There’s no denying the NBA is constantly filled to the brim with talent. Every year, young up-and-coming stars enter the league through the NBA Draft. Many of those players carve out key roles in the league, while a handful turn into game-changing stars.
In 2026, things might be a little bit different; in a good way. AJ Dybantsa has been considered a lock to be a top pick for quite a while now. His college basketball career got off to a relatively slow start, but he’s fully put it all together now. While Dybantsa has started finding his game, three other freshmen are making history at their respective schools.
2026 NBA Draft set to feature a stacked class of freshmen players
As things currently stand, all three of Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson are setting freshman scoring records at Duke, Kansas and North Carolina, respectively. Dybantsa already broke the record for most points by a freshman in BYU history.
With March Madness nearing, all four players are practically locks to go within the first four picks of the 2026 NBA Draft. In ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft, eight freshmen go in the Top 10 and the first seven selections would all be freshmen.
- Indiana Pacers: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
- Sacramento Kings: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
- Atlanta Hawks: Cameron Boozer, PF/C, Duke
- Washington Wizards: Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina
- Utah Jazz: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
- Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville
- Charlotte Hornets: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
The future is bright for the NBA, and it’s coming as soon as 2026.
