Big Board 1.0: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Rankings
My early top 14 rankings in a class loaded with upside and franchise-level talent.
I’m excited to drop my Big Board 1.0 for the 2025–26 season, and my first since taking over for my brother Rafael, who’s now bouncing around Europe scouting for the Dallas Mavericks. This year’s class brings back something we haven’t truly had since the Paolo Banchero-Chet Holmgren-Jabari Smith Jr. race in 2022: a real debate for the No. 1 pick. Last year had whispers of a battle for No. 1, but Cooper Flagg shut all of that down from opening night of the season until the moment he shook Adam Silver’s hand.
This class hits differently. Depending on who you talk to, you’ll hear a different name at the top. Some evaluators see Darryn Peterson as the best bet to go first. Others will tell you AJ Dybantsa has the biggest upside. And plenty will make the case that Cameron Boozer is the most polished, dependable prospect in the draft.
What we do know is this: the talent at the top is real. Multiple guys in this group project as potential tier-one, superstar-level prospects. There’s even been online chatter suggesting Flagg wouldn’t be a lock to go No. 1 if he were in this class.
That’s how strongly people feel about this group. It’s a stark contrast to the projected 2027 draft, which many already view as a class without a true franchise anchor.
1. Darryn Peterson
Kansas
Freshman
Guard
6’5” | 205
Age on draft night: 19.4
Unfortunately, we’ve only been able to see Peterson twice this season, three times if we count the exhibition game against Louisville, due to a hamstring injury. Still, Peterson remains number one on my big board. He has all the tools of a franchise player: offensive creativity, competitive fire, and defensive playmaking.
In just two games, Peterson is averaging 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Against North Carolina, Peterson flashed his skillset, scoring 22 points in only 28 minutes. The sample size is extremely small, but he’s upped his three-point attempt rate from the prep level. He looks like every bit of an offensive engine, and hopefully we see him at full strength sooner rather than later.
2. AJ Dybantsa
BYU
Freshman
Wing
6’9” | 210
Age on draft night: 19.3
Even with the production advantage leaning toward Boozer, I still think Dybantsa is in play for the first or second pick. He has a ton of scoring upside in a unique playing style. Dybantsa is very comfortable operating out of the mid-post but has also shown the ability to be effective in pick-and-roll actions.
One of the more impressive aspects of Dybantsa’s game is how well he rebounds from relatively poor first halves and adjusts to whatever the opposing defense throws at him. What could keep him from being the 1st or 2nd pick will likely come down to his outside shooting and whether he stays fully engaged on defense.
3. Cameron Boozer
Duke
Freshman
Big
6’9” | 250
Age on draft night: 18.9
Boozer has been ultra productive this season and had arguably the best game of any freshman with his monster 35-point performance against Arkansas. I thought Boozer would have the opportunity to win National Player of the Year, and it looks like that proclamation could be true.
Boozer is a glass cleaner with an advanced inside-out game for his age. He simply plays winning basketball. Outside of the Arkansas game, Boozer has struggled against length and athleticism, so his half-court rim efficiency will be something to monitor since he doesn’t have the deepest bag on the block nor elite athleticism. Is he someone you can give the ball to late in the clock?
Still, Boozer looks like a great foundational piece for whichever team lands in the top three.
 |
|