2026 NBA Draft Preview: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson Lead a Loaded First Round

A Draft With Genuine Star Power at the Top

The 80th NBA Draft arrives with a top of the board that has been remarkably stable throughout the draft process. AJ Dybantsa to the Washington Wizards is the most settled pick in recent memory – a consensus so broad that the only genuine intrigue is whether his landing spot turns out to be optimal for his development.

Dybantsa’s college season at BYU was a controlled demonstration of what scouts already believed: this is a player whose decision-making and defensive versatility set him apart from the rest of the class. He averaged the numbers required of a consensus top pick while doing so against competition that doubters will cite and believers will contextualize. His pre-draft workouts were reportedly exceptional, and the Wizards’ front office has expressed confidence in him that goes beyond typical draft-night optimism.

The Battle for Two and Three

Darryn Peterson from Kansas and Cameron Boozer project as picks two and three in some order. Peterson brings an explosive athleticism and scoring creativity that translates well to the modern spacing-and-transition NBA, and the Jazz’s need for a dynamic guard makes the fit logical. Boozer’s combination of size and skill gives Memphis a frontcourt piece with genuine long-term potential.

The record-setting freshman depth in this draft extends beyond the top three. Eight players who spent just one year in college are expected to go in the top nine picks – a historic concentration. Morez Johnson from Michigan, heading to the Dallas Mavericks at pick nine, is among the intriguing mid-lottery prospects whose combination of athleticism and defensive versatility projects well to the pace-and-space NBA.