2026 NBA Draft Big Board: Early Look at the Future

By D. Wash

Updated: May 13, 2025

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)

AJ Dybantsa – 6’9’’, SF, High School / BYU
Darryn Peterson – 6’5’’, SG, High School / Kansas
Cameron Boozer – 6’9’’, PF, High School / Duke
Caleb Wilson – 6’9’’, PF, High School / North Carolina
Alijah Arenas – 6’6’’, SG, High School / USC
Nate Ament – 6’9’’, SF, High School / Undecided
Mikka Muurinen – 6’10’’, PF, Finland
Chris Cenac Jr. – 6’10’’, C, High School / Houston
Koa Peat – 6’8’’, SF, High School / Arizona
Karim Lopez – 6’8’’, SF, NBL
Jayden Quaintance – 6’10’’, PF, Arizona State, Fr.
Darius Acuff Jr. – 6’1’’, PG, High School / Arkansas
Dash Daniels – 6’5’’, SG, Australia
Bennett Stiritz – 6’4’’, PG, Iowa, Jr.
Meleek Thomas – 6’4’’, SG, High School / Arkansas
Brayden Burries – 6’4’’, SG, High School / Undecided
Tahaad Pettiford – 6’1’’, PG, Auburn, Fr.
Bryson Tiller – 6’8’’, PF, Overtime Elite
Isiah Harwell – 6’5’’, SG, High School / Houston
Donovan Dent – 6’2’’, PG, New Mexico, Jr.
Jalen Haralson – 6’5’’, SF, High School / Notre Dame
Karter Knox – 6’6’’, SF, Arkansas, Fr.
Jasper Johnson – 6’4’’, PG, High School / Kentucky
Jarin Stevenson – 6’10’’, PF, Alabama, Soph.
Hugo Facorat – 6’10’’, PF, France
Cayden Boozer – 6’4’’, SG, High School / Duke
Malachi Moreno – 7’1’’, C, High School / Kentucky
Fiory Bidunga – 6’9’’, C, Kansas, Fr.
Dame Sarr – 6’6’’, SG, Italy
Silas Demary Jr. – 6’5’’, PG, Georgia, Soph.
Sadiq White – 6’8’’, PF, High School / Syracuse
Josan Sanon – 6’6’’, SG, Arizona State, Fr.
Noa Kouakou-Heugue – 6’10’’, SF, France
Miles Byrd – 6’7’’, SG, San Diego State, Soph.
Derrion Reid – 6’7’’, PF, Alabama, Fr.
Henry Veesaar – 7’0’’, C, Arizona, Soph.
Kanon Catchings – 6’8’’, SF, BYU, Fr.
Sidi Gueye – 6’10’’, C, Senegal
Jalil Bethea – 6’5’’, SG, Miami, Fr.
PJ Haggerty – 6’3’’, PG, Memphis, Soph.
Darren Harris – 6’5’’, SG, Duke, Fr.
Billy Richmond – 6’5’’, SG, Arkansas, Fr.
Solo Ball – 6’3’’, PG, Connecticut, Soph.
Declan Duru – 6’8’’, SF, Germany
Patrick Ngongba II – 6’10’’, C, Duke, Fr.
Ahmad Nowell – 6’0’’, PG, Connecticut, Fr.
Baye Ndongo – 6’9’’, PF, Georgia Tech, Soph.
Robert Wright III – 6’0’’, PG, Baylor, Fr.
Bryson Tucker – 6’7’’, SF, Indiana, Fr.
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.