Constructing a Big Board from Scratch II

What if we scratch everything and build a board from scratch? The annual tradition returns.

Last year, I introduced one of my favorite articles I’ve written for No Ceilings. This year, I thought the 2026 NBA Draft class was as good a class as ever to do the same. For those checking this out for the first time, allow me to walk you through the process.

Building an NBA Draft board is always a bit of a process. For the scouts and evaluators out there, you understand what a grueling process it can be. Sure, we can throw together a list of names quickly. But throughout an entire NBA Draft cycle, the tinkering and obsession continue to add some weight to the shoulders.

One of my favorite mental processes has been to tear everything down and take a step back. To sum up, I'd like to delete my board completely. The first year I did this, it seemed like a wild concept to dive into. Throughout the process, I realized how helpful it could be for navigating some of the inner debates or roadblocks you might have with your rankings.

So that’s what we are going to do again this year.

The rules for this exercise. I can’t look at my previous rankings. I have to go completely off the top of my head.

Yes, as I’m writing this, I’m at the NBA Draft combine. But I wanted to focus on doing this exercise on a day when I hadn’t been in the gym yet, to focus on the players throughout the next couple of days.

Also, we’re only going to do a Top 30. If you think this is easy, go ahead and try for yourself. You’ll realize it becomes a bit of a mind-melter around 12.

So let’s get after it.

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7:05 AM —

Alright, it should seem like the first four names of this exercise should be pretty simple. AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), and Caleb Wilson (North Carolina) are going to be the “Big 4” that we discuss for the next 40+ days until the NBA Draft. All of those prospects have been in the same tier for me throughout this entire cycle. All four are going to be there when the Washington Wizards are officially on the clock on the night of the draft. While the order of those four could change for me personally, let’s have fun for now and shake things up a bit. I’ve had Darryn Peterson at 1 throughout the majority of this cycle. For now, I’m going to stay with it, even if that debate at the top will keep me up at night going down to the wire. I love all of the big four, but it's just so close in my opinion.

7:12 AM — Peterson at 1, Dybantsa at 2, Boozer at 3, Wilson at 4

Now this is where we start to get really fun. Throughout the last couple of months of draft season, I’ve stayed pretty firm on having Houston freshman guard Kingston Flemings at number 5. After the season concluded, I’ve had the chance to get caught up on some film with several prospects. One name that has gotten me to buy back in a bit has been Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler.

The reasoning has been Wagler's versatility. Some have had questions about Wagler's athleticism. While I understand those questions, I think there’s a way for prospects to “cross-check” some skill debates during the evaluation. Wagler has fantastic awareness, feel, and scoring ability as a deadly outside shooter. There’s also a chance he’s going to be one of the pleasant surprises when it comes to his measurements this upcoming week. For this exercise, let’s add him to the board.

7:15 AM — At #5, Keaton Wagler

This is where things are going to start getting really interesting in terms of a big board. I’ve had three names in this range all year. But one name, just like Wagler, has started to get me to buy back in. Louisville freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. didn’t have the year that many had dreamed of. It was a rollercoaster of a season when it came to up-and-down play. The highs are up there with any of the prospects in this class. But there was a desire at the end of the year to have a little bit more consistent play from Brown. Still, after seeing him in person, the height, shooting ability, and playmaking have me starting to legit buy back in on the long-term upside and potential for Brown to be one of the best point guards in this class. Obviously, the hope is that the medicals get a green light, which I expect to hear at the combine.

7:18 AM — At #6, Mikel Brown Jr.

Let’s do a little recap throughout so we can keep up.

Here’s where we are at:

1. Darryn Peterson

2. AJ Dybantsa

3. Cameron Boozer

4. Caleb Wilson

5. Keaton Wagler

6. Mikel Brown Jr.

People might think I don’t like the next two guards on my board because they are going after Wagler and Brown. That’s just the opposite. I don’t have a lot of separation with the guards in the top 10. It’s going to come down more to team preference, as I could see the draft going in a direction that all of these guards go in any order on the night of the draft, and it would honestly…make complete sense. The next two names for me? Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. and Houston guard Kingston Flemings.

Let’s start with Acuff. You can make an argument that Acuff had one of the most impressive seasons we’ve seen in a long time when it comes to a freshman floor general. The offensive firepower and strength he has are remarkable. The playmaking and feel were just as impressive. The defensive questions will surround Acuff this year, and they are well warranted as the film isn’t great. But I still think the role and use that Acuff had in Arkansas were important contextual factors.

But on the other side, we have Kingston Flemings. I understand that Flemings might not be for everyone. But he’s the guard I continue to feel the best about in terms of potential “safety.” The upside might not be as high as the others, but I think Flemings is the best two-way point guard in this class. I buy the defense, as Flemings has some sensational on-ball fiestiness. Offensively, Fleming’s shot will get some questions, but I think his floor awareness and ability to attack and create windows are special. It’s a toss-up here that could come down to fit and team preference. For me? I think the order is set.

7:30 AM — At #7, Kingston Flemings. At #8, Darius Acuff Jr.

This is where things can start to get a little interesting. There have been a lot of players that I’ve had in this range throughout the year. I also think this could be the spot where some names start to cement themselves through a strong predraft process. I know he’s a bit of an older prospect, but Michigan senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg is the one that comes to mind right away in terms of feeling “safe.” The funny thing about Lendeborg is that I feel plenty of people consider him a safe prospect with little upside.

I’m not sure I entirely agree with that. I still think Lendeborg has plenty of potential to take his game to another level in the NBA. That might not be unlocking a lot of skill areas, in so many ways…but it might be perfecting his craft in terms of making an impact in a certain aspect of the game. Perhaps Yaxel locks in on his defensive ability or rebounding impact, etc.

7:42 AM — At #9, Yaxel Lendeborg.

I’m still going to go with some of the guys that I’ve loved throughout the year at this spot. Arizona Wildcats freshman guard Brayden Burries is a name I’m still a huge fan of. Burries had what I like to call the “sour taste” at the end of the season. Fans were enamored of his game and potential before a rough final showing against Michigan, leaving people with a bad taste in their mouths. I still think Burries’ ability to have an impact on both sides of the ball is fantastic. Long-term, I think he could develop into a heck of a player who wins at a high level.

The other name I’m going to continue to beat the drum for is Alabama sophomore guard Labaron Philon. At this rate, I continue to feel like I’m one of the only people remaining on Philon Island here at No Ceilings. Philon intrigued last year as a freshman before returning for his sophomore season and taking his game to another stratosphere. We rarely see players take on this type of usage and responsibility climb, while also seeing their production and efficiency climb together. Philon hasn’t been getting as much spotlight as the freshman guards because he’s “older.” But the fact that he’s the same age as Brayden Burries, should calm some folks down.

8:11 AM — at #10, Brayden Burries. At #11, Labaron Philon

Alright, time for another update.

Here’s where we are at:

1. Darryn Peterson

2. AJ Dybantsa

3. Cameron Boozer

4. Caleb Wilson

5. Keaton Wagler

6. Mikel Brown Jr.

7. Kingston Flemings

8. Darius Acuff Jr.

9. Yaxel Lendeborg

10. Brayden Burries

11. Labaron Philon

I’m still a gigantic fan of Michigan sophomore big man Morez Johnson Jr., and he seems like one of the easiest “yeah, just take him” prospects in this class. I’m buying the offensive upside with Johnson, and I think his defensive impact this year for the Wolverines was unreal. He’s going to be a player who can have a very comfortable floor while also getting into some fun territory if the offensive side keeps developing.

8:30 AM — At #12, Morez Johnson Jr.

Two more names come to mind as players who could make early impacts while offering upside. Michigan Wolverines big man Aday Mara and Texas wing Dailyn Swain.

Personally, I’m a bit of a bigger believer in Swain, who I’ve loved since his days at Xavier. I think Swain will look a little more like the player he was at Xavier in his NBA role. That player was a defensive playmaking bully with some ability as a slasher. This season was tremendous for Swain, as he got to showcase how the offensive package could look with freedom. He won’t have that same type of freedom early on at the next level. But I still believe finding a “match” between the Xavier and Texas versions could unlock the best version of Dailyn Swain for years to come.

Aday Mara has been a popular name over the years, but has started to generate fan excitement in recent months. I think Mara is still a heck of a talent, but his fit could be what really unlocks his immediate impact early on. For now, I think the recent hit rate on jumbo-sized bigs, plus the playmaking impact, puts Mara in the mix for me.

8:40 AM — At #13, Aday Mara. At #14, Dailyn Swain

We made it to outside of the “lottery” for our Big Board from scratch

Here’s where we are at:

1. Darryn Peterson

2. AJ Dybantsa

3. Cameron Boozer

4. Caleb Wilson

5. Keaton Wagler

6. Mikel Brown Jr.

7. Kingston Flemings

8. Darius Acuff Jr.

9. Yaxel Lendeborg

10. Brayden Burries

11. Labaron Philon

12. Morez Johnson Jr

13. Aday Mara

14. Dailyn Swain

Alright, we’re making some progress here. But we’re starting to get into some rough territory.

I can’t quite quit Baylor red-shirt sophomore Cameron Carr. I understand the questions about the weight, as Carr is as skinny as he looks on tape. But movement shooters like this also don’t have the rare gift of athletic pop and sensational length. Carr has vines for arms, and it pairs beautifully with his fluidity and ability to be a bucket-getting machine. Let’s add him to the mix.

8:55 AM – At #15, Cameron Carr

Here’s where I start to get a little ugly and try to dive into the mental database. I think a name I’m coming around on continues to be Washington big man Hannes Steinbach. He’s gigantic and is an elite rebounder for his size. I understand it’s not the sexiest of prospects, but the rebounding is that good that it gets teams excited. At 16, it feels like a good landing spot.

9:04 AM — At #16, Hannes Steinbach

Another guy I can’t get off my mind is Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie. I still think Okorie is an absolute gamer, with ridiculous speed and a fearless tenacity on the attack. Okorie was a guy that I loved since the beginning of the year, and I can’t stop being in my feelings. Let’s get weird.

9:08 AM – At #17, Ebuka Okorie

I’m trying at this point to rattle off positions in my head and think of who I would have had in the mix. I’ve already gotten a number of bigs that I like off the board. It seems like I’ve had 30 different guards at this rate. What’s the next position? Let’s go forward. Look, I feel like my evaluation of Karim Lopez is going to come down to the wire. I was much colder on Lopez to start the year, before catching up on his film and slowly buying in. I feel like Lopez was much higher on my recent board, so maybe this process is a bit of a wake-up call. I'm still intrigued by Lopez's upside, but maybe this is the range where I start to get a little comfortable.

9:27 AM – At #18, Karim Lopez

I couldn’t want to look at my previous big board rankings more right now. But I’m going to stay honest here. But we’re getting into some sloppy territory. There are a lot of names running through my head, but I know, at the same time, it’s a bit early compared to my actual rankings.

Let’s rip the band-aid off here. At this range of the draft, I would be comfortable with going with a couple of upside swings that I’ve been a little skeptical of personally. Tennessee forward Nate Ament continues to be one of the most polarizing prospects in this class. If you watched him at different points throughout the season, you might have two completely different evaluations of Ament. But the raw tools, upside, and size would have me comfortable taking a bit of a swing at this range.

9:43 AM – At #19, Nate Ament

This is the part in which I feel like a crazy person because I know I’m missing some names. Ah, crap, Mr. Stirtz. I’ve started to warm up slowly (and probably not quickly enough) on Bennett Stirtz, ending up in that sweet spot right outside the lottery. I still wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being a name discussed heavily from the 15th pick onward. Stirtz had a great year, as he battled through the “test of the Big Ten” before putting forth some strong play. I suddenly feel relieved that I remembered him before it got too late.

9:50 AM – At #20, Bennett Stirtz

Let’s review:

1. Darryn Peterson

2. AJ Dybantsa

3. Cameron Boozer

4. Caleb Wilson

5. Keaton Wagler

6. Mikel Brown Jr.

7. Kingston Flemings

8. Darius Acuff Jr.

9. Yaxel Lendeborg

10. Brayden Burries

11. Labaron Philon

12. Morez Johnson Jr

13. Aday Mara

14. Dailyn Swain

15. Cameron Carr

16. Hannes Steinbach

17. Ebuka Okorie

18. Karim Lopez

19. Nate Ament

20. Bennett Stirtz

Not too shabby, even if we got a little questionable in that 17-20 range. But we’re not going to make changes. Let’s get through this together and then evaluate.

I got to bring up the elephant in the room. It seems strange not to have brought Kentucky sophomore Jayden Quaintance into the picture. Honestly, I have no idea what to do with him. I don’t even think my brain can still comprehend what to do with him. Quaintance will remain a bit of a mystery until the intel starts to fly in about the medicals and such. When he’s on the court, there’s a fantastic combination of defensive ability that gives him game-wrecking potential. But teams will need to sign off on his medicals. For now, the upside swing is too rich. Let’s put him on the list.

10:02 AM – At #21, Jayden Quaintance

Now that I’ve cleared my head a little bit, I’ve got a couple of bigs popping back into the conversation. Another polarizing prospect for some has been Houston freshman Chris Cenac Jr. I’m a fan of Cenac; I think the rebounding ability is special. He’s got a desire for the ball, and he works to battle and put himself in position to create additional opportunities on the offensive side of the ball. Cenac is more of a big, with an appetite to be a floor-spacing 4. If a team can unlock the defensive ability, there’s a foundation for things to start falling into place quickly. I wouldn’t be shocked if he goes much earlier than this when the draft comes, but for now, let’s add him.

10:10 AM – At #22, Chris Cenac Jr.

I know all of the questions surrounding Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson. But at some point, I also know all the answers. Anderson might be a bit thin-framed, but he’s explosive and can shoot the rock with the best of them. Anderson had a tremendous sophomore year and is an artist in the pick-and-roll game. For now, I like him in this spot, even though I still want to move him up.

10:20 AM – At #23, Christian Anderson

Billy Richmond has been lurking in my head for like 8 straight picks. I can’t fight it anymore. I’m a big Billy Richmond guy; everybody knows this.

10:32 AM – At #24, Billy Richmond

Amari Allen has been lurking in my head for like 9 straight picks. Jokes aside, Allen continues to be one of the most fascinating prospects throughout the predraft process. I’m still wondering if he could be a surprise “climber” in the next couple of weeks. For now, I’ve still got him in the 20s, so I’m fine with him at 25 for this exercise.

10:44 AM – At, #25, Amari Allen

This is the range of my big board, in which I just can’t fight off some of “my guys” that I honestly feel safe about. There’s a range in every draft class in which the separation isn’t as big as some might think. But for me, I feel fantastic when it comes to the idea of adding a player like St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor to the mix. He’s Inspector Gadget on the court, with great versatility and length. Although more of a tweener, Zuby keeps checking way too many boxes for me.

10:53 AM – At #26, Zuby Ejiofor

Another big man I’m starting to get extremely comfortable with as a late-round grab (or even earlier) is UConn senior Tarris Reed. He’s gigantic, rebounds well, and has good court skills. Enough said. Next.

11:02 AM – At #27, Tarris Reed

Look. I can’t fight it anymore. I’m a Ryan Conwell guy. I know he’s a little undersized and he’s older…but Ryan Conwell can flat out play. Some of my favorite philosophies...when in doubt, draft good players. Ryan Conwell is a hooper.

11:25 AM – At #28, Ryan Conwell

I know that the athleticism is lacking, but Joshua Jefferson also seems like a guy who could land in a perfect systematic fit and explode in his role. At the end of the first round, the offensive weaponry is too enticing for me not to take a swing.

11:34 AM – At #29, Joshua Jefferson

Ending this bad boy gets scary. I feel like there are so many names floating around that I’m not in love with, but I also want to think of someone who offers a little upside here. Ah, I got it.

Look, I understand there are some questions about the role or frame, etc., but I think Arkansas freshman Meleek Thomas showed impressive growth throughout the year. Thomas is a bit thin, but he’s a microwave scorer who could offer some fun potential to carve out for an NBA team. For now, why not… let's put him at 30.

11:46 AM – At #30, Meleek Thomas

One final review

1. Darryn Peterson

2. AJ Dybantsa

3. Cameron Boozer

4. Caleb Wilson

5. Keaton Wagler

6. Mikel Brown Jr.

7. Kingston Flemings

8. Darius Acuff Jr.

9. Yaxel Lendeborg

10. Brayden Burries

11. Labaron Philon

12. Morez Johnson Jr

13. Aday Mara

14. Dailyn Swain

15. Cameron Carr

16. Hannes Steinbach

17. Ebuka Okorie

18. Karim Lopez

19. Nate Ament

20. Bennett Stirtz

21. Jayden Quaintance

22. Chris Cenac Jr.

23. Christian Anderson

24. Billy Richmond III

25. Amari Allen

26. Zuby Ejiofor

27. Tarris Reed Jr

28. Ryan Conwell

29. Joshua Jefferson

30. Meleek Thomas

Interesting results all around. Ended up with a couple of names much higher and lower than my previous rankings. Quintance was about 7 spots lower than my big board last month. Stirtz is about 3 spots higher, and Nate Ament is much higher.

My 16-28 range basically “hit shuffle.” That’s a fun one to look into. With Hannes Steinbach having a big jump up, as well as names like Zuby Ejiofor and Ryan Conwell.

This is always a fun exercise because it sort of mentally helps you “get a different look” when it comes to scrambling things up. Sometimes, you might eventually end up liking how it turns out. Right? I’m thinking we got some work to do, but I’m starting to like how some interesting doors are opening back up.

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