AJ Dybantsa Just Locked Down the No. 1 Spot and NBA Teams Are Already Making Their Plans
The college basketball season is done, the transfer portal is wild, and the predraft process is officially underway. And there's some big news at the top of the 2026 NBA draft board: AJ Dybantsa has taken over the No. 1 ranking for the first time this cycle.
Dybantsa, a 6-9 freshman from BYU, earned this top spot after a strong close to his freshman year that got NBA executives talking. The kid proved he can handle a serious offensive workload and showed real growth as a decision-maker. His size, physical tools, and overall makeup give him a foundation that scouts are genuinely excited about. Yeah, he's got some things to tighten up, especially with his ballhandling, perimeter shooting, and individual defense. But those are the kinds of things you can teach. The intangibles? Those are already there. Dybantsa is entering the NBA on a growth trajectory with unteachable qualities that matter.
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Even with Dybantsa at No. 1, the conversation at the very top remains fluid. Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer both have legit cases to go first overall. Beyond that, there's a stacked group still fighting for lottery position: Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., and Kingston Flemings are all jockeying for their spots. The talent density near the top of this class has NBA executives genuinely fired up about the quality of prospects available.
The Transfer Portal and NIL Money Are Changing Everything
Here's the wild part: nobody knows exactly who's even going to be in this draft. The transfer portal is open and money in college is getting ridiculous. For freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, staying in school is becoming more financially attractive than ever. NBA teams saw this coming all season, but it's still going to shape how deep this draft actually goes. The real storyline to watch is whether players decide to return or leave, especially after the NCAA's May 27 early entry withdrawal deadline.
College seniors get a shot next week at the Portsmouth Invitational in front of NBA scouts. From there, it's 60 days until draft day. The combine happens, the lottery goes down on May 10, and the whole thing culminates in a late-June draft date that the NBA still needs to officially lock in. Expect this top 100 list to stay fluid right up until that deadline hits.
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