Three Future NBA Lottery Picks Still Haven't Decided, and Friday's Deadline Is Coming Fast

Michigan basketball's championship run feels like a lifetime ago, but the real scramble for college programs is just getting started. With the transfer portal window now closed, schools across the country are hunting for roster fixes heading into next season. Louisville, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee have already made some big moves, snatching up talent like Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad to the Cardinals, plus Isaiah Johnson and David Punch headed to the Longhorns.

But here's the thing that's got everyone paying attention right now: the three best players heading into the 2026 NBA Draft haven't said a word about their plans yet. We're talking Duke's Cameron Boozer, BYU's AJ Dybantsa, and Kansas' Darryn Peterson. All three are projected to go in the top three picks, and all three still haven't officially announced whether they're staying in or pulling back. The deadline? Friday night at 11:59 p.m. ET on April 24. That's less than 48 hours away.

The Mock Draft Picture Is Already Pretty Clear

According to USA TODAY Sports' latest mock draft, Dybantsa is locked in as the No. 1 overall pick heading to the Washington Wizards. Boozer is projected to go No. 2 to the Indiana Pacers, and Peterson is expected to land No. 3 with the Brooklyn Nets. But until they officially declare, it's all speculation.

The good news? All three are expected to declare before the Friday deadline. Beyond this trio, there are still some notable names who haven't made their decision yet: Arkansas' Darius Acuff, Tennessee's Nate Ament, and Duke's Isaiah Evans are also still in wait-and-see mode.

Who's Already Committed to the Draft

Plenty of players have already pulled the trigger. North Carolina's Caleb Wilson, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, and Iowa State's Milan Momcilovic have all declared. Houston's Kingston Flemings, Illinois' Keaton Wagler, and Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. are in too. Louisville landed some declared talent with Flory Bidunga, Mikel Brown Jr., and Ryan Conwell all committing to the process.

Some guys have moved schools and declared, like John Blackwell heading from Wisconsin to Duke, and Acaden Lewis transferring from Villanova to Miami while also entering the draft pool.

The Timeline to Remember

Friday's 11:59 p.m. ET deadline is just the first checkpoint. If players declare but want to test the waters and keep their college eligibility, they've got until May 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET to pull out and go back to school. The final NBA-specific deadline for early entries to withdraw is June 13 at 5 p.m. ET.

The actual 2026 NBA Draft kicks off June 23 at 8 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with the first round happening that night and the second round following June 24.

So we're three days out from knowing whether Boozer, Dybantsa, and Peterson are going pro or staying put. Watch your phones Friday night.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.