2026 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0
January 2, 2026. Written by Daniel Lindsey
As we kick off 2026, the new year presents the best timing for my first NBA draft big board. These will increase in size as the versions move along, and as I get more scouting and intel done on these prospects. This class is one of the best of the last decade and hasn’t disappointed at all in this NBA draft cycle. There were many players considered, but these ten have solidified themselves as the top guys on my board for the time being.
Honorable Mentions: Labaron Philon G Alabama, Kingston Flemings G Houston, Jayden Quaintance C Kentucky, Bennett Stirtz G Iowa, Neoklis Avdalas G Virginia Tech.
10. Darius Acuff Jr, Guard, Arkansas
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 13 G, 18.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 6.2 apg, 49% FG, 44% 3P
Acuff is an elite self-creating lead guard who can create his own shots at the rim and from behind the 3-point arc. One of the biggest concerns coming into his freshman year from scouts was his inconsistency from three. He has crushed expectations from beyond the arc out of the water, shooting 44% in out-of-conference play. Acuff has a great handle, and his playmaking has really proved to be as elite as it was advertised out of high school. One of his biggest problems as a recruit was his struggles with turnovers and sometimes having tunnel vision coming downhill. He has again proved against this so far this year, averaging only 1.9 turnovers a game compared to his 6.2 assists per game. Acuff is limited on the defensive side of the ball and can tend to struggle on that end. Doesn’t really generate many steals or blocks, and is a limited perimeter defender as well. Acuff also has limited physical tools, with a reported 6'2'’, 190-pound frame. Overall, Acuff is a good athlete with some of the best on-ball creating skills in this class, but struggles on the defensive end, and is a bit undersized.
Early Player Comp: Darius Garland
Best Team Fits: Mavericks, Bucks, Timberwolves
9. Nate Ament, Wing, Tennessee
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 13 G, 15.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 40% FG, 29% 3P
Ament is a very interesting prospect. He came into the season as the consensus “other” guy next to the top 3 of Dybantsa, Boozer, and Peterson, but has fallen after struggling to score efficiently at Tennessee so far. Ament has an incredible 6'10", 210-pound frame on the wing with incredibly long arms and long legs that get him down the court in a hurry. Everything people love about Ament comes in flashes. He has struggled to create for himself consistently so far in this collegiate season, shooting only 40% from the field and under 30% from three. He also struggles to get to the rim effectively, which might be his most glaring weak spot. But there are certain games on film where he really does look like a future NBA star to me, rising up over smaller defenders and smoothly getting to the rim using his long frame. Ament has shown flashes defensively as well this year, at times being really effective protecting the rim, and using his length to defend guards on the perimeter. When you look past the flashes, though, he can struggle to move his feet sometimes, and when matched up with bigger post players, he can tend to be overpowered.
Early Player Comp: Cam Johnson
Best Team Fits: Grizzlies, Warriors
8. Tounde Yessoufou, Wing, Baylor
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 12 G, 19.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 51% FG, 31% 3P
Yessoufou is a very physically gifted wing with great scoring ability and defensive upside. Yessoufou was a five-star recruit out of high school, and he has lived up to that prestige so far in his freshman year at Baylor. He is a very powerful and efficient scorer inside the arc, and he is relentless in driving to the rim. Has one of the best motors in the class, and really shows it on the defensive boards and on the defensive side of the basketball. His defensive versatility is a big plus as well, with the ability to guard 2–4 great, and switch onto 1s and 5s with not much hassle. Some of the bigger concerns with his game, however, come from outside the arc. He is a very inconsistent outside shooter who has shown flashes of hitting tough shots on the perimeter, but really can also go cold sometimes as well. Also, when driving to the rim and creating for himself off the dribble, he tends to lean on his physical superiority and frame, and he will have to develop his skills as a creator more in the league. Tounde can also tend to have a bit of a reckless shot selection at times, and needs to improve that, along with some of his passing skills.
Early Player Comp: OG Anunoby
Best Team Fits: Hornets, Pacers, Trail Blazers
7. Hannes Steinbach, Forward, Washington
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 10 G, 18.1 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 59% FG, 46% 3P
Steinbach is a big-framed forward with incredible post skills and elite rebounding talent. Hannes is more of an old-fashioned big man with his post play, but he can also knock it down super efficiently from beyond the arc. He has elite touch in the paint and is very good at maneuvering around defenders with his feel and overpowering smaller defenders with his power. Steinbach has also shown the ability to knock down threes consistently this season as well, shooting 46% from three on low volume. He is an incredibly talented offensive and defensive rebounder and is very physical on both boards, one of the best rebounders in the class. He is a good team passer who has shown some flashes of really impressive passing out of the post and from the top of the key. He is a very good pick-and-roll partner as well, super aware. However, Hannes does have some weaknesses moving his feet and staying with guards on the defensive end, as well as not being an elite rim protector either. He needs to get better at defending drivers and being able to use his length to protect the rim more efficiently.
Early Player Comp: Domantas Sabonis
Best Team Fits: Hawks, Clippers
6. Mikel Brown Jr, Guard, Louisville
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 10 G, 16.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.1 apg, 38% FG, 27% 3P
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Brown is a crafty big guard who is one of the best on-ball creators and playmakers in the class. Mikel is an elite offensive creator with a great handle and star pick-and-roll feel. Even with lacking efficiency from both inside and beyond the arc so far in out-of-conference play, he still is a very effective shot maker from beyond the arc off the dribble and off the catch. His handle is probably best in the class, and he keeps the ball on a string at all times and uses his handle well in the lane to get to the rim. He’s very good at staying at his own pace and not letting defenders speed up his process. Good defensive playmaker as well. Has good height for a lead guard at 6'5'’, but a slender frame at just 190 pounds. Can struggle with shot selection sometimes, taking some tough shots, especially from beyond the arc. Has had issues finishing through tougher defenses and can struggle with physicality. More of a finesse player than an explosion player, which can cap his ceiling. Overall, Brown is a tremendously talented lead guard who can lead an offense with his creation and playmaking, but can struggle to find the best shots and finish through contact.
Early Player Comp: LaMelo Ball
Best Team Fits: Mavericks, Wizards, Bucks
5. Koa Peat, Forward, Arizona
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 13 G, 14.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.8 apg, 56% FG, 13% 3P
Peat is a big, bulky old-fashioned forward with an elite inside game, is a great all-around offensive creator, and tremendous defensive talent. Koa has a great physical build, standing 6'8'’, 235 pounds. He is a wonderful finisher around the rim, as he can finish through contact and finish with finesse. Peat is an absolute killer in the mid-range area as he gets a lot of lift and has a high release to shoot over anyone inside the arc. His rebounding is also very solid on both sides of the court. His playmaking skills have also proved to be very effective for him, being able to create for himself and his teammates against any matchup. Besides his elite all-around offensive game, Koa also has a lot of defensive tools that will be of use to any NBA squad. He’s quick on his feet on the perimeter and strong against bigs in the paint, with great instincts in the passing lanes as well. His only glaring weakness is his lack of a three-point shooting game, shooting 13% so far this year on low volume. His form isn’t great either; big area of improvement for him.
Early Player Comp: Aaron Gordon+
Best Team Fits: Wizards, Hornets, Thunder
4. Caleb Wilson, Forward, UNC
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 14 G, 19.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 56% FG, 27% 3P
Wilson is a big do-it-all forward who can defend your best player and has shown flashes of elite shot-making skills. Caleb is an athletic phenom, has some of the best vertical ability in the class, combined with great speed and movement skills, both in transition and the half-court. He has shown flashes of using that athleticism to get into the paint and score with efficiency around the rim, as well as create his own shot off the dribble sometimes. Hasn’t shown much this season in terms of breaking a defender down on the perimeter, but has shown flashes of being able to create with his back to the basket inside the arc. His defensive impact is his biggest strength, though. He uses his elite athletic ability to contest shots at the rim effectively, and uses his quick feet to defend on the perimeter and fit anywhere in the PnR. Caleb also has a tremendous motor and is playing harder than most people on the court at all times. Some weaknesses to Wilson’s game include his offensive struggles, where he can go cold at times, especially from beyond the arc. He can tend to force shots or passes sometimes into windows that don’t fit, which leads to turnovers. Also kind of a weird mover, can get knocked off balance sometimes.
Early Player Comp: Jerami Grant+
Best Team Fits: Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, Wizards
3. Cameron Boozer, Forward, Duke
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 13 G, 23.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 57% FG, 36% 3P
Boozer is an uber dominant in and out big man who can do it all on both ends. Cam has a big frame for a forward at 6'9'’, 250 pounds, with a 7'0" plus wingspan. He is the best interior scorer in the entire class, with elite post touch and great footwork, and movement to finish with finesse in the post. He’s very good at facing up to his defender in the mid-range and attacking them off the dribble. Boozer is also really talented at stretching the floor with three-point shooting and can face up and attack off the dribble from the three-point line as well. Along with his elite scoring talent in the post and from beyond the arc, Boozer has an elite basketball IQ and can really facilitate the Duke offense efficiently. Boozer is a reliable rebounder who uses his great size and physicality to grab a lot of boards. In general, Cam just has a very mature, professional approach to the game that makes his floor super high. Defensively as well, he has great positioning and communicates and switches well, even without being the best vertical athlete. Those same athletic limitations are one of his bigger weaknesses, not bad, just not a special athlete like some others toward the top of this class.
Early Player Comp: Karl Anthony-Towns
Best Team Fits: Thunder, Nets, Kings
2. AJ Dybantsa, Wing, BYU
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 13 G, 23.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 59% FG, 33% 3P
Dybantsa is an incredibly talented scoring wing with a combo of passing ability and defensive potential that makes him an incredible prospect. AJ is an elite scorer on all three levels of the court, really good at creating his own shot and knowing when to pull up and shoot over the top in the mid-range. He has an elite physical profile as well, standing 6'9'’ with a lot of length, fluidity, and vertical ability. Has incredible footwork, with effective step-backs and jabs to create separation in the half-court. AJ is also a great and underrated playmaker, as he reads the floor really well and can pass off the dribble. Dybantsa’s defensive potential is intriguing as well, as he can switch onto almost anyone with little problems, and has shown a lot of flashes using his vertical ability to protect the rim. AJ is also a very vocal leader and plays with a lot of energy and competitiveness. While his playmaking is very good, there are still moments of poor decision-making or shot selection. Some other improvement areas for Dybantsa include some outside shooting consistency problems, going cold from beyond the arc at times. He also struggles with some shot selection and composure issues, needs to stay locked in on the game and find the best shot.
Early Player Comp: Brandon Ingram+
Best Team Fits: Pacers, Kings
1. Darryn Peterson, Guard, Kansas
Year: Freshman
2025–26 Season Stats: 4 G, 19.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 53% FG, 42% 3P
Peterson is an incredibly gifted scoring guard with elite athleticism and shot-making skills just not found very often. Darryn is as true a 3-level scorer as you will come across scouting for the NBA. He is a dazzling finisher around the hoop and shoots very efficiently from well beyond the arc. Combined with this scoring ability, Darryn has an elite basketball IQ and is really good at playing within the flow of a game, making smart decisions. He also has a strong frame that allows him to create advantages against smaller guards. He is a very productive rebounder as well, contributing on both the offensive and defensive boards. Along with his elite offensive game, he also has tremendous defensive tools and potential. Peterson uses his length, instincts, and competitiveness to compete and be able to switch onto most players. Darryn also has confidence, composure and is advanced mentally beyond his years. Some areas of improvement for Peterson would be some consistency from beyond the arc, going cold at times. He can also be undisciplined with his fouls at times, and some shot selection decisions can be ineffective.
Early Player Comp: Devin Booker
Best Team Fits: Wizards, Kings, Pacers
