Since February, we have been closely following these players, and the excitement is palpable. League experts agree that the top five spots could be occupied by players with star potential. Darryn Peterson, A.J. Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Nate Ament are names that resonate strongly as potential franchise players.<\/p>\n\nIn recent years, we have witnessed the evolution of top prospects, and our predictions are usually accurate. In fact, in June 2024, we correctly anticipated four of the top five players selected in the 2025 draft, and six of the top eight. This track record of accuracy gives us confidence when analyzing the current landscape.\nThe unexpected number of players from the 2025 college and international classes who did not declare for the draft, or who withdrew before the deadline, has created unusual depth in our early first and second round projections for the 2026 draft.\nHowever, there is still much to discover about the rest of the players who could be selected in the lottery and in the first round. This is not expected to be a class of outstanding high school seniors, nor is the group of international players born in 2007, who will soon be eligible for the NBA draft, considered the most exciting.\nEach year, lesser-known players emerge who stand out during the college season, such as Cedric Coward, Nique Clifford, Walter Clayton Jr. or Danny Wolf in the previous draft cycle.\nThe excitement of draft projections lies in uncertainty. Nobody knows for sure when or where these stars will emerge, which keeps NBA scouts on high alert.\n\nThe 2026 NBA draft could be headed by several outstanding players, including Nate Ament, Darryn Peterson, A.J. Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer.<\/strong>\n\n There were many NBA executives who came out of the McDonald’s All American Game in April and said that Ament has All-Star potential. After starting training in Tennessee on June 17, Ament seems to be gaining weight and will have a prominent role in the SEC, which will give him every opportunity to justify his surprise candidacy for number one.<\/p>\n\nHere’s a look at the top returning prospects we should keep an eye on.\n\n Although most of the players projected in the first round are rising freshmen or international players, 11 of the top 30 are returning to the NCAA, most of whom went through the pre-draft process this fall and stayed in college. These are some of the most outstanding players that NBA teams are evaluating:<\/p>\n\n\n Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\nQuaintance was 17 years old throughout his freshman season at Arizona State and was not eligible to enter this year’s draft. NBA teams paid close attention throughout the season, drawn to his excellent physical profile and flashes of talent as a dunker and interior finisher. Considering he could have been a junior in high school, his huge block numbers (2.6 per game) were particularly eye-catching.\nWhile Quaintance is quite raw from a skills perspective, particularly in his jump shot, and has a lot to learn with his overall technique and ability to process the game, his extreme youth for the college level gives him the benefit of the doubt, and NBA scouts will be eager to see if he can take another step forward after transferring to Kentucky. He will have a significant platform there to try to establish himself as a lottery talent, but there has to be a lot of refinement before he is ready for the NBA.\nThe speed with which he returns after his ACL surgery in March will be a factor to consider.\n\nYaxel Lendeborg, PF\/C, Michigan<\/strong>\nLendeborg stood out last season at UAB and will move to Michigan, where an important role and a lucrative NIL deal await him after considering entering the 2025 draft. He had positive flashes at the combine, but it wasn’t enough to earn a first-round guarantee. The Wolverines have lost quite a bit of production in the attacking zone, with first-round player Danny Wolf (No. 27) and Vladislav Goldin heading to the pros, allowing Lendeborg to help himself in the same way.\nA prospect who bloomed late with a combination of offensive skill, defensive playmaking, and excellent wingspan, Lendeborg is expected to have a prominent role at Michigan.\n\n Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa<\/strong><\/p>\n\nStirtz had begun to take a real upward trend with NBA scouts in March, where he played well in the NCAA tournament and attracted first-round rumors. Considering the momentum he generated, it was a surprise to see him completely renounce the predraft process this spring.\nInstead, Stirtz will follow Ben McCollum, his coach at Drake and at Division II Northwest Missouri State before that, to Iowa, where he will have the keys to the offense and a platform to further prove his worth in the Big Ten. He is a fantastic playmaker who ranks among the best point guards in the country.\n\n Isaiah Evans, SG, Duke<\/strong><\/p>\n\nEvans was a five-star recruit who never fully established himself at Duke last season, playing a small role on a very good team and deciding to return. A perimeter shooter with a slender build, Evans will presumably get more shots on a new Blue Devils team and have the opportunity for NBA teams to get a much better look at what he can do.\n\n His limitations as a decision-maker and defender made it difficult for him to get consistent playing time last season, and Evans has to improve in both areas to establish himself as a first-round player within a year. His shooting ability is a true NBA calling card, but he will have to work to convince scouts.<\/p>\n\n\n Tahaad Pettiford, PG, Auburn<\/strong><\/p>\n\nPettiford stood out on the first day of the NBA combine, and although he didn’t do enough to secure the first-round stability he was looking for, he reminded scouts of his talent when he returns to Auburn. He should have the freedom to operate next season, as the Tigers have vacated a considerable portion of the defensive zone minutes.\nPettiford’s scoring ability and explosiveness give him the opportunity to succeed as a smaller point guard, but NBA teams want him to expand his playmaking and improve defensively. His size (6-1, 175 pounds) projects him as a spark off the bench. Still, if Pettiford can help reshape the conversation about his potential, he could land in the first round.\n\n\n These are some of the players who complete the list of outstanding prospects for the 2026 draft:<\/p>\n\n\nWho Will Headline the 2026 Draft?<\/h2>\n\nThere are four strong candidates to be the first pick: Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer, and Ament. Although most NBA teams believe it would be difficult, but not impossible, to displace Peterson and Dybantsa from the top two spots, unless there is a major surprise.\nWe had the opportunity to observe these four players, and others, at the Chipotle Nationals, Nike Hoop Summit, and McDonald’s All American events in April, as well as at the USA Basketball U19 training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in June.\nPeterson earned his spot as number one thanks to an exceptional final season in high school at Prolific Prep in Napa, California, where he proved difficult to defend in the open field. He can change pace in the pick-and-roll, hit three-pointers from afar, and finish with explosiveness near the basket.\nHe is also showing significant progress as a passer and defender, and Kansas coach Bill Self is likely to entrust the 6-foot-6-inch Peterson with the reins of the offense, which will provide him with an ideal platform to consolidate his position at the top of the draft in the competitive Big 12.\nDybantsa, who was once considered the undisputed number one before a somewhat disappointing senior year of high school, had an impressive performance at the USA Basketball U19 training camp a few weeks ago. Showing a desire to create plays for others like we hadn’t seen in a long time, Dybantsa was a devastating force in transition and dominated opposing point guards, combining physicality and intensity, something uncommon in an 18-year-old player.\nHe scored at will and made a large number of high-level reads in the pick-and-roll, with short passes or high passes that demonstrate a significant improvement in his decision-making and altruism.\nThis version of Dybantsa is almost certain to become the first selection, so a similar performance in the FIBA U19 World Cup and as a freshman at BYU will force us to reconsider our projected order, also depending on how Peterson looks.\nBoozer also cannot be ruled out at the top of this draft after his exceptional performance at the Nike Hoop Summit in April. He led USA Basketball to a hard-fought overtime victory against the World Team with 22 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists, anchoring his team’s defense and showcasing his phenomenal game sense. However, NBA executives criticize Boozer for being a player who develops early physically and is not blessed with great explosiveness, and who relies too much on power plays inside the paint.\nHe will need to keep scoring consistently and demonstrate his versatility in passing and defense to silence his critics. We expect a Cooper Flagg-esque season from him at Duke that will surprise his detractors.\nAment is a late addition to the conversation for the number one spot and the furthest of the four from reaching his potential, largely because he weighs 186 pounds. But 6-foot-11-inch wing players with his fluidity, shooting prowess, defensive versatility, and scoring ability are often considered franchise-type prospects.\n\n
Featured Returning Prospects<\/h2>\n\n\n
2026 NBA Draft: Top 10 Pick Projections<\/h2>\n\nThe order of the top 10 in the 2026 draft is based on multiple variables, including ESPN BET betting odds, ESPN power rankings, and Givony’s projections.\n\n
Rest of the List of Featured Players for 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n