The 2027 NBA Draft is already shaping up to be a race at the top, and while the guard and wing group is drawing plenty of attention, a few big men are pushing their way into the conversation.
One of the most established names in that mix is Arizona’s Ivan Krivas. Entering his fourth season with the Wildcats, the 7-foot-2, 260-pound rising senior brings the kind of sheer size NBA teams always notice.
As a junior, he averaged 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 56.9% from the field. Krivas was also a major piece of Arizona’s Final Four run in 2026, and with Brayden Burries and Koa Peat off to the 2026 NBA Draft, the Wildcats are expected to lean heavily on him during the 2026-27 season.
Another strong year could put him in position to be a top-10 pick.
Kentucky’s Jayden Moreno is another big who has already put himself on the radar. He tested the 2026 NBA Draft waters before deciding to return to the Wildcats, and his measurements at the NBA Combine helped underline why scouts are paying attention.
Moreno came in at 6-foot-11-and-a-quarter without shoes, weighed 242 pounds and posted a 7-foot-1-and-a-half wingspan. As a freshman, he averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 58.2% from the field.
His defensive ability stands out, and if he takes another step as a sophomore, he could work his way into first-round territory in 2027.
Then there’s Duke freshman Cameron Williams, one of the most talked-about recruits in the 2026 class. 247Sports ranked him No. 4 overall and the nation’s No. 1 power forward, and he arrives in Durham at 7-feet tall and 215 pounds.
Duke already has other big men with draft buzz on the roster, but Williams has the kind of profile that could make him a premier name in the 2027 draft if everything clicks. His mobility and athleticism give him real value as a finisher and defender, and if he earns rotation minutes and shows those traits early, he should be a coveted prospect in the next class.
In Other News...
Duke Opens Title Defense With An Early Doubt Fans Will Notice
Dukes title defense is already starting from an unexpected place in the preseason conversation. The 2026 US LBM College Football Coaches Poll came out with the Blue Devils collecting six points and missing the Top 25, even after a breakthrough run that ended with the program as the reigning ACC champion. Around the league, Miami, SMU and Clemson were the ACC teams to land in the preseason rankings.
For Manny Diaz, that only adds another layer to a season that already comes with plenty of attention. Duke returns 10 starters from last years team, which should give the Blue Devils a solid base as they begin the work of defending a crown few outside Durham seem eager to hand them again. The poll may not matter in the standings, but it is the kind of early slight that tends to stick with a team once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Sophomores Give Blue Devils Track Fans A Reason To Be Proud
For Duke track and field, the calendar has turned into an international showcase. Sophomores Soheib Dissa and Eli Fitchen-Young are both set to compete at the World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field from Aug. 5-9, giving the Blue Devils a pair of young runners with a chance to measure themselves against the best under-20 talent in the world.
Dissa will represent Algeria, with the steeplechase and 1,500 meters among his specialties, while Fitchen-Young will race for the United States in middle-distance events. Both arrived in Durham with momentum and backed it up with notable freshman seasons, which makes this next step feel like more than just a summer trip. For Duke, it is another sign that its younger runners are already earning attention well beyond the ACC. [Read more 🡒]
Jon Scheyer Just Got A Huge Recruiting Opportunity At Duke
A major recruiting board just shifted in Dukes favor with AJ Williams, once regarded as the No. 1 player in the 2028 class, now moving up a cycle and putting himself on the 2027 market. The versatile guard has already piled up 25 offers from top programs, and his early status has made him one of the most closely watched names in the country for schools trying to get in front of the next elite wave.
For Jon Scheyer, the timing matters. Duke had already identified Williams as a priority target and extended an offer, and the reclassification only sharpens the Blue Devils chance to make a stronger push while the recruiting race is still taking shape. With so many high-major programs circling, Duke will have to stay aggressive if it wants to turn early interest into real momentum. [Read more 🡒]