2026 NBA mock draft – 4 gamers within the race for No. 1 choose

With Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and the remainder of the 2025 class off to the NBA, we are able to shift our consideration to the 2026 draft.

We have been scouting these gamers for fairly a while, publishing our first mock draft in February. And there is appreciable pleasure across the high of the 2026 class, with some league executives saying that the highest 5 has historic star energy. Darryn Peterson, A.J. Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer and Nate Ament are potential franchise-caliber gamers.

Over the previous few years, we have watched one of the best prospects of the category mature, and we usually have a reasonably correct understanding of the highest of the category; our June 2024 prediction of the 2025 draft precisely recognized 4 of the highest 5 gamers drafted and 6 of the primary eight, a pattern that has traditionally held true.

The variety of 2025 school and worldwide prospects who didn’t enter the draft, or withdrew on the deadline — as much as two dozen prospects on our high 100 huge board — has created uncommon depth in our early first- and second-round projections for the 2026 draft.

Groups nonetheless have so much to study the remainder of the lottery and first spherical — this isn’t thought-about a deep highschool senior class enrolling in school — and this isn’t probably the most thrilling 2007-born group of worldwide gamers who’re about to turn into NBA draft-eligible for the primary time.

Yearly, we see loads of lesser-known gamers rise through the school season — for instance, Cedric Coward, Nique Clifford, Walter Clayton Jr. or Danny Wolf on this previous draft cycle.

That is the enjoyable a part of draft projections. Nobody actually is aware of when or the place gamers will emerge, protecting NBA scouts on their toes.

Who’s No. 1 in 2026 and why?

There are 4 robust No. 1 choose candidates — Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer and Ament — though most NBA groups assume it might be tough, however not unattainable, to usurp Peterson and Dybantsa as the highest two gamers, barring a significant shock.

We obtained a protracted have a look at every of those 4 and others on the Chipotle Nationals, Nike Hoop Summit and McDonald’s All-American occasions in April, in addition to the USA Basketball U19 coaching camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in June.

Peterson earned his spot at No. 1 by way of an outstanding ultimate season of highschool basketball at Prolific Prep in Napa, California, the place he proved tough to protect within the open courtroom. He can change speeds out of the pick-and-roll, stand up for deep pull-up 3-pointers and end with explosiveness across the basket.

He’s additionally displaying important progress as a passer and defender, and Kansas coach Invoice Self will seemingly hand the 6-foot-6 Peterson the keys to the offense, giving him a super platform to solidify his standing atop the draft within the extremely aggressive Huge 12.

Dybantsa, as soon as thought-about a lock at No. 1 earlier than a considerably disappointing highschool senior season, had a surprising efficiency on the USA Basketball U19 coaching camp a couple of weeks in the past in Colorado Springs. Trying as eager to create offense for others as we have seen in a while, Dybantsa was a devastating pressure in transition and locking down level guards by way of energy forwards with a mix of physicality and depth hardly ever seen from an 18-year-old.

He scored at will and likewise made a plethora of high-level reads within the pick-and-roll, with pocket passes or lobs that illustrate important enchancment together with his decision-making and unselfishness.

This model of Dybantsa is sort of a lock to emerge because the No. 1 choose, so the same efficiency on the FIBA U19 World Cup and as a freshman at BYU will trigger us to rethink our projected order, relying additionally on how Peterson appears to be like.

Boozer cannot be dominated out on the high of this draft both, after his distinctive efficiency on the Nike Hoop Summit in April. He carried USA Basketball to a tricky extra time win in opposition to the World Group with 22 factors, 16 rebounds and 6 assists, anchoring his crew’s protection and displaying his phenomenal really feel for the sport. Nonetheless, NBA executives criticize Boozer as an early bloomer bodily who is not blessed with nice explosiveness and depends too closely on bully-ball performs inside.

He’ll need to maintain making pictures constantly, and display his passing and defensive versatility to silence these critics. We’re anticipating a Cooper Flagg-type season from him at Duke that can shock his naysayers.

Ament is a late addition to the No. 1 choose dialog and the furthest away of the 4 from reaching his potential — in no small half as a result of he weighs 186 kilos. However ultra-talented 6-foot-11 wings together with his fluidity, shotmaking prowess, defensive versatility and scoring means are sometimes deemed franchise-type prospects.

There have been loads of NBA executives who walked out of the McDonald’s All-American recreation in April and stated Ament has All-Star potential. After beginning follow at Tennessee on June 17, Ament seems to be including weight and shall be in a featured function within the SEC, giving him each alternative to make his case as a shock No. 1 candidate. — Givony

Who’re the highest returning prospects to look at?

Although the vast majority of our early projected first-rounders are rising freshmen or international-based gamers, 11 of the highest 30 are returning to the NCAA — most of whom went by way of the predraft course of this spring and stayed in school. Listed below are highlights of a few of the high gamers NBA groups are evaluating:

Quaintance was 17 years outdated for all of his freshman season at Arizona State, and ineligible to enter this 12 months’s draft. NBA groups have been paying shut consideration all through, drawn to his glorious bodily profile and flashes of expertise as a dunker and inside finisher. Contemplating he might have been a junior in highschool, his large shot-blocking numbers (2.6 per recreation) have been notably eye-popping.

Whereas Quaintaince is kind of uncooked from a ability perspective, notably his leap shot, and has so much to be taught together with his total method and skill to course of the ground, his excessive youth for the school stage earns him good thing about the doubt, and NBA scouts shall be wanting to see whether or not he can take one other step ahead after transferring to Kentucky. He’ll have a significant platform there to try to solidify himself as a lottery expertise, however there’s lots of refinement that has to occur earlier than he is NBA-ready.

How shortly he returns after his ACL surgery in March shall be an element to look at. — Woo

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Jayden Quaintance throws down a giant dunk

Jayden Quaintance will get the ball and finishes with a two-handed slam

Lendeborg broke out final season at UAB and can switch to Michigan, the place an enormous function and profitable NIL deal await after he thought-about coming into the 2025 draft. He had constructive flashes on the mix, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to earn him a first-round assurance. The Wolverines have misplaced fairly a little bit of frontcourt manufacturing, with first-rounder Danny Wolf (No. 27) and Vladislav Goldin off to the professionals, permitting Lendeborg to assist himself in the identical method.

A late-blooming prospect with a mixture of offensive ability, defensive playmaking and glorious size, anticipate Lendeborg to determine prominently for Michigan. — Woo

Stirtz had begun trending upward in an actual method with NBA scouts in March, the place he performed nicely within the NCAA match and drew first-round buzz. Contemplating the momentum he constructed, it was a shock to see him utterly forgo the predraft course of this spring.

As an alternative, Stirtz will observe Ben McCollum, his coach at Drake and Division II Northwest Missouri State earlier than that, to Iowa, the place he may have the keys to the offense and a platform to additional show himself within the Huge Ten. He is a terrific playmaker who figures to be among the many high guards within the nation. — Woo

Evans was a five-star recruit who by no means totally broke by way of at Duke final season, enjoying a small function on an excellent crew and deciding to return. A fringe sharpshooter with a slender construct, Evans will presumably step into extra pictures on a new-look Blue Devils crew and have a possibility to present NBA groups a a lot better have a look at what he can do.

His limitations as a decision-maker and defender made it tough to earn constant enjoying time final season, and Evans has to enhance in each areas to solidify himself as a first-rounder a 12 months from now. His shotmaking means is a legit NBA calling card, however he’ll have work to do to win over scouts. — Woo

Pettiford stood out on the primary day of the NBA mix, and although he did not do sufficient to safe the first-round stability he sought, he reminded scouts of his expertise as he returns to Auburn. He ought to have the liberty to function subsequent season, with the Tigers vacating a large chunk of backcourt minutes.

Pettiford’s scoring means and explosiveness give him an opportunity to succeed as an undersized guard, however NBA groups need him to develop his playmaking and enhance defensively. His dimension — 6-foot-1, 175 kilos — initiatives him as a set off the bench. Nonetheless, if Pettiford may help reframe the dialog about his upside, he might land within the first spherical. — Woo

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Duke commit Cameron Boozer and BYU commit A.J. Dybantsa commerce buckets within the second quarter.

Duke commit Cameron Boozer and BYU commit A.J. Dybantsa commerce buckets within the second quarter.

2026 NBA mock draft: Prime 10 picks

Darryn Peterson, PG/SG, 6-6, Age: 18.4
Freshman, Kansas

Peterson was one of the best participant in highschool final season, possessing a coveted mixture of dimension, size, explosiveness and shot creation. He is a succesful passer with robust defensive playmaking means, and scoring expertise.

Headed to play for Self, Peterson would be the centerpiece of a Kansas roster constructed round his dynamic offense, giving him each alternative to solidify his standing because the No. 1 prospect in subsequent 12 months’s draft. — Givony

Word: Prime-8 protected, will go to the New York Knicks if the choose is 9 by way of 30.

A.J. Dybantsa, SG/SF, 6-9, Age: 18.4
Freshman, BYU

Dybantsa has stuffed up the stat sheet in every single place he has performed, however he did not have an awesome season final 12 months at Utah Prep.

He regarded higher on the USA Basketball U19 World Cup in June, the place he performed extra effectively and dominated each ends. Each NBA crew is trying to find 6-9 wings in Dybantsa’s mould who can rating from anyplace, cross on the transfer and defend a number of positions.

He is already enrolled at BYU, the place he’ll have the keys to the offense and the chance to indicate he is worthy of being the No. 1 choose — a course of that may start this upcoming week on the FIBA U19 World Cup. — Givony

Cameron Boozer, PF, 6-9, Age: 17.9
Freshman, Duke

Boozer is without doubt one of the best highschool gamers we have ever seen, with a successful résumé unmatched by any prospect in current reminiscence. He has an elite really feel for the sport, and may deal with, cross, shoot and guard each place.

He brings relentless physicality, crashes the glass and takes pleasure in dominating his matchups inside. His outdoors taking pictures has considerably improved previously 12 months, as nicely. Boozer’s first-year manufacturing might rival Cooper Flagg‘s, which might clearly set him up as a official candidate for Nationwide Participant of the 12 months honors, even when some NBA executives query his long-term upside. — Givony

Word: Prime-8 protected, will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder if the choose is 9 by way of 30.

Nate Ament, SF, 6-11, Age: 18.5
Freshman, Tennessee

A late bloomer, Ament has grown considerably previously 12 months, filling out his body at 6-foot-11.

He is an incredible shotmaker, has improved his passing and defensive versatility, and his means to get a shot off nearly at will provides him maybe the best upside of any prospect on this class. He’ll be a focus at Tennessee, permitting NBA groups to judge whether or not he can emerge as a constantly environment friendly, successful participant in a difficult SEC. — Givony

Mikel Brown Jr., PG, 6-4, Age: 18.8
Dedicated to Louisville

Rising from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-4 all through his highschool profession, Brown has proven dynamic scoring instincts and expertise as a ball handler, passer and outdoors shooter.

Brown, who’s 176 kilos, is inconsistent as a finisher, defender and decision-maker, however his means to deal with the physicality of the school recreation on each ends of the ground will play a major function in his productiveness as a freshman at Louisville. — Givony

Jayden Quaintance, PF/C, 6-10, Age: 17.9
Sophomore, Kentucky

Youthful than a number of extremely touted rising highschool seniors, Quaintance had a extremely productive freshman season at Arizona State, rating as probably the greatest shot blockers in school basketball.

He has a chiseled body, large fingers, a 7-foot-5 wingspan and is exceptionally cell. NBA groups shall be monitoring how he bounces again from the ACL surgical procedure he had in March, and that may require a slower begin at Kentucky. — Givony

Karim Lopez, SF/PF, 6-9, Age: 18.2
New Zealand Breakers (NBL)

Lopez had an impressive season with the New Zealand Breakers as a part of the NBL Subsequent Star program, displaying important enchancment together with his outdoors taking pictures. At 6-foot-9, he has guard abilities, and the physicality and motor wanted to defend huge males.

Scouts are excited to see his potential progress in his second season within the Australian league, the place he’ll seemingly be requested to step into an even bigger function. — Givony

8. Atlanta Hawks (by way of New Orleans)

Caleb Wilson, PF, 6-9, Age: 18.9
Freshman, North Carolina

At 6-foot-9, Wilson appears to be like the half with an impressive body, size and creating two-way versatility that might be harnessed into a really intriguing package deal long run. He can push off the defensive glass and cross on the transfer.

Wilson’s depth stage and outdoors taking pictures want work, however he has attributes you’ll be able to’t train and is loaded with long-term upside. — Givony

Dame Sarr, SG/SF, 19.0
Freshman, Duke

Sarr is seeking to observe within the footsteps of Kasparas Jakucionis and Egor Demin as extremely touted worldwide prospects, departing the Spanish growth system to pursue school basketball on a revamped Duke squad.

The 6-foot-8 wing is a flexible defender who has proven intriguing flashes as a fringe shooter, passer and shot creator within the Euroleague and ACB final 12 months, however remains to be unpolished in a number of areas, together with his decision-making. — Givony

Sprint Daniels, SG, 6-6, Age: 17.5
Melbourne United (NBL)

Daniels will seemingly be the youngest prospect within the 2026 draft class — turning 18 in mid-December — making it tough to undertaking how he’ll deal with the pains of the Australian NBL subsequent season. He brings lots of the similar strengths and weaknesses as his brother Dyson (Hawks guard), however is greater, stronger and longer on the similar age, which will not damage his NBA projection.

Much like his brother, he is an impressive defender and a piece in progress as a ball handler, shooter and scorer, however he has a powerful really feel for the sport, and performs with tempo and unselfishness. He seems to be making strides together with his taking pictures, too, based mostly on what he has proven this summer season within the NBL1 league with the Sandringham Sabres. — Givony

Remaining huge board for the category of 2026

11. Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston, freshman
12. Darius Acuff, PG, Arkansas, freshman
13. Nikolas Khamenia, SF/PF, Duke, freshman
14. Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, Michigan, tremendous senior
15. Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa, senior
16. Isaiah Evans, SG/SF, Duke, sophomore
17. Sergio De Larrea, PG/SG, Valencia (Spain)
18. Koa Peat, PF, Arizona, freshman
19. Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn, freshman
20. Tahaad Pettiford, PG, Auburn, sophomore
21. Joseph Tugler, PF/C, Houston, junior
22. Aday Mara, C, Michigan, junior
23. Tounde Yessoufou, SF/PF, Baylor, freshman
24. Andrej Kostic, SG, Kansas State, freshman
25. Ognjen Srzentic, SG/SF, Mega Superbet (Serbia)
26. Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington, freshman
27. Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona, junior
28. Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama, sophomore
29. Alex Condon, C, Florida, junior
30. Braden Smith, PG, Purdue, senior
31. Boogie Fland, PG, Florida, sophomore
32. Karter Knox, SG/SF, Arkansas, sophomore
33. Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan, sophomore
34. Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s, senior
35. Alex Karaban, PF, Connecticut, senior
36. Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas, junior
37. JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech, junior
38. Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke, sophomore
39. Miles Byrd, SG, San Diego St, junior
40. Thomas Haugh, SF/PF, Florida, junior
41. Darrion Williams, SF/PF, NC State, senior
42. Derrion Reid, SF/PF, Oklahoma, sophomore
43. Moustapha Thiam, C, Cincinnati, sophomore
44. Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina, junior
45. Andrej Stojakovic, SG/SF, Illinois, junior
46. Kam Williams, SF/PF, Kentucky, sophomore
47. Ian Jackson, SG, St. John’s, sophomore
48. Tomislav Ivisic, C, Illinois, junior
49. Mackenzie Mgbako, PF, Texas A&M, junior
50. Milos Uzan, PG, Houston, senior
51. Wesley Yates III, SG, Washington, junior
52. Ryan Conwell, SG, Louisville, senior
53. Nolan Winter, C, Wisconsin, junior
54. Magoon Gwath, C, San Diego St, sophomore
55. Donnie Freeman, PF, Syracuse, sophomore
56. Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas, sophomore
57. Kwame Evans Jr., PF, Oregon, junior
58. Tobi Lawal, PF, Virginia Tech, senior
59. Richie Saunders, SG, BYU, senior
60. Zvonimir Ivisic, PF/C, Illinois, junior