Latest NBA Draft Rumors on Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer Amid No. 1 Pick Buzz

Of the big three prospects in the 2026 NBA draft, Cameron Boozer is the only one still standing in the NCAA tournament after Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa were unable to lead their teams out of the opening weekend.

Despite the early exits for Kansas and BYU, ESPN's Jeremy Woo noted recent conversations with people in the NBA have shifted toward Dybantsa being the "most likely choice" for No. 1 overall pick ahead of Peterson and Boozer.

Dybantsa is the only one who came out of the weekend largely unscathed. Even though the Cougars lost in the first round, he put up 35 points and 10 rebounds against Texas.

In the 10 games he played after Richie Saunders tore his ACL, Dybantsa averaged 28.5 points on 46.3 percent shooting and 7.5 rebounds per contest.

Peterson's two tournament games were emblematic of what he did most of the season. He looked dominant early in the first round against California Baptist and scored 28 points, but didn't take a shot over the final 4:18 in the second half as Kansas had to hold on for a 68-60 win.

In the Jayhawks' second-round loss to St. John's, Peterson had 21 points and four blocks. But he shot just 5-of-15 from the field. It was his sixth time in the past eight games shooting under 40.0 percent overall.

According to Woo, the "questions that have emerged around Peterson" combined with the value teams have for the archetype that Dybantsa fits have made him "simplest choice in the minds of many around the NBA, though the race remains close."

Boozer has generally been running in the third position among the potential No. 1 pick candidates, though there has been some thought he could be the primary target for the Indiana Pacers if they end up winning the lottery due to how seamlessly he could fit in with a lineup of Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac.

Woo noted Duke's first two tournament games did highlight some of the concerns NBA scouts have had about Boozer, particularly how "glaring at times" his "limited foot speed, lack of vertical lift as a finisher and rim protection" stood out.

Boozer recorded double-doubles in wins over Siena and TCU, but he really struggled in the opener against Siena. The 18-year-old shot just 4-of-11 from the field after going 3-of-17 in the ACC Championship Game against Virginia.

The Blue Devils became the first No. 1 seed to fall behind by at least 10 points to a 16 seed before storming back in the second half to avoid a disastrous defeat.

Some of the things Woo highlighted about why Boozer can't be ruled out as the potential top pick don't necessarily have anything to do with his natural skill set, but more a belief in his intangible qualities:

"There are varying opinions on the aesthetics of his game, but little argument around the results he achieves. Scouts respect the fact that he boasts the strongest winning résumé of anyone in the draft, having won every possible championship in high school and now in college, with only one remaining. Any team should feel good about selecting a player who has been the central figure in winning games for his entire career to date."

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman has Dybantsa projected to go No. 1 overall in his most recent mock, followed by Boozer at two and Peterson at three.

Despite that order, Wasserman noted there "there doesn't seem to be any consensus right now" between the trio at the top of the draft.

Given how close things seem to be among Dybantsa, Peterson and Boozer right now, the order could be determined by how a team feels like they will fit in with their current roster.

A team like the Pacers could think less about the ultimate ceiling when they have a nucleus ready to compete for a title right now when Haliburton returns healthy. Teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings are essentially starting from scratch at this point that they can bet on a player like Peterson or Dybantsa becoming a future MVP candidate.