Sneak peek of the top five prospects of the 2026 NBA Draft

The 2025 NBA Draft has talented prospects like Cooper Flagg who can be real stars in the league. While the 2025 NBA Draft class is gifted, the prospects of the following year are just as talented if not more so. In particular, the top five prospects of 2026 can rival this year’s top five in terms of talent. Let’s dive into a sneak peek of the top five prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Sneak peek of the top five prospects of the 2026 NBA Draft

Darryn Peterson

Prolific Prep and Kansas-commit guard Darryn Peterson is one of the big three names of the 2026 NBA Draft. Standing at 6-foot-5, Peterson has demonstrated himself to be a natural combo guard who can operate well on both ends of the floor. Specifically, Peterson has the size, strength, and length to be a dynamic three-level scorer who can play both on and off the ball. Peterson can exploit mismatches by using his physical tools to straight bully smaller guards in the post or when driving to the basket. Furthermore, Peterson has a clean pull-up jumper that allows him to score anywhere on the court. Most impressively, Peterson’s best attribute as a prospect is his ability to read what’s happening on the floor. If Peterson can find any gaps in the defense, he will take that space and opportunity to score buckets or find open teammates for good looks.

On the defensive end, Peterson is a capable defender who utilizes his physical tools to force turnovers and grab rebounds. With further physical development, Peterson can become a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. Overall, Peterson has shown excellent versatility on both sides of the court and the skills to be one of the best players in the 2026 NBA Draft.

AJ Dybantsa

The second of the big three names is the offensively-talented BYU commit AJ Dybantsa. The six-foot-nine Utah Prep forward has the size and athleticism to be a two-way star on the wings. He is a three-level scorer who has a healthy shot diet in the mid-range. Furthermore, he uses his length and height to his advantage as he can straight-up shoot over opponents. He is also a massive threat in transition, where he is capable of explosive dunks. Dybantsa also has the footwork and fluidity to create separation for shots or rim attempts. The length and athleticism he possesses also show up on the defensive end. In particular, he can be a big-time shot blocker and can cover the floor well. Dybantsa’s shot-making and creation skills easily place him in the top echelon of prospects in his class.

Cameron Boozer

Rounding out the top three names in the 2026 draft is Duke commit Cameron Boozer, son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. The Columbus High School big has shown himself to be one of the mature and fundamentally sound prospects in his class. Standing at 6-foot-9, Boozer possesses a versatile skill set that makes him impactful on both ends. Boozer is the most effective as a scorer when operating in the paint as he possesses excellent touch around the rim. He has a good handle and uses it to drive from the perimeter and make big plays at the basket. Plus, Boozer moves well without the ball and is a good cutter.  While not a consistent three-level scorer, Boozer has shown improvements as a shooter with good free-throw numbers to back it up. Additionally, Boozer has great court vision and passing ability, making him an excellent offensive hub.

Defensively, Boozer has the size, length and athleticism to be a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. He can guard bigs in the post and guards along the perimeter. Boozer uses his length well on defense, forcing turnovers or blocking shots. Plus, his length helps him be an excellent rebounder on both ends. Boozer is easily one of the most impactful and mature prospects in recent years and can give Duke another star rookie like Flagg has been for Durham.

Nate Ament

Having recently committed to Tennessee, 6-foot-9 forward Nate Ament has tremendous potential and athleticism that warrants his top-five status. Ament is a three-level scorer who has flashed potential as an on-ball creator. Not only that, but Ament has been an impressive shot-maker and his high release point on his shot allows him to shoot over defenders. On defense, Ament can utilize his height and length to provide secondary rim protection. The problem area that Ament needs to work on is his lack of strength and weight on his frame. His impact on both ends is lessened by the fact that he can be easily bumped off course. Nevertheless, Ament can become a fantastic scoring wing with excellent tools as he continues to develop his strength.

Jayden Quaintance

Recent Kentucky commit Jayden Quaintance is one of the most impressive defensive centers in the 2026 draft. He will have two years of college experience and will still only be 18 years old by the time of the 2026 NBA Draft. Standing at 6-foot-9, Quaintance has great athleticism, length and strength that he uses to be a force on both ends. Offensively, Quaintance is a clear lob threat and has great touch around the basket. Furthermore, he has the quickness and handle to beat slower-footed opponents when attacking the basket. Given his athleticism, Quaintance is also a major transition threat on the break. He isn’t much of a shooter, but he does have good passing abilities and court vision.

Quaintance is much more known for his abilities on the defensive end. For starters, Quaintance is a big-time shot blocker and post defender who uses his length well to bother his opponents. He is incredible at generating blocks and steals. Plus, he is also great at grabbing rebounds on both ends of the floor. His quickness gives him the ability to switch defensively and guard multiple positions. Quaintance’s talent and skill as a defensive big, along with his experience at his age, makes him a top-five prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft.