By Sweet Science Sports Staff
Consensus Mock Draft: The landscape just before the 2026 NBA Draft
The 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to feature a distinct “Big Three” tier of elite talent, with AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), and Cameron Boozer (Duke) at the top of every major draft board.
The latest consensus first-round projections follow the recent fallout from the massive draft-week trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami.
2026 Consensus Top 14 Lottery Projections
| Pick | NBA Team | Draft Prospect | Position / College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington Wizards | AJ Dybantsa | SF - Brigham Young University |
| 2 | Utah Jazz | Darryn Peterson | SG/PG - Kansas |
| 3 | Memphis Grizzlies | Cameron Boozer | PF - Duke |
| 4 | Chicago Bulls | Caleb Wilson | SF/PF - North Carolina |
| 5 | LA Clippers | Keaton Wagler | SG/PG - Illinois |
| 6 | Brooklyn Nets | Darius Acuff Jr. | PG - Arkansas |
| 7 | Sacramento Kings | Mikel Brown Jr. | PG - Louisville |
| 8 | Atlanta Hawks | Kingston Flemings | PG - Houston |
| 9 | Dallas Mavericks | Brayden Burries | SG - Arizona |
| 10 | Milwaukee Bucks | Aday Mara | C - Michigan |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | Yaxel Lendeborg | PF/SF - Michigan |
| 12 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Nate Ament | SF/PF - Tennessee |
| 13 | Miami Heat (via MIL) | Hannes Steinbach | PF/C - Washington |
| 14 | Charlotte Hornets | Morez Johnson Jr. | PF/C - Michigan |
Analysis of Top Prospects
AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
A consensus No. 1 pick to the Washington Wizards. Dybantsa, 6-foot-9, was the top scorer in Division I college basketball, an elite mix of size, perimeter handling, and downhill shot-making that resembles top modern NBA wings.
Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
A 6-5 scoring guard, who averaged 20.2 points per game for the Jayhawks. Some cramping issues hampered parts of his college season, but front offices are high on his fluid body control and his pure three-level scoring punch to have him firmly in the top two slots.
Cameron Boozer (Duke)
The most analytically liked and polished player in the entire class. The Naismith Player of the Year has a massive 6-foot-9 frame, elite footwork, point-forward passing ability, and an efficient 40% strike rate from the three-point line.
The Lead Guard Tier
The real draft drama really kicks into gear around picks 5 through 8, with a really competitive group of ball-handlers - Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., and Kingston Flemings - tightly packed across ESPN and CBS Sports big boards.
- Sweet Science Sports (S³) Online
Decoding Greatness
