Appropriate time to look into the 2026 Draft

[Jamaaliver]

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[HMFFL]

Dame Sarr (Duke)
As I get familiar with more of the talent I already have Dame Sarr on my draft board.

[Jamaaliver]

Dybantsa is pretty firmly at the top of my draft board.

I'm still pretty fluid for the next 7+ months...but AJ looks like a stud at the forward spot we've missed since Dominique was traded.

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

2026 NBA Mock Draft Before College Basketball Returns

1. Darryn Peterson (Kansas, SG)

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Top three is where rebuilding and lottery teams will want to be in 2026, with Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and AJ Dybantsa finally eligible for the draft.

Peterson stands out as the top prospect thanks to his ability to create his own shots, score at all three levels, and shift into a playmaker when needed.

Kansas figures to run a big portion of its offense through his transition speed, ball-screen navigation and one-two punch of driving and pull-up shooting. While he doesn't possess AJ Dybantsa's positional size or explosion, he's still a solid 6'5" with a combo-guard skill versatility and plenty of athletic pop for finishing and making wild defensive plays.

Improving his catch-and-shoot game may be atop his to-do list. But on the ball, the eye test sees clear translatability with how sharp he's become at changing gears off the bounce, splitting defenses, hitting tough jumpers, scoring around the rim, leveraging his gravity into playmaking, forcing turnovers and erasing shots at the basket.



2. Cameron Boozer (Duke, PF/C)

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Front offices are divided on Cam Boozer and AJ Dybantsa, who offer contrasting strengths. The former is known for his fundamentals and winning intangibles, while the latter earns attention for his size, explosiveness, and highlight-reel scoring.

Dybantsa may wind up with the more exciting highlight reels, but rebuilding teams may become more comfortable with Boozer's ability to impact games, along with the fact that he's 6'10", 250 pounds, owns the paint, initiates offense and shot 37.7 percent on 210 three-point attempts last year between high school and EYBL.

His perimeter game continues to improve—not just with his shooting, but his ability to handle, create for himself and score off ball screens and one-on-one moves.

Boozer should have a strong top-two case with his physical tools, expanding versatility, expected production/efficiency and decision-making/maturity.


3. AJ Dybantsa (BYU, SF)

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AJ Dybantsa will instantly give off NBA star vibes with his 6'9" wing size, creativity, shotmaking and explosive finishing.

Whether he can climb to No. 1 on boards will come down to his efficiency and decision-making, as he does have a tendency to force plays or develop tunnel vision.

Still, aside from possibly the lottery-winner, teams aren't going to nitpick Dybantsa, who possesses mismatch physical tools by NBA standards, wild athletic ability, handles/footwork to easily separate and high-level shooting skills from on and off the ball.

He will be viewed as a prospect with a high likelihood to become a 25-point NBA scorer.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

This list gets pretty flawed after THE TOP-4...

Spoiler:

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[graymule]

Several good players. Hawks expect now that they will draft one of them!

Pelicans may be crazy. But remember. They got the player that they wanted and already have him.

Hawks get a player next summer. They have no idea now who that will be available when their turn comes.
Could be a good one. Could be not such a good one. We just don't know.

[atlantabbq99]

This list gets pretty flawed after THE TOP-4...

Spoiler:

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I don't know why Chris Cenac isn't getting any respect. I have him in my top 5 and Hawks would be lucky to land Cenac over Queen

[Jamaaliver]

Sounds a bit like taller Tari Eason?

I don't know why Chris Cenac isn't getting any respect.

I have him in my top 5 and Hawks would be lucky to land Cenac over Queen

2026 NBA mock draft

8. Chris Cenac Jr. | 6-10 big | 19 years old | Houston

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Cenac is about as perfect a Houston big man as you’ll find, and he should pair with another player on this mock draft in JoJo Tugler to form maybe the best defensive frontcourt in college basketball this season. Cenac is a terrific athlete at his size with long arms. He’s physically developed at about 230 pounds as a teenager and moves incredibly well for a big man. He’s going to have few issues running the kind of versatile defensive schemes that Houston wants to run, at times playing in drop, at others aggressively blitzing ballhandlers to make opponents uncomfortable. The offensive end will be the key for Cenac. He’s not overly developed there yet, with most of his production coming on the interior with cuts, rolls and offensive rebounds. But we’re seeing more flashes of skill and comfort, as he is stepping out to 3 and making plays as a passer.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

I keep forgetting that we have 2 picks next draft (again).

Tahaad Pettiford could be a target as a Trae Young backup replacement with our own draft pick.

Tahaad Pettiford | 6-1 guard| 20 years old | Auburn

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Pettiford was one of the final players to decide to withdraw from the draft after a robust pre-draft process in which he impressed NBA scouts with his speed, shot-making ability, energy and competitiveness. There might not have been a freshman who made more big shots this past season, including 21 points against Houston, 20 against Duke, 18 against Purdue, 21 against Kentucky, 19 against Alabama, and then back-to-back 20-point games against Creighton and Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. The key for Pettiford will be ironing out the consistency and doing this every night. He’ll get the chance to start at Auburn this year after mostly coming off the bench last year, and I’d bet we see it night in, night out from him. His stock is probably limited by his size, but he has a shot to be a first-rounder despite it.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

Miles Byrd | 6-7 wing | 22 years old | San Diego State

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Byrd pulled out of the draft late after some impressive workouts and a good combine performance that put him on the borderline of staying in. He chose to go back to San Diego State, where the Aztecs are set to have an excellent team returning with another potential draft pick (at some point) in Magoon Gwath, Reese Waters, and a terrific point guard in Sean Newman Jr. Byrd was one of the best defensive playmakers in this class, averaging 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. He’s also a sharp passer and decision-maker who processes the game around him quickly. He’s a very confident shooter who just needs to see the ball go in the hoop more. He’s a career 30 percent 3-point shooter despite taking six attempts per game last season and hitting 83 percent of his free throws. My bet is the shot comes around and Byrd proves himself.

[Jamaaliver]

Bennett Stirtz | 6-4 guard | 22 years old | Iowa

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Stirtz was the player whom NBA scouts were most disappointed to see not even declare for the 2025 NBA Draft after he burst onto the scene at Drake after transferring up from Northwest Missouri State with his coach Ben McCollum. McCollum departed Drake after a year to go coach Iowa, and Stirtz went with him. He’ll try his luck against Big Ten competition, and I’m betting that we see something very similar to what we saw against Missouri Valley competition this past season. Stirtz has some of the best feel for the game I’ve seen for his age in a while and is an extension of McCollum on the floor. He also has the skill to match it, averaging 19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 50/40/79 and playing at one of the country’s slowest paces. Teams are excited to learn more about him throughout the year.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

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