NBA intel: Execs, scouts on Peterson, Dybantsa, top draft prospects

NBA executives are out in power at convention tournaments throughout the nation as they collect intel on the subsequent class {of professional} stars. The Big 12 event at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center has been the primary point of interest, with the convention boasting 10 projected first-round picks in ESPN’s latest mock draft.

“Like a preview of lottery night,” one Western Conference group president advised ESPN, “except this time we’ll all leave still excited.”

With the event showcasing most of the elite freshmen dominating draft discussions — together with potential No. 1 picks in Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and BYU’s AJ Dybantsaplus Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenacand Arizona’s Brayden Burries and ahead Koa Peat — all 30 NBA groups are in attendance, together with many lead decision-makers.

And with the 2025-26 common season reaching its closing month, there are as many as eight groups at present enjoying for draft place. (That quantity would absolutely be increased if some bottom-dwelling franchises managed their first-round choose in June.)

Meanwhile, for groups that miss out on the top-tier expertise, the curiosity on this draft class goes past the potential No. 1 picks.

“We’re so interested in this draft because it’s so deep. There’s a lot of impact players,” an Eastern Conference scout stated.

“And [the 2027] draft isn’t looking so good. You never know, there are players in every draft, but this year is like a double draft,” a West scout stated.

That depth provides hope to groups such because the Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards — 4 franchises that can enter the offseason on a collective 15-year run and not using a playoff look — that their choose, wherever it lands, may current a franchise-altering second.

Ahead of Friday’s Big 12 semifinals (7 pm and 9:30 pm ET on ESPN2), here is a take a look at what executives, scouts and coaches are saying concerning the largest names on the NBA draft boards.

The battle for No. 1 stays a two-player race

As it has been all season, Peterson and Dybantsa stay the top two prospects throughout the vast majority of draft boards.

Peterson, who remains the No. 1 pick in ESPN NBA draft analyst Jeremy Woo’s newest mock draft, entered the season because the presumptive top choose however has had an up-and-down marketing campaign for the Jayhawks. The down has been because of damage, as he has sat out 11 video games due to a sequence of points whereas enjoying restricted minutes in a number of different appearances.

But, when obtainable, Peterson has proven how particular he could be, together with dropping 27 factors on 10-of-15 capturing within the regular-season finale towards rival Kansas State and having the very best utilization charge in Division 1 at 33.6%, per CBB Analytics.

“As gifted a scorer as it comes,” one energy convention common supervisor stated of Peterson’s recreation. “The wiggle, the aggressiveness, he comes in and takes over games. The NBA guys are working to get the insight on the injuries, but he’s worth a headache or two.”

Dybantsa, in the meantime, is just about the one wholesome participant remaining on a Cougars group that has light down the stretch. Injuries, notably to senior ahead Richie Saundershave derailed early-season Final Four ambitions.

But that hasn’t dampened his draft inventory or his aggressive fireplace. And between his 6-foot-9 body and pure scoring potential — Dybantsa is the primary freshman since Trae Young in 2018 to guide the nation in scoring — the BYU star nonetheless has many NBA decision-makers buzzing.

“He’s got all the tools, he’s a dynamic scorer who will put up points in the NBA right away,” a veteran East govt stated.

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On Tuesday, Dybantsa opened his Big 12 event by hitting 15 of 21 pictures for 40 factors to interrupt Kevin Durant‘s event scoring report for a freshman set in 2007. And regardless of BYU’s run ending Thursday towards Houston, Dybantsa handed Durant once more with 93 complete factors to set a new tournament record.

“I think Dybantsa is the easy No. 1,” an East govt stated. “He’s special. There’s just so much for him to still grow into.”

“He’s the easiest one to see how he gets to No. 1, but the game doesn’t come quite as easy to him as it does to some of the truly great players,” one other East govt stated.

“[Dybantsa] is probably going to be our No. 1,” a West scout stated. “But it isn’t settled.”

Nowhere close to settled, as Peterson, regardless of his uneven freshman season, stays the participant most league insiders level to as the present favourite to be the primary title referred to as by NBA commissioner Adam Silver on draft evening.

“Talent-wise, he’s clearly [No. 1],” an East scout stated. “He’s got the full package. When he’s played, he’s shown that he has the ‘it’ factor.”

A Carolina conflict for No. 3

Although a prospect may nonetheless leapfrog Peterson or Dybantsa, the favored expectation is that the third and fourth picks will function a pair of forwards from Tobacco Road rivals: Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.

Boozer may be probably the most fascinating participant on this 12 months’s draft. His numbers coming into this week’s ACC event for the presumptive No. 1 total seed on this 12 months’s NCAA event are the stuff of video video games: 22.7 factors, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation whereas capturing 58% from the sector, 40.7% from 3-point vary. He led Duke outright in factors, rebounds and assists in eight video games this season, probably the most by a freshman in 30 years.

That form of manufacturing is why some NBA decision-makers argue that Boozer ought to be part of Peterson and Dybantsa as a possible No. 1 choose.

“I think there’s a top three, and a case for any of them,” a second East govt stated. “Boozer has always been the best player at every level, and that can help overcome some of his athletic questions. … I would just say to trust the ultra high-level-feel guys to figure it out.”

So why is not Boozer firmly within the combine for the top choose? Simply put, it is as a result of he is constructed like his father, two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. That has left scouts and executives with questions on whether or not the 6-9, 250-pound Boozer has already come near maxing out his recreation and whether or not his potential athletic limitations will restrict his NBA ceiling.

But for not less than one NBA govt, Boozer’s résumé ought to be sufficient to curb any trepidation across the league.

“You can focus on what he doesn’t have compared to the other guys in terms of athleticism or whatever,” an East assistant common supervisor stated. “But he’s a winner and he’s been a winner at every level and he’s won everything he’s touched this year.”

Wilson’s draft profile is the polar reverse. I’ve flashed a dynamic ability set with the Tar Heels earlier than a thumb injury suffered last week ended his season, notably when going coast to coast in transition after snatching a rebound.

“He was a kid in high school who wanted the ball in his hands, wanted to be a point power forward but didn’t have a motor or a toughness to him,” a rival ACC coach stated of Wilson. “Since he got to Carolina, his care factor and toughness has really stood out and gone to the next level.”

Wilson averaged 19.8 factors, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks whereas capturing 57.8% from the sector in 24 video games, exhibiting why many across the league argue he may go forward of Boozer because the third participant off the board.

“He’s so raw, and there’s a ton of upside there,” the primary East govt stated. “I can easily see him becoming a top-three player in this draft. I think Cam already has his NBA body, but Caleb has a lot of room to grow.”

After No. 4, a number of guards be part of the dialogue

The consensus is that the subsequent 4 picks will function freshman guards: Flemings, Illinois’ Keaton WaglerArkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr.. and Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr..

Multiple sources in contrast Flemings’ top-end pace and quickness with the ball to a former MVP.

“Derrick [Rose] had the ability to turn the corner and get a clean layup,” one other East scout stated. “You don’t see that often and Kingston has that.”

Flemings, together with freshman teammate Cenac, earned reward from NBA scouts and executives for his willingness to play for Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson, who is thought for working a no-nonsense program the place minutes should not merely handed out.

“He’s shown he can do everything you need to do as a point guard in their two-guard system,” a West scout stated. “He checks all the boxes: smart, makes teammates better, positional size, can shoot, engaged defend.”

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Kingston Flemings attracts the and-1 bucket for Houston

Kingston Flemings will get to the rim and attracts the and-1 for Houston.

Wagler has emerged onto the scene over the course of his freshman season at Illinois, with a 46-point efficiency towards fellow NBA prospect Braden Smith and Purdue on Jan. 24 launching a brand new wave of consideration. Wagler is the primary Big Ten freshman previously 30 years to common not less than 18 factors on 40% capturing from 3.

And at 6-6, his positional measurement ought to enable him to regulate to the NBA recreation.

“Wagler has flown up the board,” the primary East scout stated. “I have Tyrese Haliburton profile in a way… weird shot, fast riser. I like him. He definitely has the size. If someone took him at five, I could see it.”

Acuff is the most recent star guard to play for John Calipari, a listing that features Rose, John Wall, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey and Reed Sheppardamongst others.

There might be questions on how Acuff’s slight body will translate to the NBA, however the 6-3, 190-pound guard absolutely delivered for Arkansas. The SEC Freshman and Player of the Year has averaged 22.2 factors and 6.4 assists whereas capturing 43.7% from 3.

“The guy who is most ready to play in the NBA is Acuff,” the primary East govt stated. “If you didn’t know anything other than watching him play, you’d think he was a four-year player. That’s how smooth he is.”

If it wasn’t for Peterson’s well being questions on the top of the draft, probably the most perplexing storyline within the lottery would in all probability belong to Brown. The 6-5, 190-pound guard is averaging 18.2 factors and 4.7 assists whereas capturing 41% total and 34% from 3-point vary. He has handled intermittent again points which have pressured him to sit down out the ACC event.

“He’s like a much bigger Darius Garlanda high-level shooter who is aware of tips on how to use ball screens and make performs for others,” the ACC coach stated. (It’s price noting that accidents restricted Garland to solely 5 video games in his lone season at Vanderbilt, however the Cleveland Cavaliers nonetheless chosen him No. 5 in 2019.)

Brown’s résumé options a number of eye-popping video games for the Cardinals — he scored not less than 20 factors in 9 of his 21 video games, together with 45 in a win over NC State on Feb. 9 — however his well being has clouded how NBA groups view his draft profile.

“I like the Louisville kid,” the primary East scout stated. “He’s really smooth, although I think he’s more of a combo guard than a pure point. But the back stuff is a concern.”