NBA

2026 Mock Drafts

He finished as the top-ranked prospect in last year's recruiting class and begins this draft cycle in the same place. Peterson is a big, playmaking guard who continues to improve each year. His overlap of positional size, length, strength and shot creation is unmatched in this class. In fact, he may be the best domestic guard we've seen in several draft cycles. If the shot-making we've seen early on at Kansas proves sustainable, he could be even better than expected.

Dybantsa spent more time atop the national 2025 recruiting rankings than anyone else in the class and was only dethroned by Peterson at the end. He enters his freshman season at BYU with a real chance to prove he deserves to be the No. 1 pick. He's a jumbo wing with positional size, a 7-foot wingspan, good athleticism, extreme court coverage, multi-level scoring tools and the ability to rise and fire to get his shot off on demand.

It's not just a two-player race; it's a three-player race. Boozer just completed the most successful career in modern high school basketball history, literally winning every championship he competed for in four years. He's bound to be not just one of the best freshmen but one of the best players in college basketball and may have the highest long-term floor in the class.

Ament isn't nearly as polished as the top three, but if everything goes right, his long-term ceiling could be comparable. In other words, he's not as far along in his development and thus has a wider range of potential outcomes, but he's an incredibly gifted prospect. He has size, skill, dexterity, fluidity and solid athleticism, and he's already notably stronger than he was last spring. A huge year could catapult him into the top three, but even without it, he's a likely lottery candidate.

Brown was one of the top point guards throughout his high school career, combining terrific shot-making and skill with a late growth spurt that gave him positional size to match. This summer, while playing with USA Basketball in the U19 World Cup, he showed some newfound athleticism. Combine that with real floor vision, passing and a great left hand, and he can make a case that he's the best pure point guard in the draft. His defense and physical strength are areas for growth.

Wilson is an athletic, wiry forward with good size and mobility. He has extreme upside on the defensive end, where he's already proven to be a playmaker with his ability to block shots, disrupt passes and switch across multiple positions. Offensively, there are more questions since he's never been a consistent shooter or creator, but the early returns at Carolina this preseason were encouraging.

Acuff was as dynamic as any lead guard in high school basketball last year, showing an ability to put his team on his back and drive winning. There is less collective enthusiasm about his NBA stock to start the season, but that sentiment isn't shared by those who followed him closely in high school. He lacks overwhelming physical tools, but he's strong, relatively long and an ultra-confident shot creator with a real "it" factor.

He was just 17 when he was named Big 12 All-Defense and All-Freshman last year, making him too young to be one-and-done eligible. He tore his ACL late in the season and later announced his commitment to Kentucky. He's viewed as one of the best defensive big men in this draft for his shot-blocking and attacking style, though his offensive game is less defined. While he has tremendous length and big hands, he's a bit undersized for a true center.

Cenac finished as the No. 7-ranked prospect in the national class of 2025, but that was more about potential than production. He combines size, length, athleticism, developing inside-out skill and versatile defensive tools, but his decision-making and motor have been inconsistent. The expectation is that Kelvin Sampson can be the quick cure. If that happens, Cenac is a strong lottery candidate, but if not, he could easily slip

Stritz is one of the smartest, most skilled and reliable lead guards in this class. He's a knockdown shooter with an advanced feel for the game. He has a proven history of adapting to new levels of competition after starting at Division II Northwest Missouri State, following Ben McCollum to Drake and now Iowa. There are questions about the 22-year-old's physical tools, defensive upside and shot creation outside McCollum's system.

Lendeborg had a real chance of being a first-round pick after being one of college basketball's most versatile stat stuffers last season. Instead, he withdrew from the draft, entered the portal and committed to Michigan. His 7-foot-4 wingspan, defensive metrics and frontcourt playmaking ability will be tested at the highest levels, while his shooting remains a key swing skill.

Peat was one of the most consistently productive players in high school basketball over the last four years. He's long, powerful and has become increasingly athletic as he's chiseled his frame. He's a mismatch-scoring forward who thrives from midrange in, but the inconsistency of his outside shooting is an important variable for scouts.

The top international prospect on our board to start the season, Daniels is the younger brother of Dyson Daniels, who was the NBA's Most Improved Player and an All-Defensive selection with the Hawks last year. Dash, one of the younger players in this draft cycle, is also a defensive standout who needs to show what part of his offensive game will translate to the NBA.

Evans is one of the top shooters in this draft cycle after knocking down 42% from behind the arc as a freshman at Duke. He still has a lanky frame that badly needs strength, but he's long and smooth with real offensive gifts and untapped upside as his body fills out. A big season could open a path to the lottery, but that's far from guaranteed.

A top-15 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, Yessoufou finished as the leading scorer in California high school basketball history while evolving from an undersized combo forward to a legit power wing. While there are still questions about his perimeter skill and decision-making, he's long, strong and high-motor, with a chance to put up big numbers right away at Baylor.

Burries is a volume-scoring guard with a powerful body. He's older for his grade and not necessarily a dynamic athlete, so he relies on physicality. The consistency of his shot-making is an important variable, but he's a versatile scoring threat with a competitive two-way approach.

Sarr is the most celebrated international prospect to join college basketball as a freshman this season and arrives with one-and-done expectations despite having been draft eligible last year. He's a jumbo wing with length, athleticism and defensive tools, but more questions about how his offense translates.

Mullins is a pure shooter who could end up being one of the best long-distance threats in this draft. He has deep range, extreme gravity and is a threat off screens and off the dribble. He defends well, has solid positional size and athleticism, but needs to get stronger and more assertive to be one-and-done.

Haugh is a versatile two-way forward who has blossomed in two years at Florida. At 6-9, he can play multiple positions, be versatile defensively, finish at the rim and stretch the floor. If he takes another step forward this year, it could be his last in Gainesville.

Philon exceeded expectations in his first year at Alabama and looked NBA-bound until opting to return at the 11th hour. His competitiveness, pace, instincts and defensive upside are all assets, while scouts want to monitor his shooting and playmaking in a featured role after Mark Sears' graduation.

The former Arkansas pledge withdrew from the draft, entered the portal on the final day allowed and ultimately transferred to Florida. He showed speed, playmaking and on-ball defense last year, but not the same shot-making he was known for in high school. He'll have a chance to play his way into the first round this year.

Avdalas doesn't have as much fanfare going into the season but could be a one-and-done first-round candidate. The Greek native is stylistically similar to Egor Demin from last year's draft cycle in that he has extreme perimeter size with elite passing ability and potential as a jumbo, pass-first initiator.

With massive size, long arms and athleticism, Thiam is a rim-runner, lob threat and shot-blocker. He also showed some long-term shooting potential as a freshman last year at UCF. If he takes another step forward this year at Cincinnati, he could become an increasingly intriguing name for scouts.

It's been a turbulent offseason since Pettiford withdrew from the 2024 NBA Draft. He was charged with DUI over the summer, and then Bruce Pearl stepped down this fall. Now, under Steven Pearl, Pettiford will have a chance to be Auburn's primary creator and prove he has enough sheer game to compensate for his less-than-ideal NBA measurables.

The big Spanish guard has generated increasing draft buzz in recent months. He has terrific backcourt size, passing, skill and basketball IQ, but there are concerns about how his athleticism and foot speed will translate, particularly on defense.

He checks a lot of boxes for an NBA prospect as a fringe 7-footer who brings two-way versatility. He can shoot 3s, finish, pass, block shots and be reliable defensively, but didn't put everything together as expected, even during Florida's national championship run.

Thomas is the type of volume scorer and tough shot-maker who could provide microwave-type scoring at Arkansas and potentially beyond. How efficient he can be in that role will be key for scouts this year under John Calipari.

The soon-to-be 23-year-old has been on draft boards for several years. He may lack glaring upside and is old for draft standards, but he can step right into an NBA system and be a serviceable piece from day one. That should again have him in consideration from the late first round on.

Lopez is one of the more intriguing international prospects in this draft cycle but remains somewhat polarizing. He's strong, physical and versatile, with multi-positional potential on both ends. If his offensive skill set emerges, he could climb this list.

Uzan made a big jump with both his shooting and defense last year at Houston. He should be one of the best point guards in college basketball this year, and if he takes another step, he'll have a chance to play his way into first-round consideration.

A nagging hamstring injury has limited Peterson to just two appearances this season for Kansas and his time missed is approaching one full month. However, when healthy, Peterson's ability to dictate terms as a lead guard and elevate talent around him makes him the frontrunner to go No. 1.

The idea of Dybantsa as a built-in-a-lab, scoring wing -- the archetype NBA teams so covet building around -- puts him in the mix to go No. 1. He's already established as the leading scorer and rebounder on a top-10 BYU team and passes the eye test with flying colors.

No major conference player has scored more points this season thus far than Boozer. And it seems he's just getting started. The Duke rookie is averaging 23.6 points and 9.3 boards per game for a team that is 9-0 with three of those wins coming vs. ranked opponents. To say he'd be a huge prize if he falls to No. 3 would be an understatement. He's my No. 1-ranked player in the class.

Watching Caleb Wilson play basketball is like watching Mozart compose music or Picasso paint a work of art. He's a night-in, night-out joy because of his relentless energy and it shows in the box score, too: He's averaging 19.3 points and 10.1 boards per game for UNC. His defensive impact, selfless style and boisterous personality are all traits I'd bet on making him a top-five pick.

My preseason read on Ament was that he was a big prospect whose production may not be reliable this season. I was wrong. He's averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 boards for the Vols. His big frame and feel for the game make him a jumbo-sized wing with game-changing defensive potential.

This may be a situation where the best player available also winds up being the best roster fit for the Kings, who desperately need help at point guard. Brown's a do-it-all guard who can score from anywhere and plays with poise and pizazz with the ball in his hands.

Peat has gotten off to a tremendous start as a freshman at Arizona, where he's averaging 15.6 points and 5.7 rebounds. He tallied 30 points and 7 boards vs. Florida in the season-opener and had a filthy 16-12-3 line and two blocks vs. UConn on Nov. 19. His athletic pop and energy is off the charts and his skill -- elite for his size, which is scary -- still feels in its early stages.

There is increasing optimism about Cenac Jr.'s game and how it'll project to the next level. He plays to Houston's modus operandi as a crasher on the offensive glass and has shown additional versatility as a shot-blocker and floor-spacer to boot. Playing alongside Joseph Tugler he may not become a two-blocks-per-game weapon, but his timing and feel are remarkable for his age.

Haugh has been -- quite clearly -- Florida's best player this season. He leads the team in scoring and has been a difference-maker with his scoring ability and size. At 22 years old, teams may give pause to taking him this high -- but OKC has never been shy of buying into production regardless of age.

Returning to school has paid dividends for Philon commanding Alabama's high-octane offense while averaging 21.6 points and 5.4 assists. He's improved as a shooter and showcased his quickness in the open floor. He's also become an elite catch-and-shoot weapon (94th percentile this season vs. 41st percentile last season), displaying versatility as more than just an on-ball threat.

We've still not seen Quaintance yet as he returns from a knee injury last season. But he played a full season of college as a 17-year-old at ASU and was a monster defensively. There's an element of mystery and excitement behind his ceiling as he awaits clearance at Kentucky.

Cameron Carr's been Baylor's breakout star but Yessoufou is quietly having a tremendous season. He's a big and strong athlete who is showing improvement as a shooter and has the physical tools to be a dynamic defensive weapon on the wing.

Adding weapons and floor-spacers to maximize the talents of Josh Giddey, Coby White and Matas Buzelis seems ideal. Mullins gives them a picture-perfect tool to do that as a shooter who can score from anywhere -- with an underrated ability to affect the game with his defense and length, too.

Stirtz's breakout at Drake last season was no fluke and he's shown as much at Iowa already, where he is nailing 44.2% of his 3s and is flirting close to a 30% assist rate while playing an ungodly amount of minutes. He's an ironman Iowa can't afford to let rest because of his smarts as a scorer and playmaker.

Golden State's backcourt could stand to add more talent and Burries in this range could make sense. He's a 20-year-old who my colleague Adam Finkelstein tagged as a "three-level scoring threat." He's very polished as a scorer and can get buckets any way you need.

The jump from UAB to Michigan has highlighted Lendeborg's ability to do a little of everything. His versatility as a passer, defensive disruptor and shooter at his size make him a jack-of-all-trades whose impact is undeniable.

Tugler might've been the best defensive player in college basketball last season and he's improved his block rate from 12.4% to 13.3% and his steal rate from 2.8% to 4.3%. That's scary. There's still maturing to be done on offense, but his innate instincts on defense are top notch.

It might be tough for Harwell to break through this season on a deep Houston team -- but NBA teams know the Cougars have a dog who could come out and be a potential lottery pick despite playing in a small role. He's a chiseled wing and bulldog defender who can shoot it.

Flemings has made an instant impact for Houston starting every game and averaging 15.3 points and 5.0 assists while shooting 52.4% on 3-pointers. The hot start may cool but he's looked the part as a natural lead guard who plays with speed and has already adapted well to this level.

This is a bit lower than where I had Acuff earlier this summer preseason but I think he's clearly looked the part as a lottery/early 20s type pick. He's averaging 17.4 points and 5.1 assists per game and up to 74th percentile on catch-and-shoot opportunities, per Synergy. You know his big body can bully its way to the basket, but he's adding skill to his game as well. Buying stock!

Getting Koa Peat early and then Dash Daniels falling to No. 21 would be a dream haul for the Hornets. Daniels, the brother of Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, is a 17-year-old who has a big frame and carries it well as a defensive stopper. His handle as a combo wing is advanced, too, though his shot may need some tweaking as he moves up to the NBA.

In the background of the Cameron Boozer show in Durham is Isaiah Evans, who is quietly building off a great freshman season and showcasing his terrific shot in a bigger role. He's a bucket-getter who can score in bunches.

This is the third year now I've been higher on Toppin than most. I assume you are used to it by now. He's built off a Big 12 Player of the Year campaign and so far putting up even more gaudy stats. He'd be an awesome 4-man next to Bam Adebayo.

Sarr is still coming along at Duke after joining the program late in the summer but the tools are still there for him to be a lotto talent. He's a wing with a long wingspan and a defensive playmaker who is hitting a respectable 34.5% on 3-pointers this season.

On a deep Houston team, Uzan broke through as one of its most consistent weapons as a transfer, hitting 40.8% on 3-pointers and adding 3.0 assists and 11.4 points per game. He's built off that campaign and been a steady presence for a top-10 Cougars club.

Knox emerged late in the season for Arkansas as a two-way force, and he finished the season as a 35% 3-point shooter while rating out in the 96th percentile finishing on at-rim opportunities, per Synergy data. He's shown improvement this season, too, hitting 47.1% on 3-pointers.

Lopez is an 18-year-old Mexican playing for the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL -- the same team that produced 2022 lottery pick Ousmane Dieng and from the same league that helped produce 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr. He's a big wing who can shoot the leather off the ball and checks boxes both statistically and physically to become an impact defender at the next level.

It's been nothing short of a breakout year for Ngongba playing in tandem with fellow big Cameron Boozer. He has a 7.7% block rate and a true shooting percentage of 72.8% -- top-20 nationally. He's also showcased an unusual feel as a passer in this Duke system that has allowed him at times to operate as a playmaking hub.

Pettiford is one of my favorite draft prospects on planet Earth because of his ridiculous shot-making audacity combined with his competitive edge and attitude. He's a plus-athlete, too, though his 6-foot-1 frame could hinder him from rising much further than this. I also wonder if this front office thinks twice before taking a 6-foot-1 guard with a first-round pick after doing so with Marcus Sasser in 2023.

Bittle's return to college was an underrated development this offseason; I had a second-round grade on him and thought he'd be an awesome target for teams looking to add frontcourt depth.