In most years, men’s college basketball would be lucky to have one transcendent star, a player who could both carry his team during the NCAA Tournament and be a hyped professional prospect.
In 2026, there are three: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Brigham Young’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer.
The trio have been jockeying for position at the top of NBA draft boards all year while also having impactful seasons for their schools. All three play for teams that have legitimate Final Four hopes, with Duke and Kansas earning the first and fourth seeds in the East, while BYU is the sixth seed in the West.
So how have Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer fared this season? And what makes them such great NBA prospects? Let’s dive into each player.
Darryn Peterson, guard, Kansas
First tournament game: 9:45 p.m. ET Friday vs. California Baptist
Most prognosticators have Peterson going No. 1 in the upcoming draft, though his
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