In most years, men’s college basketball would be lucky to have one transcendent star, a player who could both carry his team during the NCAA Tournament and be a hyped professional prospect.
In 2026, there are three: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Brigham Young’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer.
The trio have been jockeying for position at the top of NBA draft boards all year while also having impactful seasons for their schools. All three play for teams that have legitimate Final Four hopes, with Duke and Kansas earning the first and fourth seeds in the East, while BYU is the sixth seed in the West.
So how have Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer fared this season? And what makes them such great NBA prospects? Let’s dive into each player.
Darryn Peterson, guard, Kansas
First tournament game: 9:45 p.m. ET Friday vs. California Baptist
Most prognosticators have Peterson going No. 1 in the upcoming draft, though his footing isn’t completely solid after a strange freshman season. Peterson has been impactful when he has played, averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. But his availability has been limited because of injuries, including a persistent cramping issue. Peterson played in only 22 games before the tournament, averaging just 28.4 minutes a night.
“This season hasn’t gone the way that he probably wanted. It hasn’t really gone the way that NBA teams probably thought it was going to go,” said Jeremy Woo, ESPN’s NBA draft analyst.
In his latest mock draft, Woo still has Peterson going first overall.
As for what makes Peterson such a tantalizing prospect for NBA teams despite his mysterious cramp issue, Woo points to his scoring ability.
“When he’s at his best, there’s no better scorer in college,” Woo said. “His shooting, his ability to get to his shot off the dribble, he’s good at everything when he has it going. He’s also an underrated defender at this point.”
Woo added: “He’s one of the most talented guards we’ve seen in the last decade or so in terms of skill or scoring ability.”
AJ Dybantsa, forward, BYU
First tournament game: 7:25 p.m. ET Thursday vs. the winner of Texas-N.C. State
Many analysts Dybantsa as the No. 1 prospect in the high school class of 2025, and he surprised most people by choosing to attend BYU over more heralded programs, becoming the highest-ranked recruit to commit to the school. In his freshman season, Dybantsa has lived up to the hype, averaging 25.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists a game for the Cougars.
Dybantsa entered the year with some questions about his outside shooting ability, but he has somewhat quelled those concerns by converting 34% of his 3-point attempts. And according to Woo, he has gotten better over the course of the season.
“I saw BYU early; he was a little up and down. He was starting slow,” Woo said. “He’s really answered the call in terms of being more aggressive.”
After having started the season scoring over 20 points in only two of his first eight games, Dybantsa has scored less than 20 only once in his last 16 appearances, including multiple games with over 40 points.
Dybantsa has the eye of NBA scouts because of his size, which fits the mold of several modern-day stars.
“He fits that NBA star wing archetype that is coveted,” Woo said. “Like the Jaylen Browns of the world or like Kawhi Leonard. He’s not a defender like them yet, but his offense reminds me of that a little bit. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s a peak 25-plus scorer because of his big he is and how good he is getting to the rim.”
Cameron Boozer, forward, Duke
First tournament game: 2:50 p.m. ET Thursday vs. Siena
Boozer has long been on the radar of both recruiters and NBA scouts because of his lineage, as he’s the son of former two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.
He averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists a night for the Blue Devils this season, leading them to a 32-2 record, tops in the ACC.
“He’s got a pretty good case for the best player in college basketball,” Woo said. “His biggest strength is between the ears. He makes amazing decisions and is unflappable under pressure.”
In other seasons, Boozer would perhaps be the top pick in the draft. According to Woo, Boozer is the type of player who can do nearly everything at a high level. But when analysts compare him to Peterson and Dybantsa — and are forced to nitpick — there are questions about Boozer’s ceiling as a pro player.
“He’s not a dynamic mover, and that’s hard for people to wrap their head around,” Woo said. “Defensively, that’s my biggest question. How will he do when teams target him?”
While Boozer still has a case to be one of the top two picks, Woo said his lack of a size advantage or his not-standout shooting ability could be a hold-up.
“You see the production, the team success, the pedigree of winning,” Woo said. “It’s an interesting debate. It’s really about what teams value, ultimately.”