NBA · 1 hour ago

ESPN’s 2026 NBA Draft Big Board: Ranking the Top 10 Prospects

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

You Tell Us! What Does Your Top 10 Look Like?
The board is set, and after a long season of scouting, we have a clear look at the top tier of the 2026 class. But as we head into the predraft process, there’s still plenty of room for things to shift.

Join the Debate: Who is your No. 1?
- The Safe Bet: Is AJ Dybantsa a lock for the top pick, or is Cam Boozer’s winning pedigree enough to steal the spot?
- The Injury Wildcards: How much do you trust Darryn Peterson or Mikel Brown Jr. after their health setbacks this year?
- The Tournament Riser: Are you buying Keaton Wagler as a top-five talent after his Final Four run?
- The Sleeper: Which player in the back half of the top 10 has the highest ceiling?
Sound off in the comments: Which of these top 10 prospects would you want your team to build around?
ESPN's 2026 NBA Draft Player Rankings
ESPN's Top 10 Prospects of the 2026 Class

The college basketball season is in the rearview, and for the top prospects in the country, the focus has shifted from the tournament bracket to the draft board. From established stars at Duke to the late-blooming risers who fueled deep tournament runs, ESPN's top 10 represents the elite tier of the 2026 class.

Let's dive into Jeremy Woo's power rankings as we head toward the draft.
10. Brayden Burries | SG | Arizona
Freshman | Height: 6-4 | Age: 20.6 | Previous Ranking: 10

Burries isn’t going to blow you away with explosive athleticism, but he’s a smart player who knows how to impact the game. He’s older than most of the other freshmen, which helps him physically on both ends of the floor.

"He's not elite in any one area, but he proved himself as a multifaceted contributor who's comfortable on and off the ball and adds value defensively and on the glass."
- The Future: His path in the NBA depends on whether he can sharpen his handle enough to become a full-time lead guard.
- 2025-26 Stats: 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists
9. Mikel Brown Jr. | PG | Louisville
Freshman | Height: 6-5 | Age: 20.0 | Previous Ranking: 9

Brown’s season ended in a bit of a fog after a back injury kept him out of Louisville's final six games. He’s got the vision and the size to be a high-level playmaker, but the missed time means his workouts and medicals are going to be huge.

"The high points of his season showcased his shotmaking and vision, which, coupled with plus positional size, give him intriguing upside."
- The Evaluation: Scouts are still high on his shot-making, but his efficiency and availability are the two big question marks heading into the summer.
- 2025-26 Stats: 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists
8. Nate Ament | SF/PF | Tennessee
Freshman | Height: 6-10 | Age: 19.3 | Previous Ranking: 8

Injuries slowed Ament down in February, but he did enough during Tennessee’s Elite Eight run to keep scouts interested. He fits the mold of a tall, fluid skill player that NBA teams are always hunting for on the perimeter.

"Scouts are split on the likelihood of him reaching his ceiling, as he's not an explosive athlete and has had some challenging moments this season."
- The Archetype: He might not be a Day 1 contributor, but a 6-10 guy with his fluidity is a developmental bet most teams are willing to take.
- 2025-26 Stats: 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists
7. Kingston Flemings | PG | Houston
Freshman | Height: 6-4 | Age: 19.3 | Previous Ranking: 7

Flemings cooled off a bit late, but he’s already established himself as a winner who can anchor a backcourt for the long haul. He plays with a lot of speed and isn't afraid to take contact when he’s attacking the paint.

"Flemings puts immense pressure on the paint with his speed, finishing and willingness to play through contact."
- The Passing: He’s an unselfish floor general who really shines when the game gets out in the open floor.
- 2025-26 Stats: 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists
6. Darius Acuff Jr. | PG | Arkansas
Freshman | Height: 6-3 | Age: 19.4 | Previous Ranking: 6

Acuff finished the year on an absolute tear, sweeping the SEC awards and leading Arkansas on a Sweet 16 run. He might be the most pro-ready guard in this class when it comes to running an offense and finding his own shot.

"His ability to dictate game flow, elevate in traffic for tough jumpers and find open teammates easily off the bounce gives him real offensive star power to boost his candidacy."
- The Efficiency: He handled a massive usage rate while shooting 44% from three and keeping his turnovers low.
- 2025-26 Stats: 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists
5. Keaton Wagler | PG/SG | Illinois
Freshman | Height 6-6 | Age: 19.2 | Previous Ranking: 5

Wagler was the engine behind a deep Final Four run for Illinois. He’s one of the biggest risers in the class, moving from a preseason curiosity to a legitimate top-five prospect thanks to his high-level vision and size at the guard spot.

"Wagler's ability to enhance lineups raises his NBA floor significantly, with his upside tied to how efficient and technical he can become as a lead guard."
- The Comparison: Scouts are already comparing his ability to see over the defense to what they loved about Tyrese Haliburton.
- 2025-26 Stats: 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists
4. Caleb Wilson | PF/C | North Carolina
Freshman | Height: 6-10 | Age: 19.7 | Previous Ranking: 4

Wilson’s season ended on a frustrating note after hand injuries kept him out of the postseason. It was a missed chance to see him on the big stage, but his stock is still sky-high because of his massive athletic upside and mobility.

"Wilson projects to eventually add value on both ends of the floor as an explosive, toolsy forward with the potential to drive secondary offense and evolve into a versatile defender."
- The Upside: He’s still a bit unpolished as a shooter and ball-handler, but his motor and physicality kept him at the top of the boards.
- 2025-26 Stats: 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists
3. Cameron Boozer | PF/C | Duke
Freshman | Height: 6-9 | Age: 18.7 | Previous Ranking: 3

Boozer did exactly what everyone expected him to do at Duke: he won. He was arguably the most consistent player in college basketball, leading the country in box plus-minus while bringing the Blue Devils within a hair of the Final Four.

"It's hard to argue with Boozer's body of work, impeccable offensive feel and productivity, which have drawn comparisons from scouts to players such as Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Love."
- The Production: He shot a blistering 39.1% from three and cleaned up the Player of the Year awards.
- 2025-26 Stats: 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists
2. Darryn Peterson | PG/SG | Kansas
Freshman | Height: 6-6 | Age: 19.1 | Previous Ranking: 2

Peterson might have slipped a bit behind Dybantsa in the No. 1 race, but there’s still a massive amount of belief in his scoring ability. His season at Kansas was a bit of a rollercoaster, mostly due to a health scare in the preseason that seemed to linger.

"He's the most gifted scorer and shotmaker in the class, with room to improve as an on-ball creator."
- The Context: Teams will be digging into his medical reports after a preseason cramping episode slowed him physically and mentally.
- 2025-26 Stats: 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists
1. AJ Dybantsa | SF | BYU
Freshman | Height: 6-9 | Age: 19.2 | Previous Ranking: 1

Dybantsa has essentially locked himself in as the man to beat for the top spot. Even while BYU struggled late in the year, he proved he could carry the scoring load and showed a lot of growth as a playmaker. He’s got the size and the unteachable physical traits that make scouts drool.

"Dybantsa has become the player NBA executives most commonly project to be selected first, with the expectation that he'll be a star wing scorer with the capacity to drive winning on both sides of the ball in the long run."
- The Fit: He’s a plug-and-play wing who can immediately help a lottery team find an identity on offense.
- 2025-26 Stats: 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists
You Tell Us! What Does Your Top 10 Look Like?
The board is set, and after a long season of scouting, we have a clear look at the top tier of the 2026 class. But as we head into the predraft process, there’s still plenty of room for things to shift.

Join the Debate: Who is your No. 1?
- The Safe Bet: Is AJ Dybantsa a lock for the top pick, or is Cam Boozer’s winning pedigree enough to steal the spot?
- The Injury Wildcards: How much do you trust Darryn Peterson or Mikel Brown Jr. after their health setbacks this year?
- The Tournament Riser: Are you buying Keaton Wagler as a top-five talent after his Final Four run?
- The Sleeper: Which player in the back half of the top 10 has the highest ceiling?
Sound off in the comments: Which of these top 10 prospects would you want your team to build around?
ESPN's 2026 NBA Draft Player Rankings
ESPN's Top 10 Prospects of the 2026 Class

The college basketball season is in the rearview, and for the top prospects in the country, the focus has shifted from the tournament bracket to the draft board. From established stars at Duke to the late-blooming risers who fueled deep tournament runs, ESPN's top 10 represents the elite tier of the 2026 class.

Let's dive into Jeremy Woo's power rankings as we head toward the draft.