Darryn Peterson Predicted As No. 1 2026 NBA Draft Pick Over A.J. Dybantsa in Exec Poll
Kansas' Darryn Peterson beat out BYU's A.J. Dybantsa as the most likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft in an anonymous poll of 20 NBA executives and scouts.
In the poll conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Woo, 12 execs and scouts predicted Peterson to go first overall next year, while the other eight picked Dybantsa.
Peterson and Dybantsa are widely regarded as the two best prospects entering college basketball during the 2025-26 season with 247Sports ranking Peterson No. 1 overall and Dybantsa No. 2 overall.
The 18-year-old Peterson is a 6'5" guard from Canton, Ohio, and he was named both the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and the co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game in 2025.
An Eastern Conference executive who voted for Peterson as the likeliest No. 1 overall pick in 2026 lauded his consistency, saying:
"Peterson stands out as the more complete and dependable option. 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."
Dybantsa, 18, is a 6'9" forward who is originally from Brockton, Massachusetts, but also spent time playing high school basketball in Napa, California, and Hurricane, Utah.
He was the FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP in 2025, leading Team USA to a gold medal in Switzerland.
An Eastern Conference scout gave Dybantsa the nod as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, citing his size and the possibility of him being in a better place to cultivate his game than Peterson is at Kansas:
"They're a similar tier of prospect ... A.J. is 6'9" and in this league, size still does matter. 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 there were some whispers of Rutgers stars Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper supplanting him, Cooper Flagg maintained his status as the top prospect in college basketball throughout the 2024-25 season, ending it by winning National College Basketball Player of the Year honors.
Flagg went No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA draft to the Dallas Mavericks as a result, but with the margins seemingly being razor thin between Peterson and Dybantsa, it is far tougher to predict which one of them will be the top choice in 2026.
