NBA · 3 days ago

2026 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: Top 30 Players on Yahoo! Sports Big Board

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

Let's Hear It! We Want Your NBA Draft Prospect Rankings!
Join the NBA Draft Rankings Debate

Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Connor’s big board is finally out, and the debate over the No. 1 pick is only going to get louder from here.

Who are you taking with the first pick?
- The Safe Bet: Is Cameron Boozer a lock for superstardom because of how polished he is right now, or is that lack of vertical pop a dealbreaker?
- The High Ceiling: Does AJ Dybantsa have the highest upside we've seen in years, or is his jumper still too much of a wildcard?
- The Giant in the Room: Can Aday Mara or Luigi Suigo actually thrive in the modern NBA, or are teams going to hunt them on the perimeter?
- The Steal: Which of these guards outside the top 10, like Ebuka Okorie or Tyler Tanner, is going to make front offices regret passing on them?
Drop your take in the comments: Who is the one prospect on this list you’d bet your house on being an All-Star? What do your top 10 rankings look like?
Yahoo! Sports 2026 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings
The 2026 NBA Draft is looking like a heavyweight class at the top. Kevin O'Connor just dropped his updated big board for Yahoo! Sports, and it’s a reality check for teams hoping for a quick fix.

From the scoring machine in Provo to a pair of national champion big men in Ann Arbor, these are the names you'll be hearing all year.

Let's take a look at Yahoo! Sports' 2026 NBA Draft top 30 prospect rankings.
1. AJ Dybantsa | Forward
BYU | Height: 6' 9" | Age: 19.3

AJ Dybantsa is the guy every scout is losing sleep over right now. He’s 6-foot-9 and moves like a guard, making it look way too easy to get to his spots whenever he wants.

"Dybantsa could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators. At 6-foot-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands."
3. Darryn Peterson | Guard
Kansas | Height: 6' 5" | Age: 19.3

Darryn Peterson is the smoothest scorer in the class, period. He’s got a pro-level frame and can get hot from anywhere, though front offices are definitely going to be checking under the hood after those injury issues at Kansas.

"Peterson is a buttery smooth scorer with a blend of fluid body control and positional size that gives him the ingredients to become an elite NBA player."
4. Caleb Wilson | Forward
North Carolina | Height: 6' 9" | Age: 19.9

Caleb Wilson is pure electricity on the floor. He’s got the kind of bounce that makes you jump out of your seat, and even if the jumper is still a work in progress, his defensive upside is through the roof.

"Wilson is the most gifted athlete in the draft class. He's 6-foot-9 with springs for legs. When he's flying above the rim, finishing through contact, and chasing down every shot in his area code, he looks like a future franchise cornerstone."
5. Keaton Wagler | Guard
Illinois | Height: 6' 5" | Age: 19.3

Keaton Wagler is the guy who just understands the game better than everyone else. He wasn't supposed to be a one-and-done, but leading Illinois to the Final Four while picking defenses apart made it impossible for the NBA to ignore him.

"Wagler showed up at Illinois as a four-star recruit with no expectations of becoming a one-and-done. But he became the orchestrator of a high-powered Illinois offense with his high-IQ playmaking and crafty scoring, leading the team to the Final Four."
6. Kingston Flemings | Guard
Houston | Height: 6' 3" | Age: 19.4

Kingston Flemings plays with a level of intensity that stands out the second he touches the ball. He’s got a lethal midrange game and an explosive first step, but teams are going to wonder if he's big enough to keep that up in the pros.

"He plays with surgical midrange touch, an explosive first step, and passing vision of a true point guard who can run an offense. But Flemings is also 183 pounds, midrange-heavy in a 3-point league, and watched his efficiency crater against the stiffest competition late in the season."
7. Darius Acuff | Guard
Arkansas | Height: 6' 2" | Age: 19.5

Darius Acuff might not be the biggest guy on the court, but he reads defenses like he's been in the league for ten years. He can put the bucket in the basket at any time from anywhere and doesn't back down when the game is on the line.

"Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too."
8. Aday Mara | Center
Michigan | Height: 7' 3" | Age: 21.1

Aday Mara is back in the lottery conversation after a massive turnaround at Michigan. You just don't see 7-foot-3 guys who can pass the ball like a point guard while still protecting the rim the way he does.

"Mara stepped on UCLA’s campus as a lottery-projected center from Spain. Then he fell off draft boards during two forgettable seasons there before transferring to Michigan and becoming one of the best true 5s in the country on his way to winning the national championship."
9. Mikel Brown Jr. | Guard
Louisville | Height: 6' 4" | Age: 20.1

When Mikel Brown Jr. is in the zone, he’s almost impossible to stop. He showed everyone what he’s capable of with that 45-point game in February, but that back injury has definitely complicated things for his draft stock.

"When Brown is in the zone, he has an unstoppable pull-up jumper, an ambidextrous finishing ability, and the quick reads to rifle passes before the defense has time to react."
10. Karim López | Forward
New Zealand Breakers | Height: 6' 8" | Age: 19

Karim López is a true do-it-all forward coming out of the NBL. He’s got the size and the toughness to defend all over the floor, and his offensive game is really starting to catch up to his physical tools.

"López is the best basketball prospect Mexico has ever produced. He checks a lot of boxes with his excellent physical tools, a hardnosed approach, and a well-rounded ability to defend multiple positions, handle the ball, and a blossoming shot."
11. Yaxel Lendeborg | Forward
Michigan | Height: 6' 9" | Age: 23.7

Yaxel Lendeborg is one of those guys who just keeps winning. He’s a stat-sheet stuffer with a massive wingspan who played a huge role in Michigan's title run, even if he’s going to be one of the older rookies in the class.

"Lendeborg has a compelling story... He just kept getting better every single time the competition got harder. He fills the stat sheet, he can play multiple positions, and he has a 7-foot-4 wingspan at 241 pounds with a genuine handle."
12. Brayden Burries | Guard
Arizona | Height: 6' 4" | Age: 20.7

Brayden Burries is a powerhouse guard who knows how to use his size to bully defenders. He was a huge reason Arizona made the Final Four, but scouts are still trying to figure out if that hot shooting was the real deal or a well-timed streak.

"He's a physical, versatile scorer who can beat you from all three levels, rebounds like a forward, and competes hard on defense. But he's a methodical creator rather than an explosive one."
13. Labaron Philon | Guard
Alabama | Height: 6' 3" | Age: 20.5

Labaron Philon completely changed his outlook with a huge sophomore season. He’s an offensively gifted score-first guard who can tear an offense apart, though he’ll need to prove he can handle the physicality of NBA defenses with his thinner frame.

"Philon is a shifty, score-first point guard who blossomed into one of the best guards in college basketball as a sophomore. He doubled his scoring output with buttery floaters, a deceptive handle, and a feel for running an offense."
14. Ebuka Okorie | Guard
Stanford | Height: 6' 1" | Age: 19.1

Ebuka Okorie is a lightning bolt on the floor. He went from an under-the-radar recruit to the top scorer in the ACC, showing he’s got the handles and the speed to get past just about anyone.

"Okorie is the best driving guard in the class, a 6-foot-1 jitterbug who manipulates defenders with a tight handle, sudden changes of speed, and an advanced feel for the game."
15. Hannes Steinbach | Forward
Washington | Height: 6' 10" | Age: 20

Hannes Steinbach is a beast in the paint who isn't afraid to get physical. He’s got hands and a real nose for the ball on the glass, plus a jumper that is starting to look like a legitimate weapon.

"Steinbach played professionally in Germany before enrolling at Washington, and he’ll enter the NBA with some readymade skills as an interior scorer and rebounder. He has massive hands that he uses to grab every possible rebound and finish effectively around the basket."
16. Dailyn Swain | Guard
Texas | Height: 6' 7" | Age: 20.9

Dailyn Swain is a problem whenever he gets a head of steam down the lane. He’s one of the best isolation scorers in the country, though defenses are definitely going to dare him to shoot until he proves his jumper isn't a liability.

"He's relentless getting to the rim, creative as a finisher, and active enough defensively to project as a switchable wing. But the reason he lives at the rim is because his jump shot is genuinely terrible."
17. Nate Ament | Forward
Tennessee | Height: 6' 10" | Age: 19.4

You don’t often see 6-foot-10 guys who can handle the ball and shoot off the bounce like Nate Ament. He had a rough start at Tennessee, but when he finally got comfortable, he showed exactly why he was a top recruit.

"Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season."
18. Morez Johnson Jr. | Forward
Michigan | Height: 6' 9" | Age: 20.3

Morez Johnson Jr. is the blue-collar guy every championship team needs. He’s a beast on the glass and does all the dirty work that doesn't always show up in the box score, but he definitely makes winning plays.

"He transferred from Illinois to Michigan and became the connective tissue of the national champions as a 251-pound wrecking ball with surprisingly soft hands and the defensive IQ to guard 1 through 5."
19. Cameron Carr | Guard
Baylor | Height: 6' 5" | Age: 21.5

Cameron Carr went from the end of the bench to a legitimate 3-and-D threat at Baylor. He’s got the NBA bloodlines and a pure stroke from deep, but he’ll need to put on some weight to survive at the next level.

"With NBA genes in his blood, as the son of former player Chris Carr, Cameron has the skills to make it in the NBA. But at 184 pounds with not a ton of games under his belt, he's going to get introduced to the NBA's physicality."
20. Allen Graves | Forward
Santa Clara | Height: 6' 8" | Age: 19.9

Allen Graves has a really unique skill set for a 6-foot-8 guy because he used to be a point guard. He was incredibly efficient at Santa Clara and has some of the best basketball IQ in the entire class.

"Graves was a point guard before a late growth spurt, and the floor skills carried over when he sprouted to 6-foot-8. He stands as the top-ranked player still in the transfer portal."
21. Bennett Stirtz | Guard
Iowa | Height: 6' 3" | Age: 22.7

Bennett Stirtz just knows how to play basketball. He doesn't look like an elite athlete, but he picked teams apart at Iowa with his passing and his ability to hit big shots when it mattered most.

"Stirtz feels the game at a different frequency than everyone else on the floor, and yet still makes scouts squint because he doesn't look the part athletically. After transferring from Drake to Iowa, he kept cooking."
22. Luigi Suigo | Center
KK Mega Basket | Height: 7' 3" | Age: 19

Luigi Suigo is a massive human being who actually has a soft touch and a real feel for the game. He might not be the next Wemby, but his potential as a rim protector and a playmaker from the post is the real deal. His pro experience and time with the Italian national team have him NBA-ready right now.

"Suigo lacks the handle and self-creation chops to ever be the best player on a team, but his dynamic skills as a passer, shooter, and lob threat layer cleanly on top of baseline center duties."
23. Tyler Tanner | Guard
Vanderbilt | Height: 5' 11" | Age: 20.3

Tyler Tanner is the ultimate don't look at the height guy. He's tiny, but he's a blur on the court and has a knack for getting wherever he needs to go, which makes him a huge wildcard in the class.

"He’s under 6-feet tall, but he gets wherever he wants on the floor, makes reads before the defense has time to rotate, and then turns around and picks your pocket on the other end."
24. Meleek Thomas | Guard
Arkansas | Height: 6' 3" | Age: 19.9

Meleek Thomas has all the confidence in the world and the scoring game to back it up. He willed Arkansas into some huge wins this year, though he’ll need to prove he can rein it in and make the right play against pro defenses.

"He's a legit NBA shooter with deep range, a quick release, and creation juice off the bounce. But he doesn't get to the rim, his shot selection drifts into hero-ball, and there are questions about how he’ll deal with NBA physicality."
25. Koa Peat | Forward
Arizona | Height: 6' 7" | Age: 19.3

Koa Peat plays basketball like an offensive lineman, which makes sense given his family history. He is incredibly strong and physical, making it almost impossible to stop him once he decides to get to the basket.

"His father played nine NFL seasons... And you can absolutely see it in how he plays: powerful, physical, relentless, and it genuinely takes something special to stop him from getting to where he wants to go."
26. Christian Anderson | Guard
Texas Tech | Height: 6' 1" | Age: 20.1

Christian Anderson came out of nowhere to become a legitimate first-round prospect. He’s a skilled shooter who knows how to run a pick-and-roll, though his size will always be the big question mark on the defensive end.

"Anderson showed up at Texas Tech as the 101st-ranked recruit and has played his way into the first-round conversation behind dynamic pick-and-roll creation and knockdown perimeter shooting."
27. Sergio De Larrea | Guard
Valencia Basket | Height: 6' 5" | Age: 20.5

Sergio De Larrea is a smart, facilitating guard who knows exactly how to fit into a winning system. He missed some time with an injury, but he’s back and looking like a guy who can carve out a long career as a high-IQ role player.

"De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA."
28. Amari Allen | Forward
Alabama | Height: 6' 5" | Age: 20.3

Amari Allen is the type of versatile wing every NBA coach wants on their roster. He doesn't need to score to impact the game; he contributes all around by rebounding and defending multiple positions.

"As a 6-foot-5 wing, Allen does a little bit of everything without needing touches, rebounds like a big, and displays incredible defensive versatility."
29. Henri Veesaar | Center
North Carolina | Height: 6' 11" | Age: 22.1

Henri Veesaar is a big man with good movement and a jumper that defenders have to respect. He’s gotten better every single year in college, though he’ll need to continue adding strength to handle the giants at the next level.

"Veesaar is an agile big with real shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs."
30. Malachi Moreno | Center
Kentucky | Height: 6' 11" | Age: 19

Malachi Moreno already has a pro-level frame, and he’s only 19 years old. He does all the things you want from a traditional center finishing at the basket and protecting the paint. He also has a surprisingly good passing touch.

"He does the baseline things as a big man with above-the-rim finishing, hard-nosed rebounding, and stout rim protection. He also adds a layer as a passer, showing an advanced feel for the game."
Let's Hear It! We Want Your NBA Draft Prospect Rankings!
Join the NBA Draft Rankings Debate

Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Connor’s big board is finally out, and the debate over the No. 1 pick is only going to get louder from here.

Who are you taking with the first pick?
- The Safe Bet: Is Cameron Boozer a lock for superstardom because of how polished he is right now, or is that lack of vertical pop a dealbreaker?
- The High Ceiling: Does AJ Dybantsa have the highest upside we've seen in years, or is his jumper still too much of a wildcard?
- The Giant in the Room: Can Aday Mara or Luigi Suigo actually thrive in the modern NBA, or are teams going to hunt them on the perimeter?
- The Steal: Which of these guards outside the top 10, like Ebuka Okorie or Tyler Tanner, is going to make front offices regret passing on them?
Drop your take in the comments: Who is the one prospect on this list you’d bet your house on being an All-Star? What do your top 10 rankings look like?
Yahoo! Sports 2026 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings
The 2026 NBA Draft is looking like a heavyweight class at the top. Kevin O'Connor just dropped his updated big board for Yahoo! Sports, and it’s a reality check for teams hoping for a quick fix.

From the scoring machine in Provo to a pair of national champion big men in Ann Arbor, these are the names you'll be hearing all year.

Let's take a look at Yahoo! Sports' 2026 NBA Draft top 30 prospect rankings.