2026 NBA Draft Big Board: Early Look at the Future

As the 2025 draft cycle nears its climax, NBA scouts and front offices already have one eye trained on the next wave of elite talent. The 2026 NBA Draft class is shaping up to be one of the deepest in recent memory, featuring a blend of polished college freshmen, international upside plays, and high school prodigies poised to make immediate noise in college or pro pathways.

Leading the charge is a trio of high school stars — AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson — each with franchise-player potential. This class has strong positional balance: elite wings, modern bigs, and a growing crop of skilled guards. There’s also significant international flavor, from Finland’s Mikka Muurinen to France’s Karim Lopez, giving this board global reach and versatility.

Some names are rocketing up draft boards thanks to recent performances, while others are sliding due to concerns about fit, frame, or motor. With that in mind, here’s our early Top 50 Big Board for the 2026 NBA Draft — with a few strategic shifts in the rankings to reflect new scouting insights.

2026 NBA Draft Big Board (3/30/25)

1. AJ Dybantsa – 6’9’’, SF, High School / BYU

2. Darryn Peterson – 6’5’’, SG, High School / Kansas

3. Cameron Boozer – 6’9’’, PF, High School / Duke

4. Caleb Wilson – 6’9’’, PF, High School / North Carolina

5. Alijah Arenas – 6’6’’, SG, High School / USC

6. Nate Ament – 6’9’’, SF, High School / Undecided

7. Mikka Muurinen – 6’10’’, PF, Finland

8. Chris Cenac Jr. – 6’10’’, C, High School / Houston

9. Koa Peat – 6’8’’, SF, High School / Arizona

10. Karim Lopez – 6’8’’, SF, NBL

11. Jayden Quaintance – 6’10’’, PF, Arizona State, Fr.

12. Darius Acuff Jr. – 6’1’’, PG, High School / Arkansas

13. Dash Daniels – 6’5’’, SG, Australia

14. Bennett Stiritz – 6’4’’, PG, Iowa, Jr.

15. Meleek Thomas – 6’4’’, SG, High School / Arkansas

16. Brayden Burries – 6’4’’, SG, High School / Undecided

17. Tahaad Pettiford – 6’1’’, PG, Auburn, Fr.

18. Bryson Tiller – 6’8’’, PF, Overtime Elite

19. Isiah Harwell – 6’5’’, SG, High School / Houston

20. Donovan Dent – 6’2’’, PG, New Mexico, Jr.

21. Jalen Haralson – 6’5’’, SF, High School / Notre Dame

22. Karter Knox – 6’6’’, SF, Arkansas, Fr.

23. Jasper Johnson – 6’4’’, PG, High School / Kentucky

24. Jarin Stevenson – 6’10’’, PF, Alabama, Soph.

25. Hugo Facorat – 6’10’’, PF, France

26. Cayden Boozer – 6’4’’, SG, High School / Duke

27. Malachi Moreno – 7’1’’, C, High School / Kentucky

28. Fiory Bidunga – 6’9’’, C, Kansas, Fr.

29. Dame Sarr – 6’6’’, SG, Italy

30. Silas Demary Jr. – 6’5’’, PG, Georgia, Soph.

31. Sadiq White – 6’8’’, PF, High School / Syracuse

32. Josan Sanon – 6’6’’, SG, Arizona State, Fr.

33. Noa Kouakou-Heugue – 6’10’’, SF, France

34. Miles Byrd – 6’7’’, SG, San Diego State, Soph.

35. Derrion Reid – 6’7’’, PF, Alabama, Fr.

36. Henry Veesaar – 7’0’’, C, Arizona, Soph.

37. Kanon Catchings – 6’8’’, SF, BYU, Fr.

38. Sidi Gueye – 6’10’’, C, Senegal

39. Jalil Bethea – 6’5’’, SG, Miami, Fr.

40. PJ Haggerty – 6’3’’, PG, Memphis, Soph.

41. Darren Harris – 6’5’’, SG, Duke, Fr.

42. Billy Richmond – 6’5’’, SG, Arkansas, Fr.

43. Solo Ball – 6’3’’, PG, Connecticut, Soph.

44. Declan Duru – 6’8’’, SF, Germany

45. Patrick Ngongba II – 6’10’’, C, Duke, Fr.

46. Ahmad Nowell – 6’0’’, PG, Connecticut, Fr.

47. Baye Ndongo – 6’9’’, PF, Georgia Tech, Soph.

48. Robert Wright III – 6’0’’, PG, Baylor, Fr.

49. Bryson Tucker – 6’7’’, SF, Indiana, Fr.

50. Mario Saint-Supery – 6’3’’, PG, Spain

Key Notes So Far:

• AJ Dybantsa remains the crown jewel, blending size, skill, and scoring instincts that scream No. 1 pick.

• Darryn Peterson leapfrogs Cameron Boozer due to his dynamic scoring and two-way upside.

• Alijah Arenas rises into the Top 5 — he’s drawing NBA comparisons to mid-career Donovan Mitchell with better size.

• Karim Lopez continues to climb thanks to his production in the NBL — his floor-spacing and defense are NBA-ready.

• International talent like Muurinen, Lopez, Facorat, and Kouakou-Heugue add serious intrigue and diversity to this class.

• College returners like Bennett Stiritz and Donovan Dent give teams options for more mature, immediate contributors.