BYU’s NCAA tournament journey hit a roadblock as the West’s No. 6 seed fell to No. 11 Texas. Despite the early exit, forward AJ Dybantsa made quite the impression, scoring 35 of his team’s 71 points, keeping his draft stock sky-high.
AJ Dybantsa is emerging as a potential No. 1 overall pick this June, thanks to some concerns over Kansas guard Darryn Peterson’s health during his freshman year and questions about Cameron Boozer’s athletic ceiling in the NBA.
Peterson and Boozer remain top-three prospects alongside Dybantsa, with some teams eyeing Boozer as a perfect fit for the Pacers if they secure the top pick. Meanwhile, UNC’s Caleb Wilson is gaining traction as a top-tier prospect. Despite his season-ending hand and thumb injuries, Wilson’s being compared to the likes of Chris Bosh and Evan Mobley, and his draft standing remains solid.
An NBA general manager noted, “I don’t think anyone is taking Wilson No. 1 overall, but I think every team is going to have him above one of those other three guys.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 NBA draft, an Eastern Conference scout predicts a lottery filled with freshmen, highlighting the draft’s rich backcourt talent. This class is drawing comparisons to the 2018 group featuring Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and even the 2008 class led by Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.
The depth of the 2026 draft is impressive, with one veteran scout suggesting the team with the No. 1 pick might consider trading down to maximize value. Multiple executives believe there could be lottery-level talent available in the 20s and NBA-ready players in the second round. A Western Conference scout speculated, “This might be a draft where more guys are getting guaranteed (NBA contracts) in the second round.”
While the lottery is expected to be dominated by college freshmen, several upperclassmen are catching the eye of NBA teams for later picks. Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Michigan’s Aday Mara, Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, and Texas’ Dailyn Swain are among the intriguing juniors and seniors.
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner, Purdue guard Braden Smith, and Santa Clara forward Allen Graves are also generating buzz among NBA evaluators, with Tanner and Graves particularly standing out in analytics circles.