2026 NBA Draft: Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson Are A Historic Prospect Trio
The 2026 NBA Draft has a chance to go down as arguably the deepest class of potential stars at the top over the last 15 years with Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson.
The 2026 NBA Draft has been hyped to obscene levels already, and we haven’t even made it to March. But that’s for good reason, because the prospect trio of Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson may very well be the best group of potential stars at the top we’ve seen over the last 15 seasons.
I specifically chose to look back over the last 15 years because that’s how long I’ve been covering and evaluating prospects for the NBA Draft. Well before the “Draft Deeper” moniker was born, I was writing for my high school newspaper about who was a better long-term prospect between Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette (thankfully, young me chose correctly).
In all of my time studying the NBA Draft, I can only say I’ve seen less than a handful of classes that potentially compete in terms of star power at the very top, specifically out of its Top 3 prospects. There are several classes that could stand the test of time and end up deeper as far as long-term contributors go, but this class has a chance to stand out historically amongst all other classes over this 15-year sample, and potentially up against the best classes of all time.
That’s because the group of Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson are all passing the eye and statistical tests of grading out as “1A” prospects. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder with these three, as you could sell me on ranking them in any particular order. At the end of the day, ranking players for an upcoming draft is a subjective exercise in general.
No matter how many ways we justify our own philosophies and analytical models, there is no “objective” and scientifically proven way of grading players. After all, we cannot predict the future. Basketball is played by PEOPLE, not robots. And adding to that, we also do not have the entire picture of every player’s life from start to finish. There are details every scout misses, even those who work for the NBA and other professional teams. Only so many hours exist in a day to research, study, and drill down with contacts and sources in an investigative manner.
All of that out of the way, however, three players have emerged in their own tier apart from the rest of their 2026 peers (with apologies to UNC’s Caleb Wilson, who is making one hell of a persuasive case to consider this group a “Big 4”, in which case there would be absolutely zero comparison to this class this century apart from 2003 with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh).
As we’re about to walk through, primarily over the last 15 seasons, it is close to impossible in terms of a class’ consensus top prospects actually ending up as such from the start of the pre-draft process to its close, let alone the top “stars” from each class actually being even two of those three guys.
So for this exercise, I want to evaluate each draft class from 2011-2025 and give a refresher course on some of the best players who have averaged close to or exceeding 20+ minutes per game. Let’s find out which classes have produced star power at the top like the 2026 class potentially could, or if the depth of each class is more often than not found later in the lottery all the way into the unknown of the undrafted free agent market.
But before we dig that deep, let’s go over the prospect cases of Boozer, Dybantsa, and Peterson to remind ourselves just how incredible each has been through the early-season schedules for their teams.
Cameron Boozer, F, Duke (6’9” 250 lbs.)
Season Stats As of 1/4/26: 14 GP, 23.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 56.4/34.5/76.9 Shooting Splits, 30.0 USG%, 18.7 BPM
There is no more divisive player in the 2026 NBA Draft than Cameron Boozer.
Boozer has plenty of fans in the scouting community (myself included) as the front-runner in the top pick race, in large part because of his productivity across the board in so many key areas.
Today’s NBA is all about versatility. Can you match and check the boxes of dribble, pass, shoot, and defend to a certain degree while also exemplifying the traits of quick processing and toughness in order to drive winning at the highest level?
I have some concerns about Boozer on the defensive end of the floor, but offensively, Boozer’s perceived “weaknesses” have been overblown to an extent. On the year, Boozer is finishing at a high level around the basket and even on jumpers, be it against Top 50 competition or against the entire field. He can drive and score with either hand, post on the block, face up and connect on a jumper, and can even catch-and-shoot off movement from beyond the arc. Boozer’s effectiveness as a playmaker and passer in the middle of the floor is as impressive as his ability to drive transition scoring via his incredible hit-ahead passing.
Boozer creates looks for himself and others at a very high level. He can impact the game on the boards, make plays defensively with his quick hands and instincts, and isn’t as much of a liability away from the basket as people think. Boozer can sit in a stance, guard down, and keep players in front of him. After all, he’s built wide like a Mack Truck at 6’9” and 250 pounds.
There are moments on film where Boozer doesn’t play as big around the rim, and allows guards and wings to drive through him and score over him at the basket. I’m keeping an eye on those plays, as it’s one thing for a 7-footer to score over him, but that shouldn’t be happening to a physically imposing player like Boozer against smaller matchups.
Those who are most concerned about Boozer don’t believe he has the wiggle, East-West, separation ability to create shots like the best stars in the NBA. To an extent, the skeptics are correct. Boozer is a bit rigid when handling the ball in the halfcourt, but his outlier strength helps him to play physical, and he can still go either direction with his handle and finish over either shoulder. He’s smart to draw fouls in one-on-one matchups, and if teams send a double his way, he’s so quick to get off the ball and find the open man, or even pass someone open on the move into an easy shot.
It’s the fact that everything about Boozer is quick. There is no pre-determination with Boozer. He sees the floor in a split second and almost always makes the correct decision within his process. These are the players that are succeeding in today’s NBA: guys who are physically ready, low mistake, high feel with the ball handling, passing, and shooting skills to impact the game from each level.
These are STAR qualities, even if it’s in a more unconventional way. Boozer may not be isolating every possession in a tight game like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but he’ll always make the right play and has more in his bag from a scoring perspective than detractors note.
Production doesn’t lie, and Boozer just wins far more often than not when he’s on the floor. That’s not by accident, and that’s not just because of the guys he has on his team supporting him. Boozer lifts the floor of everyone around him, and will continue to do so in the NBA.
AJ Dybantsa, W, BYU (6’9” 210 lbs.)
Season Stats As of 1/4/26: 14 GP, 23.1 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 58.6/34.3/76.5 Shooting Splits, 31.0 USG%, 14.4 BPM
AJ Dybantsa has impressed me a ton so far this season as the type of player who is built to take over in big moments.
Between what I’ve seen on tape and in person, Dybantsa is at his best when BYU’s back is against the wall, and he has to put his teammates on his back in the second half of a big game.
Dybantsa has the “star” skill set as far as scoring and distributing from the middle of the floor. He’s strong enough to hold guys on his hip, establish high post position, and score over the top of his defender. If teams bring a double, Dybantsa can see over the defense and make the right read. Even on the move getting downhill, Dybantsa has gotten better by the game of finding his teammates and making that extra pass out that can lead to an uncontested shot.
And that’s been the biggest difference in Dybantsa’s game. He gets to the free-throw line at an absurd rate, can knock down shots in the midrange, and even hits open catch-and-shoot threes at a passable clip. But the fact that Dybantsa is leveraging his scoring ability to make others around him better is changing his evaluation for the better. The tunnel-vision downhill scorer continues to evolve before our very eyes.
Defensively, Dybantsa has been a bit of a mixed bag as a low man helper around the basket. He’ll miss some rotations and give up some layups to the offense, where he should’ve been quicker to react and help. Opposing offenses will drive his direction, kick out, and Dybantsa will sometimes either be late to close out, or will react too aggressively and give up an easy driving lane off a pump fake and go.
On the ball, however, Dybantsa has the highest upside in this class as a potential shutdown defender. When AJ chooses to get down into a stance, it’s so difficult to get around him. He’s quick on his feet, can flip his hips much better than your average 6’9” wing, and has that slithery nature to him where I believe he can actually better navigate screens in time with more coaching and understanding of how to play those possessions.
As is, Dybantsa is a lethal two-level scorer and has the physical tools to further develop into a game-changing defender. With continued shooting reps and coaching emphasis on his defensive understanding and positioning, we could be looking at a player in a few years with little to no holes in his game at his size with upper-tier athletic traits and intangibles.
Everything you hear about AJ behind the scenes is that he’s a relentless worker who understands what needs to be done in order to reach his ceiling. I got to see that up close during his pre-game workout before his MSG showdown against Clemson. I fully buy into Dybantsa having that “dawg” in him, and he’s only improving as the days go by.
If this is the worst Dybantsa is going to be in his career, then I’m not sure if we fully understand what’s in store for him moving forward. AJ has the tools, traits, and determination to reach an All-NBA level sooner rather than later if everything comes together for him.
Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas (6’5” 205 lbs.)
Season Stats As of 1/4/26: 5 GP, 20.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 51.4/44.4/78.9 Shooting Splits, 34.9 USG%, 20.1 BPM
We have yet to see the best of Darryn Peterson due to a lingering hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined or on a heavy-ish minutes restriction.
That’s a freaking scary thought, given how good he’s been in the five games he’s played.
Peterson is almost scoring a point per minute at the college level, which is just insane to think about from a player his age. Not only is he scoring at such high rates, but he’s connecting on 16.7 threes per 100 possessions at a flipping 44% clip! How many other shooters that have been drafted as high as he has over the last 15 years have done something like that? None; the answer is none when evaluating Top 3 picks between the 2011 and 2025 NBA Drafts.
Despite being utilized solely as a movement shooter/scorer, Peterson is getting buckets so effectively that he makes it look easy. I’ve never seen a shooting guard step into college from Day One and just make everything look easy.
This is frightening because in high school, Peterson was a very reliable pick-and-roll scorer/playmaker, as he has that top-shelf burst and acceleration to blow by defenders and get into the paint/all the way to the rim when he’s at 100%. Teams have to send help and try to shut him off from the rim, meaning he got a ton of opportunities in high school to kick the ball out and find the open man. He was a much better on-ball operator at that level after reviewing more of his tape than I gave him credit for in my initial preseason evaluation.
Given how young Peterson is, I would expect him to improve as an on-ball creator sooner rather than later with more reps. Whether we end up seeing that at Kansas is solely dependent on the extent of his current injury, but I’m not sweating it from a draft perspective.
The other area of his game we haven’t gotten as many chances to evaluate in different contexts is his defense. Peterson wasn’t just a good defender in high school; he was a GREAT one when factoring in how he created deflections and blocks at extremely high rates for a guard. Peterson has had some moments on the ball, and we’ve seen him get into his bag as a shot deflector for stretches. But I’m firmly in the camp that Peterson would be having a better defensive season than he even has up to this point if he were fully healthy.
These are the elements that have scouts and front offices so excited. Even if he didn’t have the upside as a pick-and-roll operator and decision maker, having a guy who can play so effortlessly off others, knock down shots at an uber-efficient clip off insane volume, and defend his position as well as help cover gaps left by his teammates is everything in today’s NBA. There is no context in which Peterson TODAY isn’t an impactful player, and he’s just scratching the surface of how good he can be.
NBA Draft Classes Last 15 Years
2011 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter (Freedom)
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Kyrie Irving, G (1)
Kemba Walker, G (9)
Jimmy Butler, W (30)
Klay Thompson, W (11)
Kawhi Leonard, F (15)
Tobias Harris, F (19)
Nikola Vucevic, C (16)
Isaiah Thomas, G (60)
Tristan Thompson, C (4)
Jonas Valanciunas, C (5)
NBA front offices found tremendous value in this class in the middle portion of the first round, with both Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard having superstar peaks in different ways. Even guys like Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris have returned tremendous value. And of course, who could forget about the first overall selection, Kyrie Irving, who hit a history-changing shot over the Golden State Warriors to help LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers bring a championship to Ohio. Jimmy Butler also remains one of the best late first-round draftees in recent history as a multi-time All-Star in the NBA.
2012 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Anthony Davis, C (1)
Damian Lillard, G (6)
Bradley Beal, G (3)
Harrison Barnes, F (7)
Khris Middleton, F (39)
Draymond Green, F (35)
Andre Drummond, C (9)
Jae Crowder, F (34)
Evan Fournier, W (20)
Anthony Davis has proven to be a true All-NBA talent over his career up to this point. Davis, Damian Lillard, and Draymond Green are the true “gems” of this draft class, but Bradley Beal was also part of one of the best backcourts in the league during the prime of his career alongside fellow star John Wall. Let’s not forget some of the depth that this class brought with the likes of one of the best rebounders in league history in Andre Drummond, plus some scoring forwards who are still playing roles today in Harrison Barnes and Khris Middleton. It’s still a great class in terms of the very top, as both Davis and Beal proved worthy of their draft slots with Lillard not far behind at sixth overall.
2013 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Anthony Bennett, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter Jr.
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Giannis Antetokounmpo, F (15)
Rudy Gobert, C (27)
CJ McCollum, G (10)
Victor Oladipo, G (2)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, W (8)
Dennis Schroder, G (17)
Tim Hardaway Jr., W (24)
Steven Adams, C (12)
Otto Porter Jr., W (3)
Mason Plumlee, C (22)
Cody Zeller, C (4)
2013 remains one of the weirdest NBA Draft years that we may see alongside another in 2024 (more on that later). The best players in the class were all drafted outside of the Top 5, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert being the first in a wave of international star talent that has extended into today’s NBA. Victor Oladipo’s peak warrants a near-top selection in redraft exercises, and CJ McCollum is still a trusted veteran leader and lethal perimeter scorer today, albeit not at his peak alongside Damian Lillard when he was with the Portland Trail Blazers. As far as late lottery big men, Steven Adams was a great selection by the Oklahoma City Thunder as a player who has provided value in the frontcourt wherever he’s been in his career.
2014 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Joel Embiid
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Nikola Jokic, C (41)
Joel Embiid, C (3)
Aaron Gordon, F (4)
Julius Randle, F (7)
Zach LaVine, W (13)
Andrew Wiggins, W (1)
Marcus Smart, G (6)
Jusuf Nurkic, C (16)
Bogdan Bogdanovic, W (27)
Jerami Grant, F (39)
Spencer Dinwiddie, G (38)
Jordan Clarkson, G (46)
TJ Warren, F (14)
Gary Harris, G (19)
Clint Capela, C (25)
Kyle Anderson, F (30)
This is one of four classes in particular that I would highlight over the last 15 years, where the star power at the top of the draft was well hyped and warranted if not for some serious injury issues. Andrew Wiggins helped the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry win a championship, and has remained a starter-level contributor throughout his career, even if he’s not the best player in a redraft. Joel Embiid at his peak has an argument with second-round mega steal Nikola Jokic for best big man in basketball, and let’s not forget how special a prospect Jabari Parker was at Duke. Parker’s high school career was well documented, and he had the mismatch scoring chops and playmaking ability to man an offense by himself when healthy. Even past those four players, this class produced quality star depth in Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle, and Zach LaVine, who were all drafted in the lottery—not to mention a fair number of quality role players that are still finding ways to contribute in today’s NBA.
2015 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Jahlil Okafor
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Devin Booker, G (13)
Karl-Anthony Towns, C (1)
Kristaps Porzingis, C (4)
D’Angelo Russell, G (2)
Myles Turner, C (11)
Josh Richardson, G (40)
Kelly Oubre, W (15)
Norman Powell, G (46)
Bobby Portis, F (22)
Larry Nance Jr., F (27)
Tyus Jones, G (24)
Fans and evaluators may have mixed opinions today about Karl-Anthony Towns, but in 2015 he was as sure of a top overall talent in his draft class as some of the best number one picks we’ve seen in recent memory. Defensive issues aside, in terms of overall offensive prowess, Towns has lived up to all of the pre-draft hype as arguably the best shooting 7-footer the game of basketball has ever seen. Devin Booker’s peak as a player certainly challenges Towns, and many would argue that he ended up being the prize of this class. Some late surges in their careers from role players like Kelly Oubre, Norman Powell, and Bobby Portis have carried this class into very solid territory as we look back over the last 15 years.
2016 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Jaylen Brown, W (3)
Jamal Murray, G (7)
Pascal Siakam, F (27)
Brandon Ingram, W (2)
Domantas Sabonis, C (11)
Ben Simmons, F (1)
Buddy Hield, W (6)
Ivica Zubac, C (32)
Jakob Poeltl, C (9)
Dejounte Murray, G (29)
Malcolm Brogdon, G (36)
Caris LeVert, W (20)
Taurean Prince, W (12)
Malik Beasley, W (19)
Kris Dunn, G (5)
Although there have been some great revisionist history takes on Jaylen Brown, NBA scouts were debating between two players at the top: Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram. Both brought different things to the table as potential franchise-changing talents, with Simmons as a jumbo playmaker and excellent defender, and Ingram as an iso-scoring wing with plenty of room to grow as a passer and defender in his own right. Brown has surpassed both of them in terms of peak as an All-NBA performer, multi-faceted scorer, and NBA champion. Still, this class boasts some impressive All-Star depth in Pascal Siakam, Domantas Sabonis, and soon-to-be All-Star (fingers crossed) Jamal Murray. Both Siakam and Murray have played pivotal roles on title teams, meaning this class deserves its spot in the fabric of telling the NBA’s story.
2017 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Jayson Tatum, F (3)
Donovan Mitchell, G (13)
De’Aaron Fox, G (5)
Lauri Markkanen, F (7)
Bam Adebayo, C (14)
OG Anunoby, W (23)
Derrick White, G (29)
Kyle Kuzma, F (27)
Lonzo Ball, G (2)
Josh Hart, W (30)
Dillon Brooks, W (45)
John Collins, F (19)
Jarrett Allen, C (22)
Malik Monk, G (11)
Isaiah Hartenstein, C (43)
Very similar to the 2016 draft, this class was really about two players at the top—despite what others may lead you to believe. Markelle Fultz, for my money, remains the most talented guard I’ve scouted in 15 years domestically. Fultz had the entire package at Washington, able to score from any spot on the floor, run the pick-and-roll to perfection, and had the athleticism and physical tools to defend and create deflections at a high level. Lonzo Ball wasn’t the same “show stopper” as a point guard, but he single-handedly took college basketball by storm as a different kind of engine that perhaps was perfected by a guard drafted in 2020 (we’ll get to him a bit later). Both players were viewed as the types of floor generals that could change an NBA franchise, but ultimately, Jayson Tatum has proven to be the best player out of the 2017 class as an All-NBA scoring forward who can dribble, pass, shoot, and defend. Tatum and Jaylen Brown are championship teammates for a reason, as both are two of the best bigger wings/forwards in the game of basketball today. Second to Tatum, Donovan Mitchell has as much of an argument as anyone as one of the best players in the game as it stands today, having helped the Cleveland Cavaliers reassert themselves back into the contender picture post-LeBron James. Mitchell was drafted in the late lottery and is one of the better finds we’ve had in that range of the draft over the last 15 seasons. Past those two, plenty more depth in the lottery in De’Aaron Fox, Lauri Markkanen, and Bam Adebayo. Even more importantly, though, how about the raw depth of this class?! OG Anunoby, Derrick White, Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma, Dillon Brooks, John Collins, Jarrett Allen, and Isaiah Hartenstein were all taken outside of the lottery. This remains one of the strongest classes in recent years in terms of providing starter-level talent or better.
2018 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Luka Doncic
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Luka Doncic, G (3)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G (11)
Trae Young, G (5)
Jalen Brunson, G (33)
Jaren Jackson Jr., F (4)
Mikal Bridges, W (10)
Miles Brides, F (12)
Deandre Ayton, C (1)
Michael Porter Jr., F (14)
Collin Sexton, G (8)
Kevin Huerter, W (19)
Wendell Carter Jr., C (7)
Donte DiVincenzo, G (17)
Gary Trent Jr., G (37)
Anfernee Simons, G (24)
Grayson Allen, G (21)
Bruce Brown, G (42)
Mitchell Robinson, C (36)
Marvin Bagley III, F (2)
Robert Williams, C (27)
I haven’t seen a class with this many star point guards produced in my time scouting for the NBA Draft. To have this many guys that challenge for Top 10 status league-wide, let alone at their position, is utterly bonkers. Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, AND Jalen Brunson all coming from the same draft class?? Despite two of the Top 3 picks not quite working out to the levels expected, this class also provided some depth as far as starter-level talent or better in Jaren Jackson, Mikal Bridges, Michael Porter, and Mitchell Robinson. Some super-sixth men and fifth starters have also proven to be real pieces as time has gone on in Collin Sexton, Kevin Huerter, and Donte DiVincenzo. Plenty of great players were found in the 2018 draft, but the storyline will forever be the star point guards from this class who have contributed to the fabric of NBA history.
2019 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Darius Garland, G (5)
RJ Barrett, W (3)
Tyler Herro, G (13)
Ja Morant, G (2)
Zion Williamson, F (1)
PJ Washington, F (12)
De’Andre Hunter, W (4)
Coby White, G (7)
Keldon Johnson, W (29)
Rui Hachimura, F (9)
Jordan Poole, G (28)
Cam Johnson, W (11)
Nic Claxton, C (31)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G (17)
Brandon Clarke, F (21)
Daniel Gafford, C (38)
Ty Jerome, G (24)
2019 was another tight race between two star prospects who haven’t quite lived up to the hype for different reasons in Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. Both have had on-court peaks of All-NBA caliber, but for off-court and health reasons, haven’t been able to maintain those peaks over consistent enough stretches to warrant that status of ranking when we discuss the best the NBA has to offer. Still, despite all of the present issues, I for one would still take both of them one and two in this class because of the immense talent between them. If not for Morant and Williamson, Darius Garland and RJ Barrett would be the next two names vying for best of 2019. Overall, this class has produced some solid depth, but not nearly as much as the two classes before it. Still, several players are contributing at a starter level today, including De’Andre Hunter, Coby White, Rui Hachimura, Keldon Johnson, Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
2020 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Anthony Edwards, W (1)
Tyrese Haliburton, G (12)
Tyrese Maxey, G (21)
LaMelo Ball, G (3)
Desmond Bane, G (30)
Deni Avdija, F (9)
Immanuel Quickley, G (25)
Jaden McDaniels, F (28)
Saddiq Bey, W (19)
Devin Vassell, W (11)
Isaiah Stewart, C (16)
Onyeka Okongwu, C (6)
Aaron Nesmith, W (14)
Payton Pritchard, G (26)
Obi Toppin, F (8)
Isaiah Joe, G (49)
The “COVID Draft” remains one of the weirdest classes we’ve seen in recent memory. It’s another class that’s produced some incredible depth at guard in Tyrese Haliburton (what we all thought Lonzo Ball would be and SO MUCH more), Tyrese Maxey, Desmond Bane, and LaMelo Ball. Anthony Edwards has been discussed for several seasons as a Michael Jordan disciple, with how effortlessly he makes scoring the basketball look as a prototypical, hyper-athletic scoring wing. Also, Deni Avdija has firmly asserted himself as one of the better draft selections from this class as a do-it-all forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, who is in the running for a first-time All-Star selection. As much as this class ended up producing from a star perspective, some impressive role players have emerged in recent seasons, including Immanuel Quickley, Jaden McDaniels, Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard, Obi Toppin, and Isaiah Joe.
2021 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Cade Cunningham, G (1)
Evan Mobley, F (3)
Alperen Sengun, C (16)
Franz Wagner, F (8)
Scottie Barnes, F (4)
Jalen Johnson, F (20)
Jalen Green, W (2)
Josh Giddey, G (7)
Trey Murphy III, W (17)
Jalen Suggs, G (5)
Jonathan Kuminga, F (7)
Cam Thomas, G (27)
Quentin Grimes, W (25)
Ayo Dosunmu, G (38)
Corey Kispert, W (15)
Santi Aldama, F (30)
Herb Jones, W (35)
Aaron Wiggins, W (55)
Davion Mitchell, G (9)
Long live the freaking 2021 NBA Draft. What an absolute banger of a class in terms of both star power and depth. This has to forever go down as one of the deepest classes we’ve seen in NBA history. This draft had three perceived blue-chippers in Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Evan Mobley. Say what you want, but the arguments that were held with clear and concise positions for any of the three to stand as a top overall talent in the class were awesome to witness (yes, there were real contingents that made great arguments for Green as a top overall contender, even if history hasn’t panned out that way). Past those three, the fact that we’ve also gotten players like Alperen Sengun, Franz Wagner, Jalen Johnson, Scottie Barnes, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Suggs is absurd. Even role players like Trey Murphy, Jonathan Kuminga, Quentin Grimes, Herb Jones, and Aaron Wiggins have given this class real character from top to bottom. I’d argue that out of all the classes we can discuss across this 15-year period, only 2018 comes to mind in terms of matching this class pound-for-pound from a talent perspective. To my eye, it’s 2018, 2021, and then we’re discussing other classes in their own tiers.
2022 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr.
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Jalen Williams, W (12)
Chet Holmgren, C (2)
Paolo Banchero, F (1)
Christian Braun, W (21)
Keegan Murray, F (4)
Jabari Smith Jr., F (3)
Shaedon Sharp, W (7)
Jalen Duren, C (13)
Andrew Nembhard, G (31)
Walker Kessler, C (22)
Bennedict Mathurin, W (6)
Dyson Daniels, G (8)
Tari Eason, F (17)
Jaden Ivey, G (5)
Jeremy Sochan, F (9)
Mark Williams, C (15)
Peyton Watson, F (30)
Max Christie, W (35)
Ochai Agbaji, W (14)
Vince Williams Jr., W (47)
None of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, or Jabari Smith can claim the top overall player spot in the 2022 class up to this point over Jalen Williams. J-Dub has won a title while definitively being the second-best player over the Oklahoma City Thunder’s historic short run over the last few seasons. Yes, Holmgren has been a part of that action and is an All-Star level big man in his own right. However, Williams has been asked to do everything imaginable on the court for the Thunder over different stretches in his career, and has succeeded every single time. That being said, all three of Paolo, Chet, and Jabari were widely discussed as potential number one options in the 2022 draft, so much so that the pick was a legitimate surprise on draft night. No one had a real clue that the Orlando Magic would select Banchero first overall, making it one of the more memorable drafts we’ve had in recent memory. Outside of that contingent, some great surprises have come out of the 2022 class, including the likes of Christian Braun, Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler, Dyson Daniels, Tari Eason, and Andrew Nembhard. All of them project to play for the next decade plus and make a ton of money along the way as starter-level contributors or better.
2023 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller, Scoot Henderson
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Victor Wembanyama, C (1)
Brandon Miller, W (2)
Keyonte George, G (16)
Toumani Camara, W (52)
Amen Thompson, G (4)
Brandin Podziemski, G (19)
Ausar Thompson, W (5)
Cason Wallace, G (10)
Dereck Lively II, C (12)
Bilal Coulibaly, W (7)
Scoot Henderson, G (3)
Noah Clowney, F (21)
Anthony Black, G (6)
Gradey Dick, W (13)
Jaime Jaquez Jr., W (18)
“The Alien” was and is the ultimate prize from the 2023 NBA Draft, and I’d say Victor Wembanyama is the greatest prospect I’ve evaluated over this 15-year run. No one can match the upside of a 7’4” demon who can dribble, pass, shoot, and be arguably the best defensive player in the league. Wemby’s upside is truly limitless, making him the most unique talent that’s come into the NBA since the likes of LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and such—all the way back to the other best bigs in history like Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain. Past Wembanyama, there was a real debate as to the next best player in the class between Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson. Neither has quite lived up to the hype generated, and neither is playing or having better seasons than Amen Thompson and Keyonte George, who I’d firmly have in the conversation of players right behind Wemby in the 2023 class. Ausar Thompson has been fantastic defensively, and there are other high-level contributors behind them like Cason Wallace, Dereck Lively, and Brandin Podziemski, just to name a few. This class is very recent and still figuring itself out, but I’m curious as to how many stars will actually emerge from the 2023 group.
2024 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Reed Sheppard
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Stephon Castle, G (4)
Alex Sarr, C (2)
Reed Sheppard, G (3)
Matas Buzelis, F (11)
Kyshawn George, W (24)
Bub Carrington, G (14)
Zaccharie Risacher, W (1)
Zach Edey, C (9)
Donovan Clingan, C (7)
Kel’el Ware, C (15)
Jaylen Wells, W (39)
Jared McCain, G (16)
Ajay Mitchell, G (38)
Ryan Dunn, F (28)
Isaiah Collier, G (29)
Yves Missi, C (21)
Kyle Filipowski, F (32)
Ron Holland, W (5)
Cam Spencer, G (53)
Quinten Post, C (52)
Pelle Larsson, W (44)
Jaylon Tyson, W (20)
Perhaps no class has been more fun to try and figure out than the bizarre group of 2024. We still have reached ZERO consensus about who was actually the best player in this draft. Stephon Castle won Rookie of the Year, and is on a surging path as a sophomore in the league. Alex Sarr has taken very meaningful steps forward in his second season, Reed Sheppard has been a SPECIAL shooter for the Houston Rockets, and we’ve seen a full suite of big men and guards/ball handlers emerge from later parts in this draft. Zaccharie Risacher has not lived up to the hype as the top player selected in 2024, but we’re only two years in on this class. Give this group time, and we may still get a fair share of surprises as far as how many stars emerge. But the biggest thing to take note of so far: depth in the later portions of the first and second rounds, as far as meaningful contributors on good teams!
2025 NBA Draft
Top 3 Picks: Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe
Best Players From Class (Draft Pick):
Cooper Flagg, W (1)
Kon Knueppel, W (4)
VJ Edgecombe, G (3)
Dylan Harper, G (2)
Cedric Coward, W (11)
Derik Queen, F (13)
Jeremiah Fears, G (7)
Ryan Kalkbrenner, C (34)
Ace Bailey, W (5)
Tre Johnson, G (6)
Sion James, W (33)
Maxime Raynaud, C (42)
Will Richard, W (56)
Collin Murray-Boyles, F (9)
Nique Clifford, W (24)
Kobe Sanders, W (50)
Danny Wolf, F (27)
Walter Clayton Jr., G (18)
Hugo Gonzalez, W (28)
Asa Newell, F (23)
Carter Bryant, F (14)
Holy cow, this 2025 draft class is uber talented. An unchallenged top overall prospect in Cooper Flagg, a suite of lottery players selected behind him that are already breaking out as starter-level contributors, and some fun guys in later portions of the first round that are already making names for themselves. I’ve written countless words on this rookie class already, and have spoken about them on several podcasts, but just know that we’ll be discussing this class at length in years to come in terms of one of the best over the last 15-20 years if we keep seeing results like we already are, just halfway through its debut season.
Top Undrafted Free Agents 2011-2025
Kent Bazemore, W
Robert Covington, W
Seth Curry, G
Matthew Dellavedova, G
Daniel Theis, C
Maxi Kleber, F
TJ McConnell, G
Christian Wood, F
Dorian Finney-Smith, F
Derrick Jones Jr., F
Gary Patyon II, G
Fred VanVleet, G
Luke Kornet, C
Duncan Robinson, W
Lug Dort, W
Caleb Martin, W
Naz Reid, F
Max Strus, W
Sam Hauser, W
Jay Huff, C
Austin Reaves, G
Trendon Watford, F
Dominick Barlow, F
Julian Champagnie, W
Keon Ellis, G
Collin Gillespie, G
AJ Green, W
Scotty Pippen Jr., G
Craig Porter Jr., G
Daniss Jenkins, G
Spencer Jones, F
Nae’Qwan Tomlin, F
Dylan Cardwell, C
Caleb Love, G
Ryan Nembhard, G
Miscellaneous Notes About 2011-2025 Player Pool
- 272 players encompass the mentioned player pool from above classes/UDFA markets
- 122 of 272 players were lottery picks (45%)
- 58 of 122 players were Top 5 picks (48%)
- 37 of 58 players were Top 3 picks (64%)
- 74 of 272 players were second-round picks or UDFA (27%)
NBA Draft Classes With ONE Consensus #1 Prospect
2011 (Kyrie Irving)
2012 (Anthony Davis)
2015 (Karl-Anthony Towns)
2023 (Victor Wembanyama)
2025 (Cooper Flagg)
As I discussed above, these five classes all had clear-cut top overall pick candidates that went relatively unchallenged during the pre-draft process. KAT and Kyrie emerged a bit later in the process, while Davis, Wembanyama, and Flagg were all early contenders that lived up to the hype and were taken #1 overall in their respective classes.
NBA Draft Classes With NO Consensus #1 Prospect
2013 (Anthony Bennett, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter Jr.)
2018 (Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr.)
2020 (Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball)
2022 (Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr.)
2024 (Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan)
These five classes had raging debates throughout their pre-draft processes about who was worthy of the top overall selection, with no real consensus to be had throughout (trust me, I was there and remember all of the dialogue). The strongest of these groups are definitely the 2018 and 2022 crews as far as the prospects to come out of the TOP of the class, but it’s still as puzzling as ever that in 2018, Doncic didn’t go first overall given how his career has played out as a true offensive engine in the modern NBA.
NBA Draft Classes With TWO Consensus #1 Prospects
2016 (Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram)
2017 (Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball)
2019 (Zion Williamson, Ja Morant)
With these three classes, it was about a debate at the top between two perceived can’t-miss prospects. What’s fascinating about each of these three pairings is that one can argue none of them has produced the player who will actually end their career as the best from the class. As I stated earlier, I’d still draft Williamson and Morant at one and two, respectively, in a redraft, but all three groups have found themselves in bizarre circumstances in the years following their drafts.
NBA Draft Classes With THREE Consensus #1 Prospects
2014 (Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Joel Embiid)
2021 (Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley)
2026? (Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa)
To me, both 2014 and 2021 stand out as the two classes over the last 15 years with clear, concise groupings at the top that essentially went as unchallenged as possible as far as who ended up in those spots. Julius Randle was SUPPOSED to be in Joel Embiid’s spot to start the 2013-14 college season, but Embiid’s rapid development as a face-up center who dominated the paint made that conversation a moot point in short order. Both classes had raging debates for all three within each group to go number one overall in the draft. That being said, history hasn’t played out with either class to where the top three players have actually been all of the best guys to come from the class. That is what could make 2026 so rare, in that we haven’t seen enough challengers emerge to knock out any of Peterson, Boozer, and Dybantsa from the top of the class, AND as outlined above, the way in which all three have produced in their college playing time hasn’t been replicated by any other class pre-draft in terms of that consensus group of top prospects. 2026 looks the part to join 2014 and 2021 as true three-man races from start to finish.
Conclusion
Over the last 15 years, no class has produced star power at the top of the draft from pre-draft all the way through a large enough sample size of NBA game action that’s actually stayed true to the order drafted. For all of Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and AJ Dybantsa to truly end up as 1A prospects and hold onto those spots through their professional careers is highly improbable and borderline impossible given how we’ve seen basketball play out in the sport’s history.
Still, I can’t help but come back to the conclusion that this collection of three players is unlike any I’ve evaluated. Between how they’ve already produced in college, and how they project to not only fit into the modern NBA but thrive in it, this class, as of now, looks to enter into historic territory—and that’s not even getting to the potential depth in 2026 when evaluating the guards and bigs that project well to the pro level.
Put the stats for these three into perspective: when trying to evaluate every group of Top 3 prospects from 2011-2025 (domestic college players for comparison sake) and putting them up against Boozer, Peterson, and Dybantsa: the only player in the realm of production as far as points, assists, rebounds, true shooting efficiency, usage, and box plus/minus is Zion Williamson. That’s it. And even HE doesn’t match or exceed all six of those marks across the board. Boozer, Peterson, and Dybantsa are dominating at insane volume with insane levels of productivity and efficiency across the board.
The main conclusion to come to (TL;DR): the 2026 NBA Draft deserves ALL of the hype and then some, especially the likes of Peterson, Boozer, and Dybantsa. So if you see me and any other evaluator discuss the top of this draft (including Caleb Wilson) ad nauseam, there’s a great reason for it as I outlined above.
Buckle up, because the best is yet to come for the Class of 2026.
This absolutely rocks! It’s such a fun challenge, and I always make sure to stress that 3 isn’t an indictment on any prospect. Anyone in the top-3 is getting a franchise-altering talent.
Semi-related question because of your re-draft list: how high can Anthony Black climb in a re-draft?
Amazing report.