When Cooper Flagg decided to reclassify in August 2023 by effectively skipping his senior year of high school at Montverde Academy, a competitive school in Florida, he drafted a superstar needed to be at the top of his class for the 2025 NBA Draft. did. Flagg was originally scheduled to graduate from high school in 2025 and would have entered the 2026 NBA Draft. While Flagg's reclassification balanced out elite young talent entering the NBA right away, it also robbed the NBA of what has been, and may yet be, the strongest draft rookie class in history.
The 2025 NBA Draft talent has been touted for more than a year — partly due to the depth of the current freshman class, partly due to the presence of an elite No. 1 prospect like Flagg, and partly due to the depth of the current freshman class. is stronger than the lackluster 2024 draft class due to the relatively large number of players present. The hype didn't die down much during the college and international seasons, but it did die down in some ways as a clear No. 3 prospect didn't emerge and several of the top projected picks disappointed. are.
Perhaps it's natural to always think that talent coming in a year later looks much more attractive, but since it's about the 2026 draft, there's little way to deny that. . NBA Draft classes are typically judged by top-end talent, and the 2026 class is a rare group with three potential No. 1 overall picks.
AJ DiVanza, Cameron Boozer, and Darrin Peterson are all special prospects who can help define the next generation of NBA talent alongside Flagg. Here's how we rank the three players 16 months after the 2026 NBA Draft.
1. Darryn Peterson, G, Prolific Prep (Kansas commit)
Peterson has emerged as a legitimate No. 1 overall pick after a ridiculous losing streak against top-tier players over the past 12 months. There's no prospect in the world better suited to be the mainstay of a great offense at the next level, and Peterson projects to be a defensive addition while taking on such a large offensive role. He is a rare prospect.
Peterson is a 6'5 tall guard with a 6'10 wingspan who has a strong, hard frame. He ended his senior year on his own with a hell of a 33 point performance against the Boozer Twins in November and a 32 point, 10 rebound, 8 assist, and 31 point performance against Divansa in December. I spent it destroying everything. He competed against Nate Ament at the Hoo Hole Classic in January. In each of these settings, Peterson showed how his unreal two-way versatility scales up against elite competition.
Peterson is a talented and tough shot maker, but his game is much deeper than that. He has a unique position to hit contested shots inside the arc with incredible body control and a soft touch, even while off-balance. He can make floaters and layups with either hand, and does a great job of hanging in the air and directing his body to the basket when attacking the rim.
Peterson uses his natural driving ability to create chances. As a handler, he can connect with the ball and use his quickness to crush defenders or his strength to break through defenders. He always seems to have a counter to anything the defense throws at him, and despite his ability to take shots all over the floor, he never forces his own offense.
Peterson's athleticism and physicality are just as impressive as his touch. He's not Thompson's twin-level athlete, but he shows great explosiveness both as a ball-handler attacking in the paint and as a defender getting close to the ball. His defensive awareness is great and he feels like he can get the ball when he wants it.
Offensively talented players like Peterson don't usually bring as much value defensively. He's going to be a great off-ball defensive playmaker and will be able to lock down the ball when called upon.
Peterson is a beefed-up Devin Booker-like player with the ability to be a primary handler and great athleticism. He might surpass Andrew Wiggins and Josh Jackson among the rookies Bill Self has ever landed at Kansas (Joel Embiid became the best pro player of all time under Self's coaching, and Peterson is the best rookie of all time to land at Kansas). (need to win a comparable NBA MVP). There's a good chance he'll be No. 1 in June 2026.
2. Cameron Boozer, F/C, Columbus Prep (Duke commit)
I already wrote at length about Boozer when he committed to Duke. That said, his winning pedigree is unparalleled among recent prospects entering the NBA, and his combination of power, intelligence, and skill is unique despite some limitations in speed and jumping. He brings the benefits of being a true superstar.
At 6'10 and with a strong frame, Boozer brings incredible offensive versatility. On a single possession, he beats up opposing defenses as an inside scorer with post-ups, putbacks and rolls to the rim. In the next game, he will start attacking on the perimeter like a winger. He is a good driver and handler for a player of his size, and his large size allows him to shake off defenders on his way to the basket.
Boozer's overall feel for the game is one of his best attributes, and it shows in his passing ability. He has great court vision, delivering dimes all over the court on time and on target. It feels like he has the rare ability to map the floor and know where everyone is, allowing him to always think one step ahead of the defense. His scoring and passing ability give him the potential to be the focal point of the offense in the half court. With Boozer in control, it feels like the offense is always taking good shots.
Since entering high school, Boozer has achieved unparalleled results while defeating top competitors at every level. Although he hasn't experienced the breakout breakout of Peterson and doesn't have the elite physical traits of Divansa, he has consistently performed at an elite level over four years of prep ball. He is the slowest player and worst shooter of the three in this story, but he is also the strongest and smartest. He's been above average in almost every aspect of his game, including 3-point shooting. How can you not agree with him when he has so many wins at the high school level?
Be skeptical of Boozer's NBA translation at your own peril. His win and production levels are too impressive to bet on.
3. AJ Dybantsa, F, Utah Prep (BYU commit)
If a science lab could create an NBA wing with superstar characteristics, it would look a lot like Divantha. A 6'9 jumbo wing, DiVanza has a commanding combination of length and athleticism that gives him the best physical talent of any prospect currently not in the NBA.
Divanza should be able to score from inside the arc just because of his physicality. His strength, length, and open floor speed are a lethal combination that will continue to make him elite at the highest level. He'll be a force to attack closeouts and get out in transition, giving him a path to easy buckets that won't cause highlight-reel clicks like his tough shot-making.
Of course, Divantha doesn't win on tools alone. For his age and size, he has shown incredible progress as both a ball handler and a long-range shooter, and could be a scoring force on any given night. Currently, he is the best three-point shooter among the top prospects in the world. He has deep range and quick release on jumpers, as well as the ability to hit triples off the dribble and off the catch. It feels like Divanza has a chance to develop into one of the best shooters in the world, and if he does, there's no ceiling to his long-term rise.
Divanza has a big defensive advantage with those tools, but he needs to stay mentally grounded on that front. There's no question that Divanza is the most naturally talented of the three, but he may have the least amount of polish right now. I feel like he dribbles too much at times and doesn't have the skill to draw fouls like the other two do. He's not a playmaker like Boozer, and he doesn't have the ultra-precise skills that Peterson exhibits. Still, Divanza's combination of size, shooting, handling and athleticism makes him the material for a No. 1 overall pick.
He may be No. 3 on my list, but I still feel like he's the favorite to be No. 1 overall in 2026.
