Darryn Peterson Is Not Kobe Bryant: Top 10 2026 NBA Draft Prospects
We are a month away from the 2026 NBA Draft, and now that we know the order for the teams selecting the next crop of basketball stars, it’s time to dive deeper into the prospects.
As we move toward June 23, here are my top 10 prospects on the board for what could be an all-time draft with one of the deepest classes in recent memory.
These are not based on where teams are picking; they are a ranking of who I think is the best prospect down to the 10th.
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1. AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
He is going to be an elite scorer in this league and has the potential to be the leading man on a championship team if he develops properly.
2. Cameron Boozer (Duke)
Although he’s not the flashiest or most athletic prospect in the pool, Boozer is a big man with soft hands that can be the engine for a title-contending team for the next decade.
3. Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
Don’t be surprised if Wilson continues rising on boards the closer we get to draft day. An athletic marvel, the ceiling for Wilson is endless, and he is the type of project that the right franchise can turn into a franchise cornerstone.
4. Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
Since he played in high school, fans and even some pundits have compared Peterson’s game to Kobe Bryant’s. While the similarities are there, especially when he’s at his best and effortlessly scores from three, mid-range, or the rim, Peterson hasn’t shown any of the actual motivation to prove that he has the mental (and physical) ability to define a franchise.
Peterson might turn out to be more like Andrew Wiggins (who has still had a great career), more so than a Bryant or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
5. Keaton Wagler (Illinois)
A big guard with the ceiling to be a legitimate leading scorer for a winning team in the pros, Wagler might not have the franchise-defining aura of the top four prospects, but would be a top two or three pick in most draft classes.
6. Kingston Flemings (Houston)
Flemings is the type of guard who can turn into a lockdown defender for the next decade and pilot your team to deep postseason runs. If he could develop a consistent three-point shot, there’s no reason why he can’t end up as one of the most successful players in this draft.
7. Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
The exact opposite of Flemings: Acuff Jr. will find the basket and can shoot from anywhere, but he is going to be a gigantic liability on the defensive side of the ball. Acuff Jr. might drop 30 one night next season, but watch as his opposing guard drops 50.
8. Brayden Burries (Arizona)
Although he didn’t shine as much as the other three guards in front of him, Burries didn’t have to on a Wildcats team that didn’t need hero ball to wreck their way to the Final Four. Burries might not be the flashiest prospect, but he’s a winning player and won’t look lost on either offense or defense as a rookie.
9. Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan)
After a slew of freshmen, you have the “old man” of the class in nearly 24-year-old Lendeborg. He is everything you’d want in a prospect outside of his age. He can score, pass, defend, and be a leader for a championship team. Although he isn’t going to be a franchise face, Lendeborg might be the perfect third or fourth option on a team ready to compete in 2027.
10. Aday Mara (Michigan)
The second Wolverine in the top 10, Mara, is still raw even at 21, but has shown great progress in one year at Michigan. The best true center in the draft, he’s the type of player that you’ll look back in five years when he’s a staple of a contender and wonder why he was picked so low.
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 6:59 PM.