The NBA Draft is now on our doorstep. The research has been done, the film has been watched, and now it is time to put together a board.
This is my personal stack of players I would give a guaranteed NBA contract to, therefore it does not extend nearly as long as the number of picks there are in the draft. To get to the ranking of prospects, I have tiered everyone up and then ranked players in that tier. Players within the same tier are somewhat interchangeable for me, while I view the tier differences to be significant. It would take an overwhelming fit for me to draft a player from a lower tier if someone from a tier above is available.
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Each tier will be described by ten words or less in this exercise, with the players also getting a ten word or less evaluation. We at the site here have done player profiles on a good number of these prospects, and this board will only seek to add clarity to the work that has been done. To the tiers!
Tier one: First class
Elite prospects with clear strengths
Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) grabs a loose ball in the second half against the Texas Longhorns during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
1) Darryn Peterson (G, Kansas)
Shooting, playmaking and skill outweigh the weird year at Kansas.
2) AJ Dybantsa (F, BYU)
A-Grade bucket getter with outlandish ability.
3) Cam Boozer (F, Duke)
All-purpose big with perhaps the highest floor of anyone.
Tier two: A tier of his own
Above the rest, more unknowns than the best
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 07: Caleb Wilson #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels blocks a shot by Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of the game at Dean E. Smith Center on February 07, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
4) Caleb Wilson (F, UNC)
Tools for days with a maniacal work ethic. Shot? Questionable.
Tier three: Ice cream parlor
Your favorite flavor is someone else’s least favorite. That’s okay!
5) Keaton Wagler (G, Illinois)
Size, skill and shooting: Exemplary. Weight and athleticism: Needs improvement.
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6) Mikel Brown Jr. (G, Louisville)
Highest potential of the group. Also, the lowest floor.
7) Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)
Highest floor of the group. Also, probably the lowest ceiling.
8) Kingston Flemings (G, Houston)
Speed, athleticism for days. Shot must hit to reach ceiling.
9) Darius Acuff (G, Arkansas)
Tier four: Lottery contenders
Top 14 ish
10) Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)
Preseason top five for a reason! Polarizing prospect.
11) Morez Johnson Jr. (F, Michigan)
Glue guy who happens to be an athletic freak.
12) Aday Mara (C, Michigan)
Blocks out sun defensively, refined touch at rim offensively.
13) Cam Carr (G, Baylor)
Scott Drew, please modernize to showcase your unbelievable athletes.
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14) Yaxel Lendeborg (F, Michigan)
Lebron if you ran him through a copier 150 times.
15) Dailyn Swain (F, Texas)
Combo-forward who needs his shot to translate in the NBA.
LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 02: Ebuka Okorie #1 of the Stanford Cardinal takes a foul shot during the 2026 College Basketball Crown – Quarterfinal game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand Resort on April 02, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
16) Ebuka Okorie (G, Stanford)
Walking paint touch with questions about the long ball.
Tier five: Frozen yogurt shop
Like the ice cream parlor, but just not quite the same
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MARCH 20: Allen Graves #22 of the Santa Clara Broncos shoots the ball against Brandon Garrison #10 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
17) Allen Graves (F, Santa Clara)
Sweet shooting forward with defensive questions in the league.
18) Jayden Quaintance (C, Kentcuky)
Best in class when healthy. Unfortunately, walking medical red flag.
19) Christian Anderson (G, Texas Tech)
Pound for pound best shooter in the class.
20) Labaron Philon (G, Alabama)
Crafty guard who needs to add a bunch of pounds.
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21) Bennett Stirtz (G, Iowa)
Sneaky athletic shooter who can command an offense. Excellent offensive guard who will have to improve defensively.
22) Karim Lopez (F, New Zealand Breakers/Mexico)
Big forward who can handle with a questionable shot diet.
Tier six: First round grades
Pretty self explanatory!
23) Chris Cenac Jr. (F/C, Houston)
A ton of skill, little idea how to use it.
24) Isaiah Evans (F/G, Duke)
Streaky shooter that will, most of the time, getuhhandup.
25) Joshua Jefferson (F, Iowa State)
Offensive hub inside the arc with real athleticism questions.
26) Hannes Steinbach (C, Washington)
Glass-eating big that didn’t impact winning. Is from Wurzburg.
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27) Sergio de Larrea (G, Valencia/Spain)
Big-bodied guard that will need some seasoning.
Tier seven: Swingers!
Probably first rounders, but high variance range of outcomes
28) Koa Peat (F, Arizona)
If basketball didn’t require shooting, would be top five pick.
29) Tarris Reed Jr. (C, UConn)
Traditional big that does traditional big stuff.
30) Meleek Thomas (G, Arkansas)
Off-cadence guard, big frame and reliable.
31) Richie Saunders (F/G, BYU)
Sure-fire first rounder if he didn’t tear ACL.
Tier eight: Guar-un-teed!
Guys who I would give a guaranteed NBA contract to
32) Zuby Ejiofor (F, St. John’s)
Undersized, but real winning intangibles.
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33) Izaiyah Nelson (C, USF)
Uber-athletic big with tools that need developing.
34) Henri Veesaar (C, UNC)
Stretch big who is softer than charmin.
35) Jack Kayil (G, Alba Berlin)
Inefficient scoring guard with tools working for him.
36) Alex Karaban (F, UConn)
Glue guy, bench shooter and culture guy.
37) Jaden Bradley (G, Arizona)
Steady hand who could carve out a role in NBA.
Feb 21, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp (21) dribbles past Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) in the second half at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
38) Emmanuel Sharp (G, Houston)
Bench gunner who isn’t afraid to guard you.
39) Braden Smith (G, Purdue)
Floor general that will be capped by his height.
40) Trevon Brazile (F, Arkansas)
Would be twenty spots higher if he could shoot. Athlete.
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41) Ryan Conwell (G, Louisville)
Capable shooter by attempts at Louisville, less so by percentage.
42) Nick Martinelli (F, Northwestern)
Junkyard dog. Capable shooter and does try defensively.
43) Bruce Thornton (G, Ohio State)
I don’t see the thing that many others do.
