The NBA Draft features a star-studded class of young talent that many experts believe will dominate the league for years to come. This past NCAA basketball season featured some of the best freshmen talent the country has ever seen.
- Indiana Pacers
AJ Dybantsa – Freshman, BYU (SF)
HT: 6’8” WT: 210 lbs WS: 6’11”
Indiana goes best player available with the top scorer in the country, while still checking the size/skill boxes NBA teams covet on the wing. Dybantsa scores at all three levels and flashes real creation for others, giving the Pacers a potential two-way centerpiece to build around.
Player comparison: Kevin Durant
- Brooklyn Nets
Cameron Boozer – Freshman, Duke University (PF)
HT: 6’8” WT: 250 lbs WS: 7’1”
Brooklyn should look for a versatile big to complement the guard-heavy group they drafted last season. Boozer’s advanced metrics pop—highlighted by a 99th-percentile box plus-minus—showing real two-way impact. The jumper can still expand out to deeper range, but his physicality and athleticism should translate right away.
Player comparison: Paul Millsap
- Atlanta Hawks
Darryn Peterson – Freshman, University of Kansas (SG)
HT: 6’5” WT: 205 lbs WS: 6’10”
Peterson falls into Atlanta’s lap at No. 3. He’s 6’5” with an impressive 6’10” wingspan, and his fluid style plus three-level scoring give him a sky-high ceiling. He did have some inconsistency this season, especially in Big 12 play, which may worry teams; but the Hawks can bet on elite shot creation from the guard spot and let the talent win out.
Player comparison: Tracy McGrady
- Utah Jazz
Caleb Wilson – Freshman, University of North Carolina (SF)
HT: 6’9” WT: 215 lbs WS: 7’0”
Utah has the best player available and adds another wing to pair with Ace Bailey and Jaren Jackson Jr. Wilson is the last prospect in the top tier and gives the Jazz an intriguing nucleus to build around. He still needs to improve the jumper, 25.9% from three, but he’s productive because of the constant pressure he puts on the rim and the defense.
Player comparison: PJ Washington
- Washington Wizards
Kingston Flemings – Freshman, University of Houston (SG)
HT: 6’3” WT: 190 lbs WS: 6’5”
Washington adds a guard who can play next to Tre Johnson and learn from veteran Trae Young. The Wizards aren’t tied to Young long-term, so pairing present value with a future plan makes sense. Flemings is an athletic playmaker who complements Johnson and Young with point-of-attack defense and downhill burst.
Player comparison: De’Anthony Melton
- Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr. – Freshman, University of Arkansas (PG)
HT: 6’3” WT: 190 lbs WS: 6’6”
Sacramento grabs an elite scoring guard with a lightning-quick first step and touch from all three levels. The Kings have lacked a true lead creator since De’Aaron Fox was dealt to San Antonio. Acuff Jr. will need to improve defensively, but Arkansas head coach John Calipari’s guards have translated to the league for years.
Player comparison: Damian Lillard
- Memphis Grizzlies
Mikel Brown Jr. – Freshman, University of Louisville (PG)
HT: 6’5” WT: 190 lbs WS: 6’7”
Memphis wastes no time selecting Ja Morant’s replacement as his long-term future with the team looks uncertain. Brown Jr. is a high-volume 3-point shooter who can also create for teammates and get to the rim. Even after being sidelined for the tournament, he projects as one of the first guards off the board.
Player comparison: Darius Garland
- Dallas Mavericks
Keaton Wagler – Freshman, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (G)
HT: 6’6” WT: 185 lbs WS: 6’9”
Dallas takes a tall combo guard to ease the offensive load on Cooper Flagg. As the primary scoring option for Illinois, Wagler showed he can light it up from the perimeter while taking care of the ball. He can also get downhill and finish, though questions remain about his defensive ceiling due to limited athletic upside.
Player comparison: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Milwaukee Bucks
Brayden Burries – Freshman, University of Arizona (SG)
HT: 6’4” WT: 205 lbs WS: 6’6”
Milwaukee continues the guard run with Burries, a much-needed perimeter shot creator. He showcased high-level self-creation in the NCAA Tournament and can score efficiently on or off the ball. Even as one of the older freshmen in the class, he projects as a plug-and-play scoring guard.
Player comparison: Devin Booker
- Chicago Bulls
Aday Mara – Junior, University of Michigan (C)
HT: 7’3” WT: 240 lbs WS: 7’7”
Chicago gets its big man of the future, with elite rim protection and surprising playmaking. Mara ranks in the 97th percentile in assist rate for his position and brings soft touch around the rim. Free-throw shooting remains a major concern, 55% this season, but he should immediately provide a stabilizing presence in the paint.
Player comparison: Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
- Golden State Warriors
Patrick Ngongba – Sophomore, Duke (C)
HT: 6’11” WT: 250 lbs WS: 7’4”
Golden State fills a major need at center with Ngongba, one of the best defensive bigs in the class. He’s shown a willingness to extend to the perimeter and, like Mara, offers real playmaking feel for his position. Injuries remain a concern, but as the Warriors maximize their Stephen Curry window, Ngongba provides both immediate utility and a long-term option in the middle.
Player comparison: Derik Queen
- Miami Heat
Yaxel Lendeborg – Senior, Michigan (PF)
HT: 6’9” WT: 240 lbs WS: 7’4”
Miami grabs a highly efficient stretch four with legitimate two-way utility. Lendeborg fits next to Bam Adebayo and gives the Heat an intimidating defensive frontcourt without sacrificing spacing. He’s one of the older prospects in the class, but he produced in March and has improved each season.
Player comparison: Kyle Kuzma
- Oklahoma City Thunder
Allen Graves – Freshman, Santa Clara University (PF)
HT: 6’9” WT: 225 lbs WS: 7’0”
Graves is a premier defensive prospect to add to Oklahoma City’s young core. He’s a disruptive rebounder for his position and provides real on-ball/off-ball defensive upside. Graves posted elite ball-hawk metrics this season, 100th-percentile steal rate, and the Thunder can keep him mostly off the ball offensively while he rounds out his playmaking.
Player comparison: Tari Eason
- Charlotte Hornets
Nate Ament – Freshman, University of Tennessee (SF)
HT: 6’10” WT: 207 lbs WS: 6’11”
Charlotte takes a swing on a high-ceiling wing to add to its young core. Ament is a versatile forward who can handle, pass and draw fouls, with room to grow into a real weapon at the next level. He entered the year as a top high-school prospect, but inconsistent shooting hurt his stock. If he adds strength, the Hornets could unlock his full upside.
Player comparison: Andrew Wiggins
- Chicago Bulls
Labaron Philon – Sophomore, University of Alabama (PG)
HT: 6’4” WT: 175 lbs WS: 6’6”
- Memphis Grizzlies
Dailyn Swain – Junior, University of Texas (SF)
HT: 6’8” WT: 225 lbs WS: 7’0”
- Charlotte Hornets
Morez Johnson – Sophomore, Michigan (SF)
HT: 6’9” WT: 220 lbs WS: 6’11”
- Oklahoma City Thunder
Tyler Tanner – Sophomore, Vanderbilt University (PG)
HT: 6’10” WT: 207 lbs WS: 6’11”
- San Antonio Spurs
Jayden Quaintance – Sophomore, University of Kentucky (C)
HT: 6’9” WT: 255 lbs WS: 7’5”
- Toronto Raptors
Ebuka Okorie – Freshman, Stanford University (PG)
HT: 6’1” WT: 197 lbs WS: 6’6”
- Detroit Pistons
Isaiah Evans – Sophomore, Duke (SG)
HT: 6’6” WT: 180 lbs WS: 6’10”
- Atlanta Hawks
Karim Lopez – Mexico (PF)
HT: 6’9” WT: 220 lbs WS: 7’1”
- Philadelphia 76ers
Motiejus Krivas – Junior, Arizona (C)
HT: 7’1” WT: 260 lbs WS: 7’7”
- New York Knicks
Koa Peat – Freshman, Arizona (PF)
HT: 6’7” WT: 235 lbs WS: 6’11”
- Los Angeles Lakers
Zvonimir Ivišić – Junior, Illinois (C)
HT: 7’2” WT: 245 lbs WS: 7’4”
- Denver Nuggets
Thomas Haugh – Junior, University of Florida (C)
HT: 6’9” WT: 215 lbs WS: 7’0”
- Boston Celtics
Joshua Jefferson – Senior, Iowa State University (SF)
HT: 6’9” WT: 240 lbs WS: 6’10”
- Minnesota Timberwolves
Cameron Carr – Sophomore, Baylor University (SG)
HT: 6’5” WT: 175 lbs WS: 7’2”
- Cleveland Cavaliers
Bennett Stirtz – Senior, University of Iowa (PG)
HT: 6’4” WT: 190 lbs WS: 6’6”
- Dallas Mavericks
Milan Momcilovic – Junior, Iowa State (SF)
HT: 6’8” WT: 225 lbs WS: 6’11”
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