By Jeremy Woo | ESPN, 2025-07-24 19:00:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2025年NBA选秀大会已落下帷幕，新秀们在夏季联赛首次亮相，各支球队也开始展望下赛季。
在这场一年一度的拉斯维加斯盛会（状元秀库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 等人奉献了抢眼表现）之后，我们收集了对本届选秀的初步意见，以及NBA球队对这些新面孔的期待。
ESPN记者杰里米·伍 (Jeremy Woo) 采访了20位匿名NBA高管和球探，询问他们对即将到来的2025-26 NBA赛季新秀班的看法。基于他们的评估和休赛期的初步观察，受访者就五个问题投下了自己的选票。
是否有人能挑战弗拉格的年度最佳新秀地位？哪些球员被视为潜在的“抢劫式”选秀？以及哪位球员被各队视为2026年状元秀的热门人选？我们的专家小组成员各抒己见。
跳转至：
年度最佳新秀 | 最佳选择 | 最佳“抢劫”
最大“溢价”选择 | 2026年状元
谁是你的NBA年度最佳新秀选择？
- 库珀·弗拉格 (Dallas Mavericks, No. 1): 17票
- 迪伦·哈珀 (San Antonio Spurs, No. 2): 2票
其他获得选票的球员包括： 特雷·约翰逊 (Washington Wizards)
这位年度最佳新秀的早期领跑者并不令人意外：弗拉格 (Flagg) 当选状元是有充分理由的，他不仅被认为是顶级新秀，或许还是本届新秀中最具NBA即战力的球员。他将加入独行侠队，这支球队预计会倚重他，尤其是在凯里·欧文 (Kyrie Irving) 于三月遭遇前交叉韧带撕裂正在恢复的情况下。弗拉格的组织能力、身材优势以及防守影响力预计能立竿见影地发挥作用。
但需要指出的是，正如几位投票者所说，弗拉格 (Flagg) 最终可能不会领跑新秀得分榜。他仍在发展投篮创造能力，而且独行侠队也不需要他在进攻端承担过大的重担。他在夏季联赛中砍下31分的表现（之后独行侠队让他提前结束了比赛）有助于凸显弗拉格 (Flagg) 的能力，但在一支拥有众多老将的球队中，他可能不需要接管比赛。包括艾斯·贝利 (Ace Bailey) 和约翰逊 (Johnson) 在内的其他新秀则加入了重建球队，他们在那里可能有更多的发挥自由，但预计不会赢得那么多比赛。最终，投票者普遍预测弗拉格 (Flagg) 的明星光环和赢球影响力将主导奖项投票。
一位东部联盟高管表示：“我猜贝利 (Bailey) 或约翰逊 (Johnson) 这样的球员作为新秀可能会比库珀 (Cooper) 得分更高，但库珀 (Cooper) 会做出更有意义的贡献，将独行侠队带入附加赛区。”
哪位新秀（除弗拉格外）将被证明是本届选秀的最佳选择？
- VJ·埃奇科姆 (Philadelphia 76ers, No. 3): 10票
- 迪伦·哈珀 (Spurs, No. 2): 6票
其他获得选票的球员包括： 卡特·布莱恩特 (Spurs)、杨瀚森 (Portland Trail Blazers)、特雷·约翰逊 (Wizards)、尼克·克利福德 (Sacramento Kings)/艾萨·纽维尔 (Atlanta Hawks)
由于弗拉格 (Flagg) 是2025届选秀的绝对领军人物，我们将这个问题引向了其他新秀。“最佳选择”这个定义特意留下了开放的解读空间：目的只是为了了解竞争对手球队最喜欢哪些选择。
最大的赢家是埃奇科姆 (Edgecombe)，他在第三顺位被76人队选中，并在本月早些时候的犹他夏季联赛唯一一场比赛中砍下28分，出色表现凸显了他的天赋。这位贝勒大学出品的球员正转变为一名后场极具冲击力的突破手，许多高管和球探认为，他在大学时期主要无球进攻，因此在持球进攻方面拥有巨大的未开发潜力。
尽管人们对他在费城队（76人队还拥有泰瑞斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey) 和2024年选秀球员贾里德·麦凯恩 (Jared McCain) 这两名后卫）的适应性存在一些合理疑问，但埃奇科姆 (Edgecombe) 在攻防两端表现出色的潜力最终打消了这些顾虑。联盟内外对他的未来充满乐观。
一位东部联盟总经理表示：“考虑到乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 健康状况的不确定性，VJ (VJ) 可能会在赛季结束时成为费城队的第二号球员。他就是那么优秀，并且会在尼克·纳斯 (Nick Nurse) 的体系中茁壮成长。”
圣安东尼奥马刺队在第二顺位选中的罗格斯大学球员哈珀 (Harper) 获得了六张选票，尽管马刺队后场人才济济，但一些人认为这里是一个理想的落脚点——哈珀 (Harper) 将与2024-25赛季年度最佳新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 和近期通过交易获得的达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 共存。哈珀 (Harper) 的挡拆能力以及巧妙而强硬的打法让他成为马刺队的选择，马刺队一直致力于围绕维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 优化其组织能力。即使他最终作为新秀从替补席打起，哈珀 (Harper) 也被视为一名基石型的长远球员。
一位西部联盟球探表示：“哈珀 (Harper) 的进攻端有马努·吉诺比利 (Manu Ginobili) 的神韵。如果他的三分投射能成为真正的进攻利器，他就能让福克斯 (Fox) 变得可交易，并为圣安东尼奥队提供一份优秀的交易资产。”
哪位新秀将是本届选秀最大的“抢劫”？
- 卡特·布莱恩特 (Spurs, No. 14): 5票
- 琼·贝林格 (Minnesota Timberwolves, No. 17): 4票
- 卡斯帕拉斯·雅库乔尼斯 (Miami Heat, No. 20): 2票
其他获得选票的球员包括： 小沃尔特·克莱顿 (Utah Jazz)、特雷·约翰逊 (Wizards)、科林·默里-博伊尔斯 (Toronto Raptors)、艾萨·纽维尔 (Hawks)、诺亚·佩恩达 (Orlando Magic)、丹尼·沃尔夫 (Brooklyn Nets)、卡曼·马卢阿奇 (Phoenix Suns)/塞德里克·考沃德 (Memphis Grizzlies)、利亚姆·麦克尼利 (Charlotte Hornets)/查兹·兰尼尔 (Detroit Pistons)、卡特·布莱恩特 (Spurs)/尼克·克利福德 (Kings)
这个问题得到了最广泛的回应，有几位投票者给出了双重答案。马刺队新秀布莱恩特 (Bryant) 凭借其在拉斯维加斯夏季联赛防守端的出色表现获得了最多选票。这位亚利桑那大学的前锋被普遍认为会在更早的顺位被选中，但波特兰和亚特兰大的潜在追求者在乐透末段交易掉了他们的选秀权，这使得他落到了圣安东尼奥队的选择位置。
一位东部联盟球探表示：“布莱恩特 (Bryant) 将会转变为一名极具影响力的侧翼防守者，他能投三分球，并成为球队核心的一部分。几年后，当马刺队取得巨大成功时，人们会回顾并提到他们在2024年第4顺位选中卡斯尔 (Castle)，以及在第14顺位选中布莱恩特 (Bryant)，将他和维克托（文班亚马）在防守端搭档视为‘抢劫式’选秀。”
贝林格 (Beringer) 也备受关注，这位同样是防守型的新秀在拉斯维加斯表现出色。这位18岁的法国中锋只打了四年职业篮球，但他作为盖帽手和空接终结者展现了出色的直觉，并在上赛季作为一名不太为人所知的新秀进入本届选秀后，凭借表现进入了首轮。贝林格 (Beringer) 曾引起乐透末段的兴趣，但在他之前的三名中锋——德里克·奎因 (Derik Queen)、托马斯·索伯 (Thomas Sorber) 和杨瀚森 (Yang Hansen)——在第17顺位之前被选中，他最终落到了森林狼队。下赛季他将成为同胞、三届最佳防守球员鲁迪·戈贝尔 (Rudy Gobert) 的替补。
这位东部联盟总经理表示：“贝林格 (Beringer) 有可能成为本届选秀的前五名球员。他的潜力无限，而且甚至还未完全掌握打法。他所处的环境也堪称完美，能够从队中所有大个子球员身上学习和成长。”
哪次选择是本届选秀最大的“溢价”？
- 叶戈尔·德明 (Nets, No. 8): 7票
- 杨瀚森 (Trail Blazers, No. 16): 4票
- 塞德里克·考沃德 (Grizzlies, No. 11): 3票
其他获得选票的球员包括： 托马斯·索伯 (Oklahoma City Thunder)、德雷克·鲍威尔 (Nets)、科林·默里-博伊尔斯 (Raptors)、德里克·奎因 (New Orleans Pelicans)、诺亚·埃森格 (Chicago Bulls)，另有一名投票者选择不回答
德明 (Demin)、杨 (Yang) 和考沃德 (Coward) 三名球员获得了专家小组的多张选票，其中篮网队的德明 (Demin) 受到了最多的审视。布鲁克林篮网队拥有五个首轮选秀权，最终将这五名球员都选中并留在了球队名单中，这使得他们可以采取一种策略，即在多名组织型新秀身上进行尝试，包括德明 (Demin)。德明 (Demin) 身高6英尺9英寸，拥有出色的传球技巧，但由于他在杨百翰大学适应大学篮球的过程中经历起伏，整个赛季都让各队看法不一。
一位东部联盟高管表示：“即使你相信德明 (Demin) 能成为一名NBA首发控球后卫——而我不这么认为——但他似乎在乐透末段甚至更晚的顺位也能选中。”
杨瀚森 (Yang Hansen) 无疑是本届选秀中最令人意外的选择，大多数球队都预计他会在第二轮初被选中，但开拓者队与灰熊队进行了交易，从第11顺位回撤到第16顺位，并更早地选中了他。这位20岁的中锋最终成为开拓者队的重点目标，他们在过去几年一直观察他后，暗中看好他。杨 (Yang) 在夏季联赛中表现出色，继续展现出色的组织直觉和有希望的进攻技巧（四场比赛场均10.8分、5.0篮板和3.8助攻）。尽管如此，仍有一些人认为相对于某些人的选秀评估，他被选中得有些过早，对他的脚步速度和防守前景的担忧是他职业生涯发展中的关键问题。
另一位东部联盟高管表示：“我喜欢杨 (Yang) ——只是没想到他会在紧邻乐透区的位置被选中。”
考沃德 (Coward)，这名最终在交易中被孟菲斯队在第11顺位选中的球员，在选秀前评估中排名大幅上升。但由于他在华盛顿州立大学因伤只打了六场比赛，联盟内的一些人认为他比通常认为的最佳乐透末段选择更缺乏证明。灰熊队将他作为德斯蒙德·贝恩 (Desmond Bane) 的替代方案之一，贝恩 (Bane) 已于上月被交易至魔术队。
一位西部联盟球探表示：“他是一块璞玉，需要学习比赛。但如果他能投篮和防守（并且能够兑现天赋），凭借他的身体天赋，他有机会。”
一位球探选择不回答，他认为在不全面了解其他球队评估流程的情况下，很难对选秀结果进行评论。他表示：“如果你的球队相信这名球员，那就选中你所看好的人。”
谁将是2026年NBA选秀的状元？
- 达林·彼得森 (Kansas): 12票
- A.J.·迪班察 (BYU): 8票
展望2026年，下赛季的状元之争可能会异常激烈，堪萨斯大学后卫达林·彼得森 (Darryn Peterson)（ESPN目前2026届的头号新秀）和杨百翰大学侧翼A.J.·迪班察 (A.J. Dybantsa)（我们前100榜单的第二名）是两位主要候选人。
彼得森 (Peterson) 获得了更多选票，他将身材、技术和爆发力罕见地结合在一起，被认为是近年来最优秀的组织型后卫之一。他拥有出色的身体天赋和竞争精神，能够成为出色的进攻创造者和杰出防守者。在Prolific Prep度过了一个强势的高四赛季后，他已成为状元讨论的最前沿，新赛季他将会在堪萨斯大学获得大量机会。
一位投票给彼得森 (Peterson) 的东部联盟高管表示：“彼得森 (Peterson) 作为更全面可靠的选择脱颖而出。”他认为彼得森 (Peterson) 是两人中更具NBA即战力的球员，并强调了他打法上的成熟。 “每次看到他，他都更犀利、更精进，并且持续展现出成长，不断提升自己的水平。那种对胜利的渴望、稳定性以及变得更好的动力，直接转化为对赢球的影响力。”
与2025届弗拉格 (Flagg) 从始至终保持状元地位不同，从秋季开始，场上将有很多表现可以观察，而迪班察 (Dybantsa) 仍然很有机会。曾几何时，他被认为是状元热门人选，NBA球队从他高中一年级起就对他密切关注。
一位同样投票给彼得森 (Peterson) 的西部联盟高管表示：“现在完全是五五开——远未达成共识。彼得森 (Peterson) 进攻端感觉更全面，既能持球也能无球，这为他提供了更多成功的‘出路’。我确实认为A.J. (A.J.) 更有明星潜质，因为他身体素质更出色。我喜欢彼得森 (Peterson) 在场上的技术和成熟度似乎已经更高——他已经被迫拓展了比赛的其他方面。”
尽管迪班察 (Dybantsa) 尚未展现出同样的成熟度，但他作为同届最佳球员的长期潜力论点依然成立：他拥有明星侧翼球员的典型技能，作为一名身体素质出众的精英运动员，他能够在攻防两端在身体对抗中占据主导地位。在本月初带领美国队在瑞士夺得国际篮联U19世界杯冠军后，迪班察 (Dybantsa) 将成为杨百翰大学有史以来最受瞩目的新秀，他将拥有充足的表现机会来证明自己。他三分投射能力的发展将是关键。
一位投票给迪班察 (Dybantsa) 的东部联盟球探表示：“他们是潜力层级相近的新秀……A.J. (A.J.) 身高6英尺9英寸，在这个联盟里，身材仍然很重要。我认为[杨百翰大学教练]凯文·杨 (Kevin Young) 今年会将他置于绝佳位置来展示和发展他的比赛。彼得森 (Peterson) 将不得不面对堪萨斯大学看起来可能缺乏空间的问题。”
尽管只有彼得森 (Peterson) 和迪班察 (Dybantsa) 获得了选票，并且这两人主导了早期的讨论，但三名强力大一新生完善了我们早期的前五排名：杜克大学内线卡梅隆·布泽尔 (Cameron Boozer)、田纳西大学前锋内特·埃门特 (Nate Ament) 和路易斯维尔大学后卫米克尔·布朗 (Mikel Brown)。随着2026年选秀周期的开启，我们将密切关注NBA球队如何看待这些顶级新秀。
点击查看原文：2025 NBA draft - Execs and scouts debate Rookie of the Year, who to watch
2025 NBA draft - Execs and scouts debate Rookie of the Year, who to watch
The 2025 NBA draft has wrapped up, with the rookie class debuting at summer leagues and teams looking ahead to next season.
In the wake of the annual Las Vegas showcase, where No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and others turned in standout performances, we polled early opinions on the draft and what NBA teams are expecting from their new faces.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo surveyed 20 anonymous NBA executives and scouts, asking for their thoughts on the incoming rookie class for the 2025-26 NBA season. Based on their evaluations and preliminary observations from this offseason, participants cast their votes on five questions.
Can anyone challenge Flagg for Rookie of the Year? Which players were viewed as potential draft steals? And which player do teams view as the front-runner for the No. 1 pick in 2026? Our panelists weighed in.
Jump to:
Rookie of the Year | Best pick | Best steal
Biggest reach | No. 1 pick in 2026
Who’s your NBA Rookie of the Year pick?
1. Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks, No. 1): 17 votes
2. Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs, No. 2): 2 votes
Also receiving votes: Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
The early Rookie of the Year front-runner isn’t exactly a surprise: Flagg was the No. 1 pick for good reason and is considered not only the top prospect but perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the class. He joins a Mavericks team expected to lean on him, with Kyrie Irving recovering from tearing an ACL in March. Flagg’s playmaking skills, positional size and defensive impact project to be immediately useful.
The caveat, as mentioned by a few of our voters, is that Flagg might not wind up leading the rookie class in scoring. He’s still developing as a shot creator, and the Mavericks shouldn’t need him to carry an outsized load in that respect. His 31-point summer league showing (before Dallas shut him down) helped to underscore Flagg’s ability, but on a team with plenty of veterans, he might not be needed to take over games. Other rookies, including Ace Bailey and Johnson, landed on rebuilding teams where they’ll likely have more freedom to operate but aren’t expected to win as many games. In the end, voters widely predict Flagg’s star power and winning impact will drive the award voting.
“I assume someone like Bailey or Johnson may outscore Cooper as a rookie,” one Eastern Conference executive said, “but Cooper will make more meaningful contributions that push Dallas into play-in range.”
Which rookie – other than Flagg – will prove to be the draft’s best pick?
1. VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers, No. 3): 10 votes
2. Dylan Harper (Spurs, No. 2): 6 votes
Also receiving votes: Carter Bryant (Spurs), Yang Hansen (Portland Trail Blazers), Tre Johnson (Wizards), Nique Clifford (Sacramento Kings)/Asa Newell (Atlanta Hawks)
With Flagg the overwhelming headliner of the 2025 draft class, we geared this question toward the rest of the group. “Best pick” was left open for interpretation intentionally: The goal was simply to find out which selection(s) rival teams liked most.
The big winner here was Edgecombe, who came off the board third to the 76ers and underscored his talent earlier this month with an outstanding 28-point performance in his lone game at the Utah summer league event. The Baylor product is turning into a dynamic downhill slasher in the backcourt, and many execs and scouts believe he has significant untapped upside operating with the ball in his hands after playing mostly away from it in college.
While there were some reasonable questions about fit in Philadelphia, where the 76ers also have Tyrese Maxey and 2024 draft pick Jared McCain at guard, Edgecombe’s potential to be a standout on both sides of the ball ultimately overrode those concerns. There’s plenty of optimism around the league surrounding his future.
“VJ might be Philly’s second-best player by the end of the season, factoring in [Joel] Embiid’s uncertain health,” an Eastern Conference GM said. "He’s that good and will thrive playing in Nick Nurse’s system. "
San Antonio’s Harper, the No. 2 pick, out of Rutgers, garnered six votes, with some viewing the Spurs as a strong landing spot despite a crowded backcourt situation, with Harper joining 2024-25 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and recently acquired De’Aaron Fox in the mix. Harper’s pick-and-roll prowess and crafty, powerful style of play made him the choice for the Spurs, who have been optimizing for additional playmaking around Victor Wembanyama moving forward. Even if he winds up coming off the bench as a rookie, Harper projects as a foundational long-term player.
“[Harper] has some [Manu] Ginobili to his offensive game,” one Western Conference scout said. “If the 3-point shot ever becomes a true weapon [for him], he makes Fox expendable and gives San Antonio a nice trade asset.”
Which rookie will be the biggest draft steal?
1. Carter Bryant (Spurs, No. 14): 5 votes
2. Joan Beringer (Minnesota Timberwolves, No. 17): 4 votes
3. Kasparas Jakucionis (Miami Heat, No. 20): 2 votes
Also receiving votes: Walter Clayton Jr. (Utah Jazz), Tre Johnson (Wizards), Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors), Asa Newell (Hawks), Noah Penda (Orlando Magic), Danny Wolf (Brooklyn Nets), Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns)/Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies), Liam McNeeley (Charlotte Hornets)/Chaz Lanier (Detroit Pistons), Carter Bryant (Spurs)/Nique Clifford (Kings)
This question turned up the widest range of responses, with several voters offering dual answers. Spurs rookie Bryant garnered the most votes on the heels of his excellent defensive play at the Las Vegas summer league session. The Arizona forward was widely expected to come off the board earlier, with potential suitors in Portland and Atlanta trading out of their slots in the late lottery, which dropped him to San Antonio’s spot.
“[Bryant] will turn into an impact wing defender that can make 3s and be a part of their core,” one Eastern Conference scout said. “We’ll look back in several years while the Spurs are winning big, and people will mention them drafting Castle at 4 [in 2024] and Bryant at 14 to pair defensively with Victor as [draft] steals.”
There was also excitement around Beringer, another defensive-oriented prospect who played well in Las Vegas. The 18-year-old French center has been playing basketball competitively for only four years, but he has demonstrated strong instincts as a shot blocker and lob catcher and played his way into the first round of the draft after entering last season as a lesser-known talent. Beringer drew late lottery interest but ended up falling to the Timberwolves after three centers – Derik Queen, Thomas Sorber and Yang – were selected in the four picks preceding him at No. 17. He’ll be an understudy to countryman and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert next season.
“[Beringer] could turn out to be a top-five player in this draft,” the Eastern Conference GM said. “Upside is through the roof, and he doesn’t even know how to play yet. He is also in a perfect situation where he can learn and grow from all of their bigs.”
Which pick was the draft’s biggest reach?
1. Egor Demin (Nets, No. 8): 7 votes
2. Yang Hansen (Trail Blazers, No. 16): 4 votes
3. Cedric Coward (Grizzlies, No. 11): 3 votes
Also receiving votes: Thomas Sorber (Oklahoma City Thunder), Drake Powell (Nets), Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors), Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans), Noa Essengue (Chicago Bulls) and one voter preferred not to answer
Three players drew multiple votes from the panel: Demin, Yang and Coward, with the Nets guard drawing the most scrutiny. Brooklyn held five first-round picks and ultimately made and rostered all five of them, enabling a strategy that led to several swings on playmaking prospects, including Demin. At 6-foot-9, Demin has excellent passing skills but was divisive for teams all season as he dealt with ups and downs adjusting to college basketball at BYU.
“Even if you believe in [Demin] as a starting NBA point guard – and I don’t – it seems like he would’ve been gettable at the end of the lottery, or even later,” one Eastern Conference executive said.
Yang was certainly the most surprising pick of the draft, with most teams expecting him to come off the board in the early second round before the Trail Blazers traded back with the Grizzlies from No. 11 to No. 16 and selected him much sooner. The 20-year-old center turned out to be a priority for the Blazers, who quietly coveted him after monitoring him over the past couple of years. Yang had a nice showing at summer league, continuing to flash excellent playmaking instincts and promising offensive skill (10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in four games). Still, there was some feeling that he was selected a bit too early relative to how some evaluated the board, with concerns about his foot speed and defensive projection key questions as his career progresses.
“I like [Yang] – just didn’t see it coming, with him going right outside of the lottery,” another Eastern Conference executive said.
Coward, the player ultimately selected No. 11 by Memphis in that trade deal, was a major riser in the predraft process. But after he played just six games at Washington State due to injury, some around the league viewed him as more unproven than what would be considered optimal for a typical late-lottery selection. The Grizzlies targeted him as part of their replacement plan for Desmond Bane, whom they traded last month to the Magic.
“He’s a raw talent who needs to learn the game,” one Western Conference scout said. “But if he can shoot and defend [and it translates], there’s a chance with his physical intangibles.”
One scout preferred not to answer, feeling that it’s hard to critique picks without a full understanding of other teams’ evaluation processes. “If [your] team believed in the guy,” he said, “then take your guy.”
Who will be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft?
1. Darryn Peterson (Kansas): 12 votes
2. A.J. Dybantsa (BYU): 8 votes
Looking ahead to 2026, next season might bring a tight race for the No. 1 spot on boards, with Kansas guard Peterson (ESPN’s current No. 1 prospect in 2026) and BYU wing Dybantsa (No. 2 on our Top 100) as the two leading candidates.
Peterson commanded more votes, with his unusual mix of positional size, skill and explosiveness profiling as one of the best lead guard prospects in recent memory. He has the physical talent and competitive makeup to excel as an offensive creator and standout defender. He will be heavily featured for the Jayhawks after a strong senior season at Prolific Prep put him at the forefront of the No. 1 conversation.
“Peterson stands out as the more complete and dependable option,” said one Eastern Conference executive who voted for Peterson, viewing him as the more NBA-ready of the two players and harping on the maturity of his approach. “Each time I see him, he’s sharper, more refined and continues to show growth, constantly raising his level of play. That hunger, consistency and drive to get better translates directly into winning impact.”
Contrary to 2025, when Flagg held the mantle of No. 1 from start to finish, there should be quite a bit to play out on the court starting in the fall, with Dybantsa still very much in the picture. For a time, he was considered the strong favorite for the first selection, with NBA teams heavily keyed in on him since his freshman year of high school.
“It’s a total toss-up right now – by no means is [there a] consensus yet,” said one Western Conference executive who also cast a vote for Peterson. “Peterson feels a little more well-rounded offensively and can function on and off the ball, which drives a few more successful ‘off-ramps’ for him. I do think A.J. has more star quality because he’s a better athlete. I like that Peterson’s skill and maturity on the court already seem higher – he’s been forced to expand other parts of his game [already].”
While Dybantsa hasn’t displayed the same level of polish, the long-term argument for his upside as best in his class remains: He has the typical skills for a star wing player, as an elite athlete capable of physically dominating matchups on both ends. After leading Team USA to a FIBA Under-19 World Cup title in Switzerland earlier this month, Dybantsa will be the most touted prospect ever to play for BYU, where he’ll have a significant runway to make his case. His development as a 3-point shooter will be pivotal.
“They’re a similar tier of prospect. … A.J. is 6-foot-9, and in this league, size still does matter,” said an Eastern Conference scout who cast a vote for Dybantsa. “I think [BYU coach] Kevin Young will put him in excellent positions to showcase and grow his game this year. Peterson will have to fight against the lack of spacing Kansas looks to have.”
While only Peterson and Dybantsa drew votes and those two are driving the early discussion, a strong trio of freshman prospects rounds out our early top five: Duke big Cameron Boozer, Tennessee forward Nate Ament and Louisville guard Mikel Brown. As the 2026 draft cycle gets underway, we’ll be closely monitoring how NBA teams view the top names.
By Jeremy Woo | ESPN, via ESPN