The 2026 NBA draft is deep with young talent but lacks a clear “no-brainer” top pick, according to Jay Bilas. He compared the uncertainty at the top of this class to the 2022 draft, when Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith all drew No. 1 buzz, and contrasted it with obvious selections such as LeBron James in 2003 and Victor Wembanyama in 2023.
Bilas identified three prospects who each make a case for the first overall selection: Darryn Peterson of Kansas, AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Cameron Boozer of Duke. From Bilas’ perspective, Peterson is the pick, though he wrote that any of the three would not be a surprising choice on draft night.
Bilas called Peterson the most talented player in the class. Peterson averaged 20 points per game at Kansas and 27.8 points per 40 minutes, and Bilas noted his combination of athleticism, size and length projects to an impact defender in the NBA. Bilas also flagged that Peterson did not play a full season because of persistent cramping and described him as quiet and soft-spoken.
AJ Dybantsa led the nation in scoring and is, in Bilas’ view, the prospect most built for the NBA. Bilas described Dybantsa as long, athletic and skilled — a readymade fit. He also mentioned Jayden Quaintance of Kentucky alongside Dybantsa in the “built for the NBA” category, noting Quaintance’s 6-foot-10, 255-pound frame, immense wingspan and rebounding and shot-blocking potential despite limited college production because of injury.
Bilas named Cameron Boozer the best pure basketball player in the draft, highlighting his feel for team dynamics and game processing. Boozer’s combine measurements include a 7-foot-1 wingspan and a 35-inch vertical, and Bilas said Boozer posted better sprint and shuttle times than Cooper Flagg did at the 2025 combine.
The most dynamic athlete label went to Caleb Wilson, who Bilas said has a 7-foot wingspan and a 39.5-inch vertical. Bilas concluded that there isn’t a bad choice among the top candidates and that any of the leading prospects could justify a No. 1 pick.
