AJ Dybantsa has officially moved to the top of ESPN's 2026 NBA Draft rankings after a dominant freshman season at BYU. The 6-foot-9 wing averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, earning widespread praise for his versatility and leadership on both ends of the floor. His rise to No. 1 signals a shift in the top of the class, with NBA executives now viewing Dybantsa as the most projectable lottery talent.
Darryn Peterson, who previously held the top spot, now ranks second. The Kansas guard is still considered the most naturally gifted scorer in the class, but his season was marred by a full-body cramping episode during the preseason that raised red flags for scouts. Peterson's medical report and predraft interviews will be critical as teams evaluate his long-term durability and readiness for the NBA.
Cameron Boozer of Duke holds the third position after a historic season that saw him win Naismith and AP Player of the Year honors. Boozer led all of college basketball with a box plus-minus of 17.1 and has drawn comparisons to Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Love. While his offensive game is elite, questions remain about his defensive potential at the NBA level.
Caleb Wilson of North Carolina checks in at No. 4 despite missing the postseason with a hand injury. Illinois' Keaton Wagler, who led his team to a Final Four, is fifth. Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr. jumps to sixth after winning SEC Player of the Year and leading the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16.
The 2026 draft class is deep and unpredictable, with roster attrition and NIL deals influencing underclassmen’s decisions to return to school. The NCAA’s early entry withdrawal deadline is May 27, which could impact the depth of the draft pool beyond the lottery.
The NBA Draft Combine is set for May 10, with the draft itself expected in late June. With the top three projected to be Dybantsa, Peterson, and Boozer, teams with early picks are already making plans for how to maximize their selections in what could be a historic top of the board.
The San Antonio Spurs edged the Dallas Mavericks 114-109 on Friday night, but the story was not the win. It was Victor Wembanyama’s 40-point, 13-rebound performance in just 26 minutes, a calculated move to reach the 65-game threshold required for regular-season award eligibility.
13 hours agoThe Greensboro Swarm captured their first G League championship in franchise history by sweeping the Stockton Kings in the best-of-three G League Finals. Forward Tosan Evbuomwan was named Finals MVP after scoring 22 points in the decisive Game 2. The Swarm finished the season with a 33-15 record, th
13 hours ago
The New York Knicks clinched the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday but lost key forward OG Anunoby to a left ankle injury in the process. Anunoby exited the game in the second quarter after rolling his ankle on a collision with Raptors guard Scottie B
13 hours ago
The Miami Heat have officially converted guard Jahmir Young’s two-way contract into a two-year standard NBA deal, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN. The move comes after the team waived Terry Rozier earlier Friday to create the necessary roster spot. Young’s new contract includes a non-guaranteed
17 hours ago