We’re roughly two weeks into the college basketball campaign, and it seems we are in for a historically dominant freshman class and an extremely fun season overall. It’s all ripe material for NBA Draft scouts and fans of bad NBA franchises desperate to shift their trajectory. More than most draft classes, the 2026 crop certainly promises to change at least a few fortunes.
It’s still far too early to project anything with confidence, but the storylines and debates that will define the coming months are already popping up. Darryn Peterson’s exuberant modernity versus Cam Boozer’s throwback, analytics-friendly interior dominance sets up an interesting conversation at No. 1. Not to mention the AJ Dybantsa of it all.
We simulated the lottery via Tankathon, in keeping with tradition. Here is how our first mock draft of the proper season plays out.
1. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP): Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Height: 6’5
Weight: 195
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 19
Darryn Peterson is out for the “immediate future,” per Kansas head coach Bill Self, as he deals with a lingering hamstring issue. That’s never fun, and NBA front offices will surely do their due diligence on Peterson’s health outlook before investing this high in the draft.
That said, the Hawks are about done with the Trae Young era, and Peterson has been the most dominant freshman in his sparse appearances. Atlanta has wing and frontcourt depth to spare, but Peterson can emerge as their offensive engine of the future — a rangy, dexterous combo guard who scores effortlessly at all three levels, defends like his head’s on fire, and continues to take steps as a playmaker. There has not been a more well-rounded guard prospect since, well, a long time ago.
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2. Indiana Pacers: Cam Boozer, F, Duke
Height: 6’9
Weight: 235
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 18
The Pacers didn’t expect to tank this hard, but it could prove beneficial in the end. Tyrese Haliburton will return next season, and the thought of partnering him with Cam Boozer is awfully compelling. Indiana still has the bones of a championship contender, especially in the East. No freshman is more prepared to contribute at the next level than Boozer, despite his youth.
How exactly Boozer’s skill set meshes with Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and a more up-tempo Pacers offense remains to be seen, but Boozer is crushing in all the Stat Nerd categories and he’s making hay of college defenses on the interior. He will need to trade a handful of post-ups for spot-ups at the next level, but Boozer’s offensive IQ and skill – not to mention his sonar-like defensive anticipation — should carry him a long way.
3. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, F, Brigham Young
Height: 6’9
Weight: 210
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 19
AJ Dybantsa is simply too good to be the No. 3 pick, and yet… he’s the No. 3 pick. An impressive showing against UConn on Sunday, in which Dybantsa scored 21 of 25 points in the second half, further cemented his stock. The explosive freshman is far ahead of the curve as a scorer, able to change speeds and absorb contact on below-rim finishes just as easily as he detonates above the rim.
Washington continues to slowly rebuild, but Dybantsa can help the Wizards take the next step. The duo of Dybantsa and Kyshawn George on the wing offers endless malleability, not to mention a five-position defender in Alex Sarr anchoring the middle. Dybantsa feeds into Washington’s immense defensive potential while giving the Wiz a No. 1 scorer who can create and extend advantages at will.
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Height: 6’10
Weight: 215
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 19
Caleb Wilson is on a torrid stretch to begin the season in Chapel Hill. The rangy forward is finishing at an extremely high level off of cuts and drives, while his shooting development appears to be ahead of schedule. Perhaps his most impressive attributes, however, show up on defense. Wilson is bullish at the point of attack, exceedingly disruptive as a helper, and most importantly, the effort never wanes.
Few teams need a cultural reset more desperately than Memphis. Put Wilson next to Jaren Jackson Jr., and the Grizzlies might have two perennial All-Defense candidates in no time. The Grizzlies will benefit from Wilson’s adapatability on that end of the floor. Offensively, he does the small things to work effectively within almost any context.
5. Brooklyn Nets: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Height: 6’10
Weight: 185
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 19
Brooklyn can’t feel good about another lottery tumble, but Nate Ament is one heck of a consolation prize. His length and fluidity on the wing presents major upside. Ament needs to add muscle and operate more forcefully at the rim, but he’s making strides on that front. The 3-point shooting should come around as the season progresses, and he’s already making problems for opponents with his defensive activity.
There’s a decent chance Ament struggles more once the schedule heats up, at least early on, but the size, three-level shot-making, and passing flashes are on full display already. He boasts one of the highest ceilings in the draft and no team is better suited to patience than Brooklyn. Ament can help set the course for the next decade of Nets basketball.
6. Sacramento Kings: Mikel Brown Jr., G., Louisville
Height: 6’3
Weight: 172
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 20
Dennis Schroder, Malik Monk and Russell Westbrook aren’t exactly long-term staples in Sacramento, so Mikel Brown Jr. comes in as heir apparent to De’Aaron Fox’s vacant throne. There’s a good chance we see massive overhaul of Sacramento’s roster in the coming months. This team needs a guiding light, a new foundational star. Brown very much has the potential to deliver.
Boasting deep range on his pull-up 3s, Brown is a handful for opposing defenses. He can stretch the floor, penetrate with a quick first step, and deliver every pass in the book. The skill level, athleticism and poise at 19 years old is mighty impressive. Defensive concerns are real, but Brown’s pros outweigh the cons.
7. Dallas Mavericks: Koa Peat, F, Arizona
Height: 6’8
Weight: 235
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 19
Dallas could trade Anthony Davis and rebuild in earnest around Cooper Flagg next season. Koa Peat already has the feel of a 10-year NBA vet, and he’d give Flagg a talented (and immensely accomplished) young running mate in the frontcourt. The Mavs probably need backcourt help a little bit more than frontcourt reinforcements, but Peat adheres to the ‘Best Player Available’ strategy Dallas needs to deploy.
Peat’s lack of 3-point shooting is a turn-off for some, but he’s so skilled and dominant inside the arc, melding brute force on post-ups with finesse in the mid-range, that it’s impossible to not come away impressed. Peat’s touch bodes well for his shooting outlook at the next level and he’s going to do the little things as a defender, rebounder and connective passer to help Dallas straight away.
8. Charlotte Hornets: Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama
Height: 6’4
Weight: 177
Class: Sophomore
Draft Age: 20
Charlotte nailed its 2025 draft class, adding three immediate starters. This organization is a couple more draft hits and some better injury luck away from really turning a corner. Labaron Philon can help, giving the Hornets a stopgap if or when LaMelo Ball gets hurt, but also an intriguing backcourt complement to LaMelo’s free-wheeling transition style of play.
Philon is more of a halfcourt guard than Ball, weaving his way through the paint for floaters and finesse finishes. The pull-up shooting is coming around, too, and Philon shoots enough 3s to be confident in him as a spot-up threat at the next level. His supplementary playmaking and driving, next to a pair of high-feel, quick-hitting passers like LaMelo and Kon Knueppel, can help crank Charlotte’s offense up a notch.
Read our Labaron Philon Jr. scouting report!
9. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC): Hannes Steinbach, F, Washington
Height: 6’9
Weight: 220
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 20
Hannes Steinbach looks like an absolute monster for the Huskies, which was entirely predictable for anyone who watched him at the u19 FIBA World Cup this summer. Steinbach is fundamentally sound and incredibly strong, able to plant his roots in the paint for rebounds or bump defenders off their spot in the post.
Steinbach is a bit of a frontcourt tweener, but he’s moving well on defense early in the season and he should stand up nicely next to a stretchier rim protector like Chet Holmgren. Steinbach can give OKC more depth up front and a convincing fallback plan, should Isaiah Hartenstein leave when his three-year contract expires. The feel, physicality and skill are all easy to bank on.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via UTA): Elyjah Freeman, G, Auburn
Height: 6’8
Weight: 185
Class: Sophomore
Draft Age: 19
Elyjah Freeman, the sophomore transfer from Lincoln Memorial, is rocketing up draft boards in the early going at Auburn. This team is still searching for its identity post-Johni Broome, but Freeman figures to be a big part of it. A tall, slender, dexterous guard, Freeman absolutely eviscerates defenses as a driver. He wins with his first step, effortlessly shifts gears mid-stride, and can hang infinitely in midair on finishes at the rim.
OKC loves this archetype. Big, skilled guard-wing types who pressure the rim and get after it on defense? Yes please. He wouldn’t play much at all as a rookie, but OKC’s depth makes it easy to take a patient development approach, especially after selecting a more ready-made contributor already in Steinbach.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Height: 6’4
Weight: 180
Class: Senior
Draft Age: 22
Portland still has Scoot Henderson to consider, but this team would benefit immensely from a table-setter of the Bennett Stirtz variety. It’s fair to fade older guards, but Stirtz is the exception to the rule — a supremely controlled, precise operator whose impact touches all areas of the game.
Stirtz is playing almost every minute for Iowa, like he did at Drake last season, and the production is not waning. Can it hold up against proper Big Ten competition? Time will tell, but Stirtz does everything for this Iowa offense. He’s a machine-like scorer in the mid-range, he’s boundlessly creative playmaking out of the pick-and-roll. The hit-ahead passes in transition, the artsy finishes inside. Stirtz does it all, plus he’s a voracious off-ball defender, making up for on-ball limitations by consistently generating turnovers with his quick hands.
12. Chicago Bulls: Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky
Height: 6’9
Weight: 225
Class: Sophomore
Draft Age: 18
Chicago needs to start thinking about life beyond Nikola Vučević at center. Jayden Quaintance still hasn’t appeared in a game for Kentucky as he recovers from a torn ACL and it’s unclear what exactly we can expect to see from him this season. After averaging 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 29.5 minutes as a 17-year-old freshman at Arizona State, however, most NBA scouts should be fairly confident in their Quaintance stock.
This Bulls team is built to get out in transition and beat teams with speed and dynamism. Quaintance isn’t much of a shooter, which could compress the floor around Josh Giddey, but he’s a funky, multi-faceted scorer inside the arc. He’s also plenty athletic in the open court. He gives the Bulls a lob threat, which is a new flavor for them, and he’s one of the most innately talented defenders in recent draft history. Billy Donovan would love him.
13. Memphis Grizzlies (via ORL): Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
Height: 6’3
Weight: 175
Class: Freshman
Draft Age: 19
Kingston Flemings might be the preeminent early-season breakout in draft circles, and while it’s important to maintain perspective and avoid overreacting, the Houston freshman has done very little to dissuade enthusiasm. He poured 22 points on Auburn this past Sunday and is averaging 17.3 points and 5.3 assists on 69.2 percent shooting through four games.
Obviously, shooting regression is inevitable, but Flemings’ approach is airtight. He’s a bubbly ball-handler and pull-up shot-maker, operating without a hitch as the lead guard for the No. 1 team in the country. Flemings is making advanced reads as a passer and he’s keeping turnovers to a minimum. Memphis, meanwhile, needs to think about life after Ja Morant.
Read our Kingston Flemings scouting report!
14. Boston Celtics: Aday Mara, C, Michigan
Height: 7’3
Weight: 240
Class: Junior
Draft Age: 21
Skepticism was a natural emotion toward Aday Mara (read our Aday Mara scouting report) coming into the season after he struggled to earn consistent minutes at UCLA. But so far at Michigan, Mara appears to be putting the pieces together, so to speak. He’s a towering rim protector and a proficient post scorer, yes. But there’s much more to his game that flies under the radar.
Boston’s frontcourt is a huge point of weakness. The by-committee approach with Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman Sr. has worked as well as it can, but the Celtics need to replace Kristaps Porzingis’ lost rim protection and establish a real anchor point for the defense. Mara can oblige, while opening up fun two-man dance routines for Joe Mazzulla to experiment with on offense. Mara’s skill and court vision at 7-foot-3 is really special.
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