The 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone, with Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey making their way to their respective NBA teams. While the 2025 NBA Draft was considered a good draft with a consensus top pick in Flagg, who became the fourth freshman ever to win National Player of the Year, the 2026 Draft is being discussed as generational at the top.
There’s a transcendent top three who are all worthy of being No. 1 overall: Kansas Jayhawk guard Darryn Peterson, BYU’s electrifying forward A.J. Dybansta, and incoming Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer. Any of them could have made a strong push against Flagg to be No. 1 this year.
All possess unique blends of size and skill with contrasting styles of play, are projected as go-to guys for their programs, and are in the running for Player of the Year despite being freshmen. Add in incoming Tennessee Vols freshman forward Nate Ament, who’s been getting compared to NBA legend Kevin Durant, and you have the makings of a special class.
In a class that is filled with future potential All-Stars and All-NBA players, let’s quickly dive into each of the top five prospects headlining a potentially historic class.
5) Darryn Peterson
Peterson is perhaps the best guard prospect of the last decade outside Luka Doncic, who has been called the clear-cut best guard prospect this decade. Standing at 6’5 with a 6’10.5 wingspan and a sturdy 210 lbs, he already has an NBA-ready frame today. Peterson is a dynamic three-level scorer who can get buckets anywhere on the basketball court. He has no weaknesses.
Peterson possesses the ability to finish at the rim among the trees, pull up and stop on a dime from 15 feet, or hit a step-back three in the face of an opponent. He averaged 30.4 points per game for Prolific Prep while nearly shooting 50/40/90. That’s 52% from the field, 44% from three, and 86% from the charity stripe en route to being named the 2025 Naismith Player of the Year and to the All-American First Team.
His game is reminiscent of a combination of players from the reigning Finals and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and star guard Damian Lillard. In a classic old-school duel, he outscored Dybansta 58-49, and in another match, he scored 61 points, defeating Dybansta in both games.
“His ceiling is whatever he wants it to be.” – CJ McCollum
Peterson is Dybansta’s biggest challenger for No. 1 as a big guard, which has become a premium in the modern NBA. He’ll be a treat to watch in the Big 12 next season.
4) AJ Dybantsa
Fresh off leading USA’s U19 team to a gold medal and taking home MVP honors with averages of 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game is AJ Dybantsa. Dybansta is the perfect archetype of the modern-day NBA wing. He’s the closest thing I’ve seen to prime Tracy McGrady with his dynamic athleticism and shot-making ability from everywhere on the floor.
Dybansta, similar to McGrady or his idol, Kevin Durant, stands around 6’9 at this stage of his career and can potentially grow taller. He’s been a highly-touted prospect since middle school, who helped St. Sebastian’s win a state title in his freshman year en route to being named the Massachusetts Player of the Year. He’s only progressed since.
His achievements have ranged from winning gold medals at the 2024 FIBA U17 and U16 American Championships to being named a McDonald’s All-American. Dybansta has achieved it all at the high school level and is a highly marketable talent headed to BYU to learn under Kevin Young, who coached Durant when he was with the Phoenix Suns. He’ll hope to lead BYU to its first conference title since 2001. He’s the NBA’s next dynamic wing.
3) Cameron Boozer
Not as flashy as his counterparts, yet just as productive and effective, is Cameron Boozer, the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. Boozer is a power player with a sturdy 6’9, 235 lb frame that is NBA-ready. He’s a terrific high-post player who utilizes his girth well to get to the rim and is an excellent passer. He’s going to be scary at the next level.
Boozer has an incredible IQ, being able to read what the defense gives him, and has pinpoint outlet passes that would make Kevin Love and Wes Unseld proud. He’s a mixture of Love and Orlando Magic star forward Paolo Banchero due to his skill, high feel for the game, power, and scoring ability.
Boozer is a two-time National Gatorade Player of the Year and two-time Mr. Basketball USA who has won four state titles and three Nike EYBL Peach Jam championships.
He’s the first two-time Mr. Basketball winner since LeBron James. He’s simply a winner and looks to have a Cooper Flagg-like freshman season before heading to the NBA. Gear up for another freshman phenom Duke fans!
2) Nate Ament
NBA talent evaluators have mixed opinions about this late bloomer of the top four. Some evaluators think he’s too skinny and won’t be ready within a year, while others compare him to Austin Daye. Others believe he possesses Durantesque qualities. This could potentially make Ament a top-three pick if everything goes as planned. Ament is a 6’10, 185 lb wing who is a fluid, offensively skilled player.
Ament averaged 19-10-2.2 per game to lead Highland to a 42-8 record en route to a state title while being named the National Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American. He possesses a nearly 7’0 wingspan and an elastic body that is still clearly growing, which allows for significant two-way potential. Ament has outstanding size for the position with a smooth jumper that’ll allow him to shoot over just about anyone.
He’s comfortable as a ball-handler and initiating the offense; that should only make him more of a threat as a potential dark horse No. 1 candidate. Going to play for Rick Barnes, who coached Durant during his Texas days will help expand his game. He can be as good as he wants.
1) Chris Cenac Jr.
Big men with guard-like skills will never go out of style in the modern NBA, and Chris Cenac Jr. is next in line. Cenac, a late arrival on the scene, captured the attention of many last year at the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 Camp, where he won MVP honors. He did that having just led Isidore Newman to its third state title in Louisiana.
Cenac is a 6’10” big man who can take the ball the entire length of the court while also having active hands defensively. Having risen from outside the top 50 rankings to become a top-five talent, he possesses a strong work ethic.
He’s a good pick-and-pop player who can spread the floor and is reliable at the free-throw line, having shot 86% from the line on over five attempts per game at the NBPA Top 100 Camp.
Cenac may be better suited to play the four in the NBA but can also play the five. Kelvin Sampson will find ways to utilize him well in Houston to get the most out of his talents, as he also possesses playmaking ability and a face-up midrange game. He’s still raw, needing more polish and strength to add to his game, but a year under Sampson will do him wonders.
Go to Source
Author:
July 13, 2025 | 5:00 pm
Videos
What a shot 😱
Videos
So tough 🔥
Videos
Family first 🙌
Videos
This duo 🥶
