NBA Mock Draft: Wizards Pick AJ Dybantsa, Jazz Take Darryn Peterson Amidst No. 3 Debate

The 2026 NBA Draft is less than three weeks away, and we're closing in on some clarity on some massive pivot points. While the Washington Wizards won't tip its hand, BYU star AJ Dybantsa continues to have the most traction to go No. 1 overall. There's also a growing consensus that the end of the first round is the most watered-down in years, largely due to handsome NIL figures that college programs were able to throw at potential first-rounders like Florida's Thomas Haugh , Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner , UConn's Braylon Mullins , Duke's Patrick Ngongba and more.

Keep an eye on the June 13 deadline for international prospects to remove their names from the NBA Draft. The biggest name to note is 7-foot-3 Italian big man Luigi Suigo. If Suigo stays in the draft, he will be a potential first-round pick, especially in this watered-down draft. If he chooses to exit the draft, Villanova is the frontrunner to land the big fella, who will join the wave of international prospects in the college ranks.

2026 NBA Draft Scouting: Comparing Cameron Boozer's athletic translation vs. Caleb Wilson's untapped potential Adam Finkelstein

Let's dive into a fresh mock draft based on the buzz in basketball circles.

Mock Draft Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1

AJ Dybantsa

SF

BYU

• Fr • 6'9" / 217 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

25.5

RPG

6.8

APG

3.7

3P%

33.1%

Dybantsa to the Wizards continues to make the most sense for basketball reasons. Washington's roster is desperate for that true jumbo wing who can create his own shot at the drop of a hat. That's the sell with Dybantsa, who is a total nightmare to defend from every spot on the floor. Dybantsa pressures the rim at will, and he can shimmy-shake into his pull-up or unblockable fadeaway whenever he chooses. Dybantsa's combination of top-tier size, footwork and jaw-dropping athleticism makes him a deserving prospect to go No. 1.

Round 1 - Pick 2

Darryn Peterson

PG

Kansas

• Fr • 6'5" / 200 lbs

Projected Team

Utah

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

20.2

RPG

4.2

APG

1.6

3P%

38.2%

If Peterson can integrate the vroom-vroom, dynamic creator that he showed at Prolific Prep with the high-level shot-maker we saw at Kansas, the Utah Jazz will be cooking with gas. Peterson is the type of prospect who could go No. 1 overall in plenty of iterations of the NBA Draft. While the noise about his availability at KU became a major talking point throughout a weird freshman season, Peterson has helped himself throughout the pre-draft process. No news is good news on that front. Take a peek at the NBA Playoffs. How many guards in this class can play in brawls like that? Peterson can. He's got the skill, shot-making, handle, craftsmanship and size that every NBA guard has to have in the holster.

Round 1 - Pick 3

Cameron Boozer

PF

Duke

• Fr • 6'8" / 250 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

22.5

RPG

10.2

APG

4.1

3P%

39.1%

Boozer is one of the sharpest minds in this entire draft class. He processes the game in an advanced way, which raises both his floor and ceiling outcomes. Boozer also owns picture-perfect form on his jumper. He shot 41% on 98 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers for a reason and gives off some Kevin Love vibes. Even if you don't think he's going to be a No. 1 option on a playoff team, the durable Boozer can impact winning at a high level for a long, long time.

Round 1 - Pick 4

Caleb Wilson

PF

North Carolina

• Fr • 6'9" / 210 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

4th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

19.8

RPG

9.4

APG

2.7

3P%

25.9%

While Chicago's new braintrust should take a long look at some of the point guards at No. 4, Wilson remains the logical selection. The North Carolina forward blends a ravenous motor with length, athleticism and burgeoning feel. Wilson will be one of the most dangerous transition difference-makers from the jump, and he has all the physical tools to be a defensive whiz in time. Wilson may not be Chicago's long-term solution, but he won't be a problem, either.

From Indiana Pacers Round 1 - Pick 5

Keaton Wagler

PG

Illinois

• Fr • 6'5" / 188 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Clippers

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

17.9

RPG

5.1

APG

4.2

3P%

39.7%

Size, shooting and feel. That is the name of Keaton Wagler's game. Wagler's shooting prowess allows him to play off the ball when it's time for Darius Garland or Kawhi Leonard to rock, but his value skyrockets because he has all the tools to toggle to an on-ball role as well. Wagler isn't a blow-you-away athlete, but his underrated strength, rhythm, balance and body control make him such a tough cover. Wagler is programmed to make the right play over and over again. He rebounds well for his position, including getting after it on the offensive glass. He has the length and IQ to be a useful defender down the road, which unlocks some Derrick White-like outcomes in his projection, with room for even more.

Round 1 - Pick 6

Darius Acuff Jr.

PG

Arkansas

• Fr • 6'2" / 185 lbs

Projected Team

Brooklyn

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

23.5

RPG

3.1

APG

6.4

3P%

44%

Acuff has every answer to the test in pick-and-rolls. He could very well be the No. 1 ball-screen navigator in this draft. The craftsmanship is clear as day. The pace and precision, combined with his broad shoulders and a 6-7 wingspan, do give off some Deron Williams or Dame Lillard vibes. Even with significant defensive questions, Acuff's ability to shoot off the dribble, navigate into the paint at will, create easy shots and make tough ones is so coveted. Brooklyn drafted a handful of guards last year, but that shouldn't stop this Nets' braintrust from adding a potential face of the franchise point guard.

Round 1 - Pick 7

Kingston Flemings

PG

Houston

• Fr • 6'3" / 183 lbs

Projected Team

Sacramento

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.1

APG

5.2

3P%

38.7%

Flemings' ability to get his shoulders past defenders is a coveted trait that every team needs. Flemings doesn't have terrific length (6-3.5 wingspan), but he's an outstanding athlete who can change directions on a dime, explode vertically and absolutely fly in the open floor. He has jet packs attached to his feet. Flemings has some mechanical tweaks to make on his jumper, but the trio of elite work ethic, elite attention to detail and elite winning habits make him a no-brainer bet to maximize his skillset. You just want Flemings in your building. De'Aaron Fox is a bandied-about comparison for Flemings because of the explosive first step, which would make the Sacramento landing spot ironic in more ways than one.

From New Orleans Pelicans Round 1 - Pick 8

Aday Mara

C

Michigan

• Jr • 7'3" / 260 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

12.1

RPG

6.8

APG

2.4

3P%

30%

Atlanta needs point guard help, but Mara to the Hawks is mouth-watering. The Michigan center has a 7-foot-6 wingspan and improved his mobility tremendously. Mara has elite size for the position, and he'd be one of the top shot-blockers in the NBA from the jump. He got tougher at Michigan and also showed additional defensive versatility, along with his unique feel as a top-of-the-key playmaker who can make reads in DHOs or backdowns. Atlanta could trot out some hellacious defensive lineups with Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Mara.

Round 1 - Pick 9

Mikel Brown Jr.

PG

Louisville

• Fr • 6'4" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

18.2

RPG

3.3

APG

4.7

3P%

34.4%

If this is how the board shakes out, this would be a grand slam for Mike Schmitz and the new Mavs' decision-makers. Brown checks off the boxes when it comes to positional size and shooting, plus there's a dynamic creator in here somewhere. Brown is a terrific push-ahead passer who is always trying to press the gas and create easy buckets in transition. The Kings certainly need more of that. If Brown can start taking the singles in pick-and-rolls instead of trying to consistently smash grand slams, he could outplay his draft slot.

Round 1 - Pick 10

Nate Ament

PF

Tennessee

• Fr • 6'10" / 211 lbs

Projected Team

Milwaukee

PROSPECT RNK

10th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

16.7

RPG

6.3

APG

2.3

3P%

33.3%

Ament is viewed as a high-risk, high-reward player, but I don't see it that way. There will always be a place in the NBA for a big wing with touch and defensive upside. But Ament is still a work in progress. NBA spacing should help, and Milwaukee can give him a long runway to work out the kinks in his game.

Round 1 - Pick 11

Brayden Burries

SG

Arizona

• Fr • 6'4" / 215 lbs

Projected Team

Golden St.

PROSPECT RNK

9th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.9

APG

2.4

3P%

39.1%

Burries' motor is revving at all times. He plays hard every single game, and he sticks his face in the fan on the glass without fail. Burries can toggle between so many different roles, but he might be at his best as a light-it-up transition bucket-getter. There's defense, a little creation, some three-level scoring habits and a whole lot of hustle plays in this portfolio. Even though he's not a superstar, he impacts winning in a bunch of different ways. He's got a chance to be an excellent role player with room for more down the developmental chain.

From Los Angeles Clippers Round 1 - Pick 12

Yaxel Lendeborg

PF

Michigan

• Sr • 6'9" / 241 lbs

Projected Team

Oklahoma City

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

15.1

RPG

6.8

APG

3.2

3P%

37.2%

Lendeborg could have played in any NBA rotation … a year ago at this time. He was a NBA player just housed in Ann Arbor for a year, leading the Wolverines to the national championship. Lendeborg would fit like a glove on a win-now OKC roster that is always in the business for size, shooting, feel and athleticism. He has an enormous 7-3 wingspan and is a straight five-tool player. He can pass, dribble, shoot, cut and defend. Oh, and he's an absolute monster in transition. The Dominican LeBron nickname was well-deserved.

Round 1 - Pick 13

Labaron Philon

PG

Alabama

• Fr • 6'3" / 175 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

14th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

22

RPG

3.5

APG

5

3P%

39.9%

Philon slithers to his spots at will, and there's not much you can do to stop it. The Alabama guard showed vast improvement with his pull-up jumper and proved he can get buckets in his sleep. He was one of the most dangerous isolation bucket-getters in all of college basketball last season, making even the most mobile defensive bigs so uncomfortable with his barrage of in-and-out dribbles to set up a stepback J or a knockdown floater. The challenge will be finding ways to blend all the delightful role-player traits that he showcased as a freshman back into his game. Philon has more in the tank defensively. He has more in the tank as a connect-the-dots role player who can smash advantages created by a true alpha guard ... like Tyler Herro.

Round 1 - Pick 14

Morez Johnson Jr.

PF

Michigan

• Soph • 6'9" / 250 lbs

Projected Team

Charlotte

PROSPECT RNK

17th

POSITION RNK

7th

PPG

13.1

RPG

7.3

APG

1.2

3P%

34.3%

Johnson is a problem-solver on both ends of the floor. He's enormous, athletic and a dirty-work menace. The NBA craves physical thumpers who can fly up and down the floor in transition. Johnson embodies all of that, and th

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-wizards-aj-dybantsa-jazz-darryn-peterson/)._