With the June 24 draft approaching, nine college freshmen sit atop ESPN’s prospect board, positioning the 2026 class to threaten the 2017 record of 11 first-year players taken in the lottery. Each newcomer enters March with a distinct résumé — and at least one lingering question that could shift the top of the board.
Darryn Peterson, Kansas – No. 1
Age: 19.1
Regarded as the draft’s most advanced shot-creator and a premier perimeter shooter, Peterson began the year as the consensus favorite for the first overall pick. A season disrupted by injuries, illness and late-game cramping — he has averaged 27.9 minutes with 19 starts in 30 contests — has complicated that outlook. Scouts remain confident in his playmaking and explosiveness but want medical clarity before the combine.
Main question: Does his talent outweigh the uncertainty surrounding his health?
AJ Dybantsa, BYU – No. 2
Age: 19.1
Dybantsa closed February strong, leading the Big 12 in scoring at 26.2 points while adding 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists through 17 league games. The 6-foot-8 wing has boosted his three-point clip to 34.7% and is considered the class’s top two-way athlete.
Main question: Can a dominant postseason, especially on defense, persuade lottery winners he is the safer No. 1 choice?
Cameron Boozer, Duke – No. 3
Age: 18.6
Boozer powers 28-2 Duke with 40.4% shooting from deep and efficiency metrics that rival Zion Williamson’s freshman season. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan, he operates effectively in short rolls and pick-and-pops but lacks elite vertical lift and struggles closing out on the perimeter.
Main question: Will concerns about rim protection and foot speed keep him from entering the No. 1 conversation despite unmatched production?
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina – No. 4
Age: 19.6
Before breaking his hand on Feb. 10, Wilson emerged as a high-energy interior force, converting 72% at the rim with 67 dunks. North Carolina expects him back for the tournament.
Main question: Can teams envision enough skill growth to justify selecting him over more polished peers?
Kingston Flemings, Houston – No. 5
Age: 19.2
The sophomore-heavy Cougars lean on Flemings, whose burst and above-the-rim play helped them reach last season’s title game. His 48/37/84 shooting split calmed pre-college worries about his jumper, though an unorthodox release invites further scrutiny.
Main question: Is the perimeter improvement sustainable when defenses load the paint?
Keaton Wagler, Illinois – No. 6
Age: 19.1
The 6-foot-6 guard vaulted from three-star recruit to Big Ten headliner, highlighted by a 46-point night at Purdue. He hits 42% from long range but finishes just 48.1% on twos.
Main question: Could positional size, shooting touch and late-bloomer upside lift him into the top five?
Nate Ament, Tennessee – No. 7
Age: 19.2
A mid-season surge (19 points, six rebounds a game in SEC play) steadied Ament’s stock before a right-leg injury Saturday versus Alabama. The 6-10 forward flashes off-the-bounce scoring but is hitting 54% at the rim and 32.8% from three.
Main question: How much can he advance his handle and shot creation to unlock the coveted jumbo-wing profile?
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas – No. 8
Age: 19.3
The SEC leader in points (22.0) and assists (6.2) has quieted concerns about ball dominance by posting only two turnovers per game and draining nearly 43% of his threes. At 6-foot-3 he relies on strength and balance to reach his spots, but defensive impact remains modest.
Main question: Can consistency and polish outweigh the size and athletic upside of rival guards?
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville – No. 9
Age: 19.9
Brown returned from an eight-game back absence with a 45-point display against NC State, reinforcing his reputation for difficult shot-making. He owns a 34% mark from beyond the arc and missed Tuesday’s win over Syracuse with renewed back soreness.
Main question: Which version shows up in March — the patient playmaker attacking the paint or the high-volume gunner settling for tough jumpers?
Next in line
Big man Hannes Steinbach (Washington) and wings Brayden Burries (Arizona), Braylon Mullins (UConn), Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston) and Koa Peat (Arizona) are projected first-rounders with a chance to slip into lottery territory. Burries, an older freshman now spearheading Arizona’s offense and defending at a high level, has generated the most late momentum.
The coming conference tournaments and NCAA bracket will give executives their final in-game evaluations before medical reviews and private workouts separate the class further.
Source: ESPN.com
