NBA mock draft 2026: Generational ‘massive 3’ lead a category price tanking for

The 2025 NBA Draft is within the books. Because the basketball world turns the web page to free company, commerce season, and summer time league, it’s already time to start out looking forward to subsequent 12 months’s draft class.

The 2026 NBA Draft ought to already be on the prime of thoughts for groups across the league. It is a uncommon class with three potential No. 1 total prospects who’re all price tanking for. I’ve been protecting the NBA Draft right here since 2014, and I can confidently say the 2026 class has the strongest preseason top-three I’ve evaluated in BYU ahead AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke massive man Cameron Boozer. Getting the No. 2 or No. 3 decide in 2026 is far more priceless than it often is. Getting the No. 4 decide may really feel like an enormous letdown relying the event of the remainder of the category.

Predicting subsequent 12 months’s NBA draft is an annual custom for me. You may return and browse my early boards for a enjoyable journey down reminiscence lane from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 right here.

Right here’s a way-too-early 2026 NBA mock draft, with extra evaluation on this class after the desk.

Let’s dive in to among the massive storylines on this class.

Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and AJ Dybantsa vie for No. 1 in traditionally robust top-3 of 2026 NBA Draft

A stud massive man with an unbreakable pedigree of profitable at each degree. A guard with unimaginable two-way physicality and shot-making capacity from anyplace on the ground. A wing with prototypical size, energy, explosiveness, and shot-making. Who’re you taking No. 1 total?

In the meanwhile, I’d say there’s no flawed reply. Boozer, Peterson, and Dybantsa enter the 2026 draft cycle with what seems like an equal share of No. 1 total fairness. The season will decide how this massive three shakes out, however I really feel assured all of them will finish the 12 months as wonderful prospects who challenge as franchise gamers for the groups fortunate sufficient to get them.

I went with Boozer as my preseason No. 1. Right here’s an extended breakdown on every part that makes him particular from final 12 months. In brief, I’m betting on Boozer for his elite IQ and mentality, his dimension and energy, and his rising ability degree. Boozer simply seems like he thinks the sport two steps forward of everybody else on the ground. His capacity to play with brains and brawn will work on the highest ranges of the sport even when he’s not the largest participant on the ground. Boozer’s passing might be an automated plus on the subsequent degree with implausible outlet passing and the flexibility to be a hub within the halfcourt. The way in which he will get his workforce working in transition jogs my memory of participant with a very completely different physique kind: Tyrese Haliburton. He’s going to be an excellent scorer off the dribble, too, particularly now that he’s exhibiting pull-up three-point taking pictures to enhance his bully-ball driving and expert inside ending. Perhaps you suppose Boozer is slightly too quick for a middle and never fairly fast sufficient to be a 4. I get it. I wouldn’t be shocked if Boozer goes third within the 2026 draft for these causes, however I nonetheless suppose he’s the perfect prospect on this class for his capacity to influence profitable.

Peterson is an elite prospect, too, and he was briefly No. 1 on my earliest 2026 draft checklist a number of months in the past. The 6’5 guard had a senior 12 months for the ages, detonating each blue-chip prospect in his path with an absurd mixture of three-level scoring, playmaking, and defensive depth. Peterson is a relentless scorer with a deep bag of methods who someway not often seems like he’s forcing the motion. His physicality is top-notch for a guard by way of size/energy/explosiveness, and he’s additionally extraordinarily well-conditioned to play onerous as hell on each possession. There aren’t many elite offensive guards who’re this disruptive on protection. Peterson is a killer on the basketball ground in each sense, and he’s going to be a day one star for Invoice Self at Kansas subsequent season.

Dybantsa is essentially the most highly-touted of the big-three, and possibly the almost definitely to ultimately be drafted No. 1 total. He has a great mixture of size (7’1), explosiveness, and taking pictures contact for an NBA wing, and in contrast to Ace Bailey, he already has a developed deal with that enables him to strain the rim, plus the energy to complete via contact. Dybantsa is a monster prospect in each sense, I similar to Boozer and Peterson’s sport slightly bit extra.

Who’re another influence freshmen within the 2026 draft?

• Nate Ament, F, Tennessee: An extended wing with flashes of deal with and taking pictures growth. Choosing Tennessee for school — historically one of many sport’s greatest defensive packages — is an enchanting alternative that might pay main dividends if he develops on that finish.
• Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville: A fast and shifty guard with a sophisticated deal with and pace to burn. He’s going to be on the controls for a loaded Louisville workforce subsequent season, the place he ought to be capable of exhibit his playmaking and down scoring.
• Chris Cenac, C, Houston: A stretch massive who can hearth from deep with flashes of rim safety. A 12 months beneath Kelvin Sampson ought to make him harder and extra disciplined on the defensive finish.
• Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina: Athletic ahead with a 7-foot wingspan and an understanding of tips on how to use it defensively. He’s extra of a connective piece on offense proper now, however UNC will give him every part he can deal with subsequent season.
• Brayden Burries, G, Arizona: Bucket-getting guard who is admittedly previous for his class, turning 20 in Sept. His pull-up taking pictures and downhill scoring ought to have an prompt influence at Arizona.

Who’re the highest faculty returners within the 2026 draft?

• Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa: Stirtz had a breakout 12 months Drake to steer his workforce to an NCAA match win and emerge as probably the nation’s greatest mid-major participant. He had the expertise to be drafted in 2025, however selected to observe his coach from D2 to the MVC to Iowa. He impacts the sport in so many areas as a scorer, playmaker, growing shooter (39 p.c from deep final 12 months), and defensive thief who posted an enormous steal fee. He’s primed for a monster season.
• Yaxel Lendeborg, F/C, Michigan: Level-forward fashion massive man who additionally gained Defensive Participant of the 12 months within the AAC after which took an enormous NIL bag from Michigan relatively than enter the draft. He’s a extremely good playmaker who will capably fill Danny Wolf’s sneakers in that space, he’s a talented inside scorer, and he’ll be a shutdown defender. I feel he has an opportunity to be the perfect participant in faculty basketball subsequent 12 months (although I’d nonetheless decide Boozer).
• Miles Byrd, G/F, San Diego State: 6’7 wing who put up comically enormous block and steal charges for San Diego State. He completely would have been drafted in 2025, however one other 12 months at school to assist proceed his taking pictures growth and enhance his creation capacity may repay.