2026 NBA DRAFT CLASS

[BigGargamel]

From the RealGM main page.

Kansas guard Darryn Peterson pushed back Wednesday on speculation that he would rule out teams unwilling to play him as a primary point guard, telling reporters at the NBA Draft Combine he is prepared to contribute in any role.

Peterson had previously drawn attention after comments suggesting he performs best running an offense, prompting questions about whether positional fit would factor into his draft preferences. He was direct in his response.

"Nah, no, sir," Peterson said when asked if he would cross a team off his list for viewing him as a two-guard. "At the end of the day, whoever wants to pick you is probably going to pick you. So if they come in and say I'm a two-guard, I'm familiar with it now from playing at Kansas, so I'll just make a way."

Peterson said he had met with approximately 10 teams by midday Wednesday, including the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. He described his value as a versatile offensive weapon capable of operating with or without the ball.

"I think I can fit with any team just because I think I can play both off and on the ball and help my team wherever I go," he said.

So as usual, a Twitter headline makes a guy seem worse than he really is. I really need to stop falling for Twitter clickbait. I should know better by now.

[Caneman786]

Update to Draft Thread Directory at THIS LINK

A few more players have withdrawn since the last update to this thread on April 28.

List of notable players which have withdrawn from the draft since the last update:

Projected second round picks: Juke Harris, JT Toppin

Prospects have to withdraw by 11:59 PM on May 27, so there's still just under two weeks left. I will be updating this thread around that time.

Also, I have changed the source for the mock draft order from ESPN Analytics to the rookiescale.com Consensus Big Board.

Consensus mock draft as of May 14, 2026 with all threads on NBA Draft board as of May 14, 2026 linked:

First Round

1. AJ Dybantsa - Thread created 7/16/24 - Ranked #1 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - Brigham Young University - From Brockton, MA
2. Darryn Peterson - Thread created 11/19/24 - Ranked #2 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Kansas - From Canton, OH
3. ‎Cameron Boozer - Thread created 7/22/24 - Ranked #3 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - Duke University - Miami, FL
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Cameron Boozer Original Thread (locked) Thread created 8/23/23
4. Caleb Wilson - Thread created 11/3/25 - Ranked #5 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of North Carolina - From Atlanta, GA
5. Keaton Wagler - Thread created 1/25/26 - Not top 100 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Illinois - From Shawnee, KS
6. Darius Acuff Jr. - Thread created 12/17/25 - Ranked #10 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Arkansas - From Detroit, MI
7. Kingston Flemings - Thread created 12/11/25 - Ranked #15 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Houston - From San Antonio, TX
8. Mikel Brown Jr. - Thread created 11/8/25 - Ranked #7 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Louisville - From Orlando, FL
9. Brayden Burries - Thread created 1/12/26 - Ranked #9 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Arizona - From San Bernardino, CA
10. Nate Ament - Thread created 11/2/25 - Ranked #4 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Tennessee - From Manassas, VA
11. Yaxel Lendeborg - Thread created 2/21/26 - Not top 100 in the class of 2020 - Senior - University of Michigan - From Pennsauken, NJ
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Yaxel Lendeborg second thread - Thread created 5/3/26
12. Aday Mara - Thread created 6/27/21 - Junior - University of Michigan - From Zaragoza, Spain
13. Karim Lopez - Thread created 10/5/24 - Australian Pro League (NBL) - New Zealand Breakers - From Hermosillo, Mexico
14. Labaron Philon Jr. - Thread created 3/27/26 - Ranked #32 in the class of 2024 - Sophomore - University of Alabama - From Mobile, AL
15. Hannes Steinbach - Thread created 12/30/25 - Freshman - University of Washington - From Würzburg, Germany
16. Jayden Quaintance - Thread not yet created - Ranked #8 in the class of 2024 - Sophomore - Arizona State University - From Cleveland, OH
17. Bennett Stirtz - Thread created 3/28/26 - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Iowa - From Liberty, MO
18. Chris Cenac Jr. - Thread created 3/27/26 - Ranked #6 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Houston - From New Orleans, LA
19. Cameron Carr - Thread created 12/20/25 - Ranked #55 in the class of 2023 - Junior - Baylor University - From Eden Prairie, MN
20. Dailyn Swain - Thread created 3/26/26 - Ranked #94 in the class of 2023 - Junior - University of Texas - From Columbus, OH
21. Christian Anderson Jr. - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2024 - Sophomore - Texas Tech - From Atlanta, GA
22. Koa Peat - Thread created 11/3/25 - Ranked #8 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Arizona - From Gilbert, AZ
23. Morez Johnson Jr. - Thread not yet created - Ranked #26 in the class of 2024 - Sophomore - University of Michigan - From Riverdale, IL
24. Allen Graves - Thread created 3/17/26 - Not top 100 in the class of 2024 - Freshman - Santa Clara University - From Ponchatoula, LA
25. Isaiah Evans - Thread not yet created - Ranked #16 in the class of 2024 - Sophomore - Duke University - From Fayetteville, NC
26. Ebuka Okorie - Thread created 1/26/26 - Not top 100 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - Stanford University - From Nashua, NH
27. Tyler Tanner - Thread created 3/18/26 - Not top 100 in the class of 2024 - Sophomore - Vanderbilt University - From Brentwood, TN
28. Amari Allen - Thread created 12/3/25 - Freshman - University of Alabama - From Green Bay, WI
29. Meleek Thomas - Thread created 11/5/25 - Ranked #12 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Arkansas - From Atlanta, GA
30. Henri Veesaar - Thread not yet created - Senior - University of North Carolina - From Tallinn, Estonia

Second Round

31. Alex Karaban - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2021 - Senior - University of Connecticut - From Southborough, MA
32. Joshua Jefferson - Thread created 1/17/26 - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of North Carolina - From Las Vegas, NV
33. Tounde Yessoufou - Thread created 12/20/25 - Ranked #11 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - Baylor University - From Cotonou, Benin
34. Zuby Ejiofor - Thread not yet created - Ranked #50 in the class of 2022 - Senior - St. John's University - From Garland, TX
35. Sergio de Larrea - Thread created 2/14/25 - Spanish Liga ACB - Valencia - From Valladolid, Spain
36. Tarris Reed Jr. - Thread not yet created - Ranked #31 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Connecticut - From St. Louis, MO
37. Braden Smith - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - Purdue University - From Westfield, IN
38. Ryan Conwell - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Louisville - From Indianapolis, IN
39. Flory Bidunga - Thread not yet created - Ranked #18 in the class of 2024 - Sophomore - Univeristy of Kansas - From Kinshasa, D.R. Congo
40. Milan Momcilovic - Thread created 3/30/26 - Ranked #37 in the class of 2023 - Junior - Iowa State University - From Pewaukee, WI
41. Rueben Chinyelu - Thread not yet created - Junior- University of Florida - From Enugu Agidi, Nigeria
42. Malachi Moreno - Thread not yet created - Ranked #26 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - University of Kentucky - From Georgetown, KY
43. Luigi Suigo - Thread not yet created - AdmiralBet ABA League - KK Mega Basket - From Tradate, Italy
44. Jaden Bradley - Thread not yet created - Ranked #24 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Arizona - From Rochester, NY
45. Baba Miller - Thread created 8/28/21 - Senior - University of Cincinnati - From Mallorca, Spain
46. Richie Saunders - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - Brigham Young University - From Riverton, UT
47. Trevon Brazile - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2021 - Senior - University of Arkansas - From Springfield, MO
48. Bruce Thornton - Thread not yet created - Ranked #47 in the class of 2022 - Senior - The Ohio State University - From Alpharetta, GA
49. Milos Uzan - Thread not yet created - Ranked #70 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Houston - From Las Vegas, NV
50. Emanuel Sharp - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2021 - Senior - University of Houston - From Tampa, FL
51. Kylan Boswell - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Illinois - From Champaign, IL
52. Dillon Mitchell - Thread not yet created - Ranked #5 in the class of 2022 - Senior - St. John's University - From Tampa, FL
53. Otega Oweh - Thread not yet created - Ranked #72 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Kentucky - From Somerset, NJ
54. Darrion Williams - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - North Carolina State University - From Las Vegas, NV
55. Ja'Kobi Gillespie - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Tennessee - From Greeneville, TN
56. Matthew Able - Thread not yet created - Ranked #20 in the class of 2025 - Freshman - North Carolina State University - From Baltimore, MD
57. Tamin Lipsey - Thread not yet created - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - Iowa State University - From Ames, IA
58. Ugonna Onyenso - Thread not yet created - Senior - University of Virginia - From Oweri, Nigeria
59. Billy Richmond III - Thread not yet created - Ranked #27 in the class of 2024 - Sophomore - University of Arkansas - From Memphis, TN
60. Nathan Bittle - Thread not yet created - Ranked #20 in the class of 2021 - Senior - University of Oregon - From Central Point, OR

Fringe prospect, outside of top 196

Tae Davis - Thread created 4/4/26 - Not top 100 in the class of 2022 - Senior - University of Oklahoma - From Indianapolis, IN

The source for the consensus mock draft is the rookiescale.com 2026 NBA Draft Consensus Big Board, which is based on many different currently available draft boards and rankings. https://www.rookiescale.com/2026-consensus-board/

Class rankings are from the RSCI Hoops Index.

Other threads:

General discussion thread for 2026 NBA draft - Thread began 2/4/25

"Is there a generational talent in the 2026 NBA draft?" - Thread began 12/5/25
Upperclassman watch, 2026 NBA draft - Thread began 12/14/25
Seeing prospects play in person - Thread began 1/1/26
Point Guards in the 2026 NBA draft - Thread began 1/5/26
Will one of the Big 3 underwhelm? - Thread began 1/14/26
Poll: Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer for #1 pick? - Thread began 1/25/26
Comparing AJ Dybantsa with Tatum, Barrett as prospects - Thread began 2/5/26
Guards comparison: Acuff, Flemings, Brown, Philon - Thread began 3/8/26
Possible Power Forwards? Peat, Lendeborg, Johnson Jr. - Thread began 3/8/26
Bigs discussion: Steinbach, Quaintance, Ngongba II, etc. - Thread began 3/8/26
Picks 4 to 10 relative strength in other drafts - Thread began 3/14/26
Best fits for teams and draft prospects - Thread began 3/15/26
D1 College Basketball RAPM estimates, 2025–26 season - Thread began 3/19/26
Total points leader in D1 College Basketball: Dybantsa vs. Boozer vs. Acuff Jr. - Thread began 3/19/26
Create your future NBA team - Thread began on 4/6/26
Who gets drafted higher? Jayden Quaintance or Yaxel Lendeborg - Thread began 4/9/26
Which top 5 pick is most likely to bust? - Thread began 4/23/26
Guard ranking (lottery guards) - Thread began 5/10/26

[eminence]

Waiting until draft list is finalized to do order within tiers, but my current tiers, only doing guys who played in college (don't follow others enough unless they're mega elite prospects - Luka/Wemby types). Might move a couple guys between tiers with my final ordering, but most will stay in their current tiers.

Tier 1 (contending team #1 guys)
Cameron Boozer

Tier 2 (star on a more middling team or contending #2)
AJ Dybantsa
Darryn Peterson
Darius Acuff Jr

Tier 3 (+starter, top ~75 guy in the league)
Caleb Wilson
Keaton Wagler
Kingston Flemings
Mikel Brown Jr
Labaron Philon Jr
Christian Anderson

Tier 4 (rotation player)
Brayden Burries
Nate Ament
Yaxel Lendeborg
Aday Mara
Hannes Steinbach
Cameron Carr
Chris Cenac Jr
Morez Johnson Jr
Bennett Stirtz
Allen Graves
Isaiah Evans
Dailyn Swain
Ebuka Okorie
Milan Momcilovic
Tarris Reed Jr
Ugonna Onyenso
Bruce Thornton
Emmanuel Sharp

Excellent draft for guard talent - especially depth, weaker in other areas, but still strong overall.

[Bad Bart]

No chance. Too elite offensively even right now at this moment

Other than being a volume shooter at Kansas the profile on offense wasn't all that special.

The film was exceptional

And he was creating for himself, rather than having plays run for him. Only 15% of his rim attempts were assisted and 19% of the rest of his two point shots.

[King Ken]

Other than being a volume shooter at Kansas the profile on offense wasn't all that special.

The film was exceptional

And he was creating for himself, rather than having plays run for him. Only 15% of his rim attempts were assisted and 19% of the rest of his two point shots.

Watching his film, 0.00% chance anyone in the NBA can consistently guard him. Guys like him, I feel like 30ppg is an easy mark at some stage.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Yeah I am coming around to DP being the best scoring prospect since Zion.

[Caneman786]

The Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman's new mock draft (post-combine):

First round

1. WAS, AJ Dybantsa
2. UTA, Darryn Peterson
3. MEM, Cameron Boozer
4. CHI, Caleb Wilson
5. LAC, Darius Acuff, Jr. (+1)
6. BKN, Mikel Brown, Jr. (+2)
7. SAC, Keaton Wagler (-2)
8. ATL, Aday Mara (+6)
9. DAL, Kingston Flemings (-2)
10. MIL, Karim Lopez
11. GSW, Brayden Burries (-2)
12. OKC, Hannes Steinbach (+7)
13. MIA, Yaxel Lendeborg (-1)
14. CHO, Cameron Carr (+4)
15. CHI, Jayden Quaintance
16. MEM, Labaron Philon, Jr. (-3)
17. OKC, Morez Johnson, Jr. (+6)
18. CHO, Nate Ament (-7)
19. TOR, Christian Anderson, Jr. (-3)
20. SAS, Luigi Suigo (+13)
21. DET, Bennett Stirtz
22. PHI, Chris Cenac, Jr. (-5)
23. ATL, Ebuka Okorie (-1)
24. NYK, Isaiah Evans (+1)
25. LAL, Dailyn Swain (-1)
26. DEN, Amari Allen
27. BOS, Allen Graves (-7)
28. MIN, Tounde Yessoufou (+1)
29. CLE, Malachi Moreno (+2)
30. DAL, Koa Peat (-3)

The previous update was five days ago on May 10, 2026.

An archive link of today's update is here.

[Bad Bart]

The film was exceptional

And he was creating for himself, rather than having plays run for him. Only 15% of his rim attempts were assisted and 19% of the rest of his two point shots.

Watching his film, 0.00% chance anyone in the NBA can consistently guard him. Guys like him, I feel like 30ppg is an easy mark at some stage.

100% - This discussion is making me reconsider my current AJ at 1 stance.

[BigGargamel]

I think I might be putting all 3 Michigan big men in the late lottery for my next mock.

I have a feeling all 3 will go ahead of Burries and Ament.

[Chuck Everett]

If Atlanta takes Mara at 8, they would have to be 100% sure that he is their future starting center for the next 7-9 years. Otherwise, that will look really dumb in a few years. Just like it was dumb to take Risacher over Sarr and Castle.

[azcatz11]

If Atlanta takes Mara at 8, they would have to be 100% sure that he is their future starting center for the next 7-9 years. Otherwise, that will look really dumb in a few years. Just like it was dumb to take Risacher over Sarr and Castle.

Mara at 8 seems like a huge reach. I’d be comfortable with him after 15 anything sooner is not for me

[King Ken]

If Atlanta takes Mara at 8, they would have to be 100% sure that he is their future starting center for the next 7-9 years. Otherwise, that will look really dumb in a few years. Just like it was dumb to take Risacher over Sarr and Castle.

It will be worse than drafting Shelden Williams just due to the quality of the draft. Drafting a guaranteed bust in the top 10 is always an awful move, as it was for the Hawks, Wolves, Wizards (although I am not sure Johnny Davis was a top 10 pick (Checked, he was, lmao)), and it would be for any team that took Mara in the lottery. It would truly damage that franchise for years. Washington is finally about to recover from that mistake in 2026. Wolves took years to recover and fired Connelly instantly when they realized how awful a pick that was. I honestly believe that was the last strike for Shepp, and that really killed BK. If it weren't for the lawsuit, he would have been fired sooner.

Risacher is a lot better than you think. He has to fix his body and core strength. He's sadly a victim of his draft class. Hawks were never taking Castle, and it wouldn't have made sense with Trae. My opinion on Sarr is low, and it's much lower now than it was then. Let's just say, Zacc and Alex have A LOT of work to do this offseason. A LOT!

[Chuck Everett]

Risacher is a lot better than you think. He has to fix his body and core strength. He's sadly a victim of his draft class. Hawks were never taking Castle, and it wouldn't have made sense with Trae. My opinion on Sarr is low, and it's much lower now than it was then. Let's just say, Zacc and Alex have A LOT of work to do this offseason. A LOT!

I like Risacher a lot as well, but Quin Snyder doesn't like him and they seem committed to Quin, so Zacc needs a change of scenery. I think he will eventually turn into a good player, but if that is for a different team, then we have to conclude that he was a bad pick for Atlanta (unless trading him leads to something that helps the Hawks).

[King Ken]

Risacher is a lot better than you think. He has to fix his body and core strength. He's sadly a victim of his draft class. Hawks were never taking Castle, and it wouldn't have made sense with Trae. My opinion on Sarr is low, and it's much lower now than it was then. Let's just say, Zacc and Alex have A LOT of work to do this offseason. A LOT!

I like Risacher a lot as well, but Quin Snyder doesn't like him and they seem committed to Quin, so Zacc needs a change of scenery. I think he will eventually turn into a good player, but if that is for a different team, then we have to conclude that he was a bad pick for Atlanta (unless trading him leads to something that helps the Hawks).

Quin likes him but he's trying to win and while Risacher does some winning things that even some 10 year vets don't do, he also does things you expect a freshman college kid to execute.

He's going to stay in Atlanta this offseason and not go to France. He needs to work on:

plyometrics
Core strength
And balance

Fix those things and he could really be a productive wing but he can't have this many major flaws in 2026/27.

[tmorgan]

My secret love for DP is still lurking. Still think there’s a real chance he’s as close to Kobe as we’re ever likely to see.

[babyjax13]

Seeming more like Koa Peat will withdraw. I'd love to see him stay in and then have him drafted by the Thunder or Spurs. A team with a stretch 5 that could use some physicality and defensive switchability at power forward.

[moss_is_1]

Luigi Suigo is going to be a riser after workouts and teams get to see him more I think. Lack of centers in the draft, teams are going to drool over his 7'2.75" size after seeing Wemby dominate in the playoffs.

I kinda just glossed over him early on but he's got a lot more skills and is more than just a huge body. NBA will help transform his body to get stronger, possibly quicker too.

[Cammo101]

If Atlanta takes Mara at 8, they would have to be 100% sure that he is their future starting center for the next 7-9 years. Otherwise, that will look really dumb in a few years. Just like it was dumb to take Risacher over Sarr and Castle.

Risacher over Sarr was dumb at the time it happened. Had they taken Sarr, they wouldn't now feel the need to reach for Mara.

[The Consiglieri]

Ball handling looked good enough, but I agree with the assessment that he leaves a fair amount to be desired as a playmaker for others. Seems in the Ant vein of perimeter guys imo.

This is basically going to come down to what scouts saw of his high school game versus his NCAA game, and whether or not they think the different player he was in high school and other assorted competitions (where he absolutely was a playmaker) comes down to how a coach used him, or a players efficacy at a more difficult jump in competition. I definitely think that F.O.'s view his playmaking pre-Kansas as who he is. Whether they're right or not, time will tell.

[The Consiglieri]

If Atlanta takes Mara at 8, they would have to be 100% sure that he is their future starting center for the next 7-9 years. Otherwise, that will look really dumb in a few years. Just like it was dumb to take Risacher over Sarr and Castle.

Mara at 8 seems like a huge reach. I’d be comfortable with him after 15 anything sooner is not for me

100% for me, strikes me as pure unadulterated idiocy. Some crazy measurements and a nice showing in the Final Four and suddenly he's gone from late 1st/2nd round last December to inside the top 8 and jumping ahead of some of those fantastic Guard prospects? Just utter foolishness to me, and honestly, even if he does hit, I still feel 100% right because this process is what will land you far more busts and sub-mediocrities than hits. It's just not the way to maximize draft capital, to reach like that, far more often than not, you're going to be crying that you didn't take Brown Jr, or Wagler, or Acuff, or Flemings etc. If you like him that much, trade down and at least get something for your trouble in case he gets picked, to reach that far is just so foolish in my view. I don't get it at all. Even Ament after a horrible freshman year that went really wrong for large chunks of the season makes more sense.