
In the 2026 NBA Mock Draft, AJ Dybantsa is projected as the first overall pick by the Wizards, while Cameron Boozer is expected to fall to the Bulls at No. 4 after the Grizzlies select Caleb Wilson at No. 3.

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In what's been described as the greatest freshmen class in men's college basketball history, AJ Dybantsa has emerged as the favorite out of all of them to be selected first overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. And now we know, after Sunday's lottery, that if it does indeed go down that way, the one-and-done star from BYU will be a Wizard.
Congrats, Washington fans!
Thanks to the way the ping pong balls bounced, your reward for suffering through a 17-65 season is the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, where the expectation is that the Wizards will pick Dybantsa. Is that a lock? No, I wouldn't consider it a lock -- mostly because there's nothing unreasonable about Washington (or any other franchise) taking a hard look at Darryn Peterson, the combo guard from Kansas whose talent is undeniable.
Peterson deserves a serious look.
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But the uneven way in which Peterson's one season at Kansas unfolded, combined with how statistically incredible Dybantsa's one year was at BYU, has made the former BYU star a -450 favorite in the betting markets to be the first player picked. That's pretty overwhelming. So, barring a surprise, Dybantsa-to-Washington will happen.
AJ Dybantsa is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Cameron Boozer is expected to be selected by the Bulls at No. 4 in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Caleb Wilson is a player expected to be selected by the Grizzlies at No. 3 in the 2026 NBA Draft.
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Peterson should go second. And then, for the rest of their careers, Dybantsa and Peterson will be tied together, contrasted and compared. My guess is that both will be great. But Dybantsa is largely considered the safer bet between the two, and that's likely why he'll hear NBA commissioner Adam Silver call his name first June 23.
Mock Draft
Round 1
| Round 1 - Pick 1 team logo team logo player headshot AJ Dybantsa SF BYU • Fr • 6'9" / 215 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 2 team logo team logo player headshot Darryn Peterson PG Kansas • Fr • 6'6" / 205 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 3 team logo team logo player headshot Caleb Wilson PF North Carolina • Fr • 6'10" / 215 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 4 team logo team logo player headshot Cameron Boozer PF Duke • Fr • 6'9" / 250 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Indiana Pacers Round 1 - Pick 5 team logo team logo player headshot Darius Acuff Jr. PG Arkansas • Fr • 6'3" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 6 team logo team logo player headshot Keaton Wagler PG Illinois • Fr • 6'6" / 185 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 7 team logo team logo player headshot Kingston Flemings PG Houston • Fr • 6'4" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From New Orleans Pelicans Round 1 - Pick 8 team logo team logo player headshot Mikel Brown Jr. PG Louisville • Fr • 6'5" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 9 team logo team logo player headshot Brayden Burries SG Arizona • Fr • 6'4" / 205 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 10 team logo team logo player headshot Nate Ament PF Tennessee • Fr • 6'10" / 207 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 11 team logo team logo player headshot Yaxel Lendeborg PF Michigan • Sr • 6'9" / 235 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Los Angeles Clippers Round 1 - Pick 12 team logo team logo player headshot Aday Mara C Michigan • Jr • 7'3" / 255 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 13 team logo team logo player headshot Labaron Philon PG Alabama • Fr • 6'3" / 175 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 14 team logo team logo player headshot Morez Johnson Jr. C Michigan • Soph • 6'9" / 250 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Portland Trail Blazers Round 1 - Pick 15 team logo team logo player headshot Hannes Steinbach PF Washington • Fr • 6'11" / 229 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Phoenix Suns Round 1 - Pick 16 team logo team logo player headshot Christian Anderson PG Texas Tech • Soph • 6'3" / 178 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Philadelphia 76ers Round 1 - Pick 17 team logo team logo player headshot Karim Lopez PF Mexico • 6'8" / 224 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Orlando Magic Round 1 - Pick 18 team logo team logo player headshot Cameron Carr SG Baylor • Soph • 6'5" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 19 team logo team logo player headshot Jayden Quaintance C Kentucky • Soph • 6'10" / 255 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Atlanta Hawks Round 1 - Pick 20 team logo team logo player headshot Chris Cenac Jr. PF Houston • Fr • 6'11" / 240 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Minnesota Timberwolves Round 1 - Pick 21 team logo team logo player headshot Bennett Stirtz PG Iowa • Sr • 6'4" / 190 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Houston Rockets Round 1 - Pick 22 team logo team logo player headshot Koa Peat PF Arizona • Fr • 6'8" / 235 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Cleveland Cavaliers Round 1 - Pick 23 team logo team logo player headshot Tarris Reed Jr. C Connecticut • Sr • 6'11" / 265 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 24 team logo team logo player headshot Allen Graves PF Santa Clara • Fr • 6'9" / 225 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 25 team logo team logo player headshot Isaiah Evans SG Duke • Soph • 6'6" / 180 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 26 team logo team logo player headshot Joshua Jefferson PF Iowa State • Sr • 6'9" / 240 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 27 team logo team logo player headshot Henri Veesaar C North Carolina • Jr • 7'0" / 225 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Detroit Pistons Round 1 - Pick 28 team logo team logo player headshot Dailyn Swain SF Texas • Jr • 6'8" / 225 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From San Antonio Spurs Round 1 - Pick 29 team logo team logo player headshot Tounde Yessoufou SF Baylor • Fr • 6'5" / 215 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Oklahoma City Thunder Round 1 - Pick 30 team logo team logo player headshot Ebuka Okorie PG Stanford • Fr • 6'2" / 185 lbs | --- | --- | --- |