Ahead of the 2026 NBA draft, Jeremy Woo and Tim Bontemps and ESPN interviewed over a dozen NBA scouts and executives to get their thoughts on the top prospects in this year’s class. There’s no consensus No. 1 overall pick, but most of the league personnel who spoke to ESPN viewed BYU forward AJ Dybantsa as the frontrunner.
“I guess you’d rather fail with [AJ] and his upside, than not,” a Western Conference general manager told ESPN. “And I know [Darryn] Peterson has upside, maybe [Cameron] Boozer‘s upside is a little bit less. … I just think that [AJ], because he’s 6-9 and he could be like 6-10, 230 [pounds] by the time he’s 25 years old, he could just be a monster. I think you’ve just got to go down swinging with him if you go down.”
Another Western executive said the impressive depth of talent, combined with no clear-cut No. 1 player, has created a challenging situation for NBA evaluators.
“I think this draft is, in some ways, similar to the [2024 Zaccharie] Risacher year, but on a higher level,” they said. “That year it was like, ‘Is anyone going to be really good?’ This year, it’s like, ‘Well, s–t, there’s a lot of guys.’ You have high confidence that at least some of them are going to be really, really good. You’re not really sure which ones.
“You don’t want to be drafting at one and end up with the fifth-best player.”
ESPN’s article touches on several other players projected to go in the top 10, including Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler.
Here are a few players who are entering their names in the 2026 draft:
- Kansas’ Flory Bidunga plans to declare for the draft while maintaining his college eligibility, reports Pete Thamel of ESPN (via Twitter). The sophomore big man is also entering the transfer portal, Thamel adds. Bidunga is viewed as a potential second-round pick after averaging 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 35 games this season for the Jayhawks. The Congolese forward/center was named the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year on top of being selected to the conference’s first team.
- Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. is testing the draft waters, he announced on social media (Twitter link). As a sophomore for the Buckeyes in 2025/26, Mobley averaged 15.7 PPG, 2.8 and 2.4 APG in 31 appearances while shooting 41.1% from three-point range on high volume (7.6 attempts per game). The Ohio native, who is from a Columbus suburb, clarified that he’ll return to Ohio State if he ends up withdrawing from the draft.
- Butler guard Finley Bizjack is entering the draft while maintaining his NCAA eligibility, agent George S. Langberg tells Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress (Twitter link). Bizjack, a junior, is also entering the transfer portal. The third-team All-Big East selection averaged 17.1 PPG, 2.5 APG and 2.1 RPG on .426/.351/.850 shooting splits across 31 appearances for the Bulldogs in ’25/26.
This year is exactly like the Risacher year only the exact opposite. Brilliant insight.
AJ is definitely number one without a doubt. His size separates him and he just looks like the sky is the limit.
I’m down on Boozer big time. How many times did he go up underneath the rim and get his s-yit blocked by two guys? I think it happened at least three times last weekend.
So he’s sort of like his father. Limited athleticism and slow. Cameron better develop that 18 foot mid range if he’s gonna get anywhere in the next level.
Hard to believe he’s ranked among the top 4. His passing is good but it’s not that good lol.
I say Boozer slips from top 4 down to whatever…, 8 ?
That bad pass is going to bother his brother and every Duke forever along with Evans watching Mullins shoot in his face. Poor Caiden or whatever his little brothers name is. Younger big bro is going to hate him forever jk
@Gary
That’s a super lazy comparison to be honest. His dad came into the league as a junior. Cam is a freshman. His dad was a traditional back to the basket player. Limited by still a guy with a could of all star appearances and 20/10 seasons. He never attempted a 3 in his entire college career and very seldom in the nba. Cam shot damn near 50/40/80. He also averaged over 22/10/4. He led his team in all 3 categories and to be real, the rest of the cast wasn’t that impressive compared to last years Duke squad that had the entire starting 5 drafted including 3 (Flagg, Knueppel and Malauch) in the lottery’s first 14. The Duke team didn’t have a lot of spacing. You put him on an nba team that can hopefully offer some shooting then he’s operating in space where he can take it to the post should he choose or shoot from the perimeter. Lots of Duke players usually see their games play up in the nba why a better pace, shot creation and better spacing. But even if his floor was his father’s that’s still a SF/PF with a few 20/10 years. If you can draft a guy like that it’s still a win.
KnicksCavsFan, that’s a great breakdown and I appreciate the discussion. Spacing is a very important point to bring up and I forget about that often.
I’m going with the eye test and I think he’s a very good college player who will need some work to have similar impact in the NBA (starting spot, 22/10/4 and 50/40/80.)
Remember his dad was a 2nd round pick and worked hard to become a “couple of time All-Star.”
I don’t think Cameron Boozer is a top 4 prospect. I think he slips down to number 8 or so?
So sure you’re right he could be a nice addition to your team but just not a top 4 pick in my opinion. You’d be better off picking one of those dynamic guards in the top seven instead.
You really should look up his stats before you post. Boozer is a high IQ player. And is the most NBA ready of any top pick.
56% FG, 39% 3pt, 62% 2pt, 80% FT
In 33.4 mins he puts up 22.5 pts, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 ast, 1.4 stl. This when everyone knows he is the number one option. He is a PF that can play on perimeter. Not many of those around. He is not physically gifted. Neither was Steph. But he works and wants to be better. Easily could develop into best player in draft. AJ looks more gifted. Ut he is raw and yrs away. Eeds good coaching. Kings would be smart to take Boozer and build around a young front line. Murray, Boozer, Raynaud. Trade Sabonis for picks and young players. I would rather have Sabonis than Towns on Knicks. I doubt Knicks would do it. Boozer is for real lol.
Utah needs to get Boozer
Trade Lauri, Kessler if possible and JJJ to get Boozer, Donavan Clingan and whatever
Resign Clarkson and Love
Rebuild is done and go for the playoffs for a young team
Kings need someone who 22-23 years old
@Luke
Haha.. you’re insane. Why would they WANT to trade Lauri, JJ (who they just acquired) and Kessler???
do you know how good Utah could be next year?
I mean, off the top of my head
Guards:
George/Collier/Williams
Wings: Bailey/Sensabaugh/Markannen (excelled at SF playing alongside Mobley and Allen in Cleveland).
Bigs: Jackson/Kessler/Filipowski (on fire last few games looking like a young Kevin Love).
FA: Love and Nurkic
Assets: Tons of cap space, a top 5 pic this year and a bunch of 1st round picks over the next 4 seasons.
The Jazz at in am enviable posi to be king makes this offseason. They can trade from a depth of good young and cheap players ready to plug and play. They can sign and trade Kessler for something of need. They can offer Kyle Filipowski who’s been a 20/10 guy against good teams the last two weeks and is only owed 2/$6 mil the next couple of years. He could be a huge fit for any team in need of a big butt with little cap room.
I think with the anti tanking sentiment going on Utah will make an effort to compete next year and i could see them cracking. 500 next year.
Even with my idea they will be going to the playoffs. Honestly they would resign or let Kessler walk because his contract is up plus the injury
Trading Lauri and JJJ for Boozer and Clingan. Keeping everyone else
PG. George, I Collier, Harkless
SG. C Williams, Clarkson, Konchar
SF. Bailey, Sensabaugh, Mykhailiuk
PF. Boozer, Tshiebwe, Love
C . Clingin, Filipowski, Nurkic
Plus some two way guys and that looks better than random 28 year olds with the young guys. Hopefully Boozer can adjust fast
That’s looks better and gives Lauri a chance somewhere else to win. This gives you a young core 1-5. Clarkson and Love as veterans. They can still go to the playoffs but need to perform together
When there are a bunch of guys who could be All-NBA, you don’t go for someone because he is NBA-ready.
It depends where the pick lands. If it’s a top pick then yes you are right. Yaxel would be nice next to Raynaud. If they want to rebuild then yes draft young and trade the team for picks and junk. AJ and Raynaud are on two different timeliness
Bunch of guys huh, all nba. I doubt that. Yet you don’t think Boozer is one. He is the closest to all nba right now.
What kind of last name is Bizjack?
PSawyi, it’s Irish Romanian.