s not exactly explosive attacking the rim. A bet on Anderson is simply a bet on a good basketball player.
23. San Antonio Spurs – Paul McNeil Jr., G, NC State
McNeil broke out late in his freshman season for NC State, and seems to be taking another leap this year as a sophomore playing for new head coach Will Wade. The 6’6 wing has a chance to be one of the best shooters and off-ball scorers in this class, showing a sweet stroke from three-point range and high-IQ relocation skills. McNeil has long arms and seems to show good awareness on both ends. He’s not a force attacking the rim yet, but the foundation is there for an NBA-caliber off-ball scorer.
24. New York Knicks – Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
Acuff is next in the long line of McDonald’s All-American guards who picked John Calipari to help them get to the NBA. Acuff’s size will be questioned at 6’2 or 6’3, but his strong frame and long arms gives him a decent enough physical profile for an NBA guard. He’s really good at getting downhill with a tight handle and good burst attacking the basket. He feels like more of a score-first guard at this point, but he shown nice touch on lobs and solid passing vision early in the season with Arkansas. Evaluators will want to see if Acuff can finish over length, hit pull-up jumpers, and hold his own defensively. The Razorbacks have been better with him off the floor early in the season, which will be interesting to monitor throughout the year.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
Philon was possibly the biggest surprise of last year’s draft withdrawal deadline, choosing to return to Alabama for his sophomore year at the last minute despite being projected as a possible first-rounder. The Crimson Tide play a loaded non-conference schedule this year, and Philon has already had some up (vs. St. John’s) and down (vs. Purdue) performances as he transitions from a secondary ball handler to Alabama’s primary. Philon stands out for his tight handle, short area burst, dialed in floater, and drive-and-kick ability. He will need to show he can be a better rim finisher than he was as a freshman, and any jump as a three-point shooter would be massive after only hitting 31.5 percent of this threes last year. The one thing Philon can’t improve on is his size. He’s going to be small for an NBA guard, and there’s no way around it. Still, he does enough well in the halfcourt and maximizes transition opportunities that he should still have plenty of fans come draft time.
26. Los Angeles Lakers – Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky
Moreno seems like a standard rim runner at first blush, but there’s more than meets the eye for his game upon closer inspection. The 6’11 big man can hammer dunks around the rim, but he’s also shown impressive decision-making and touch as a passer. He’s going to be a major factor on the glass with his athletic traits, but he’s still working on his defensive awareness. How Moreno’s role and skill set develops once Jayden Quaintance returns to Kentucky’s front court is something to monitor.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder – Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
Thomas fits the mold of a “walking bucket” who can get up three-pointers in a hurry, and he shows more defensive aptitude than many in his mold. The Arkansas freshman is among the high-major leaders in three-point volume so far this season, and he’s going to hit better than 32.4 percent eventually. Thomas could reign in his shot selection a little bit, especially because he looks pretty good making plays for teammates off the bounce. He looks competent enough defensively to avoid getting targeted on that end, and he can be thrilling in transition when he sees the open floor. He’s another player in this class who needs to add strength.
28. Denver Nuggets – Sergio De Larrea, G, Valencia Basket
De Larrea is a 6’5 point guard with impressive feel as a passer and an improved three-point shot. Spain liked him enough to put him on the national team roster at 19 years old, and he’s been off to a nice start in the top Spanish pro league when he’s gotten minutes. His playmaking is his best attribute, but he can have trouble with turnovers. So far this season he’s posting 64.3 percent true shooting, which is a very strong sign for his feel for the game and shooting touch. He turns 20 in Dec.
29. Detroit Pistons – Cameron Carr, F, Baylor
Carr has intriguing long-term attributes with a 7’2 wingspan, explosive two-foot leaping, and a pretty shooting stroke. He transferred to Baylor for his junior year this season after two lost years at Tennessee, and he’s again piquing NBA interest for his 3-and-D potential. Carr has ripped 52.9 percent of his threes in the very early season, and has already had a few highlight reel dunks and blocks playing above the rim. Carr is so skinny right now — listed at 175 pounds — that it’s fair to wonder how he’ll handle NBA physicality. The Big 12 is a grown man’s league, so it will be fun to monitor Carr against some high-profile opponents throughout the season.
30. Washington Wizards – Cayden Boozer, G, Duke
The other Boozer twin is six inches shorter, but still played a critical role in the helping build the most impressive resume of winning at the high school level in recent memory. The 6’3 guard is a high-level decision-maker and passer with the ball who looks to get others involved before hunting his own scoring opportunities. His ball pressure defensively is impressive, and he does a good job quickly pushing it up the floor in transition. Evaluators will want to see how his three-point shot and overall scoring punch looks.
