In most years, men’s college basketball is lucky to have a transcendent star, a player who can carry his team through the NCAA Tournament and have professional prospects for promotion.
In 2026, there are three: Kansas’ Darrin Peterson, Brigham Young’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer.
The trio has been jockeying for the top of NBA draft boards all year to have impressive seasons for their respective schools. All three play for teams with legitimate Final Four hopes, with Duke and Kansas seeded first and fourth in the East, while BYU is seeded sixth 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.
Darrin Peterson, guard, Kansas
First tournament game: 9:45 pm ET Friday v. California Baptist
Most prognosticators have Peterson at no. 1, though his footing isn’t entirely solid after a strange rookie season. Peterson has been impressive when he has played, averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. But his availability has been limited due to injuries, including a persistent cramp problem. Peterson played in just 22 games before the tournament, averaging 28.4 minutes a night.
“This season probably hasn’t gone the way he wanted it to. It really hasn’t gone the way NBA teams thought it was probably going to go,” ESPN’s NBA Draft analyst Jeremy Wu said.
In his latest mock draft, Woo still had Peterson going first overall.
As for what makes Peterson such a tantalizing prospect for NBA teams despite his mysterious cramp problem, Wu points to his scoring ability.
“When he’s at his best, there’s not a better scorer in college,” Wu said. “His shooting, his ability to get his shot off the dribble, he’s good at everything when he has it. He’s also an underrated defender at this point.”
Wu 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 pm ET Thursday vs. winner of Texas-NC State
Many analysts peg Dybantsa as the No. 1 prospect in the high school class of 2025. 1 prospect and he surprised most people by choosing to attend BYU in one of the more heralded programs, becoming the highest-ranked recruit to commit to the school. In his freshman season, Dybantsa lived up to the hype, averaging 25.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Cougars.
Dybantsa entered the year with some questions about his outside shooting ability, but he has somewhat alleviated those concerns by converting 34% of his 3-point attempts. And according to Wu, he’s 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 really answered the call in terms of being more aggressive.”
After starting the season by scoring 20 points in just two of his first eight games, Dybantsa has scored fewer than 20 points just once in his last 16 appearances, including multiple games with more than 40 points.
Dybantsa has the eye of NBA scouts because of his size, which fits the mold of many modern-day stars.
“He fits that NBA star wing archetype that’s coveted,” Woo said. “Like Jaylen Brown’s or Kawhi Leonard’s. He’s not quite a defender like him yet, but his offense reminds me a little bit of that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s a 25-plus scorer because of his size and how good he is to the rim.”
Cameron Boozer, forward, Duke
First Tournament Game: 2:50 pm ET Thursday vs. Siena
Boozer is on the radar of recruiters and NBA scouts because of his pedigree, as he is 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 an ACC-leading 32-2 record.
“He has a great case for the best player in college basketball,” Woo said. “His greatest strength is between the ears. He makes brilliant decisions and is useless under pressure.”
In other seasons, Boozer would probably be the top pick in the draft. According to Wu, Boozer is the kind of player who can do it all at a high level. But when analysts compare him to Peterson and Dybantsa — and feel compelled to nitpick — there are questions about Boozer’s ceiling as a pro player.
“He’s not a dynamic mover, and it’s hard for people to wrap their heads around it,” Wu said. “Defensively, that’s my biggest question. How does 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 exceptional shooting ability could hold up.
“You look at the production, the team’s success, the winning pedigree,” Wu said. “It’s an interesting debate. It’s about what value teams ultimately provide.”
