The 2025 NBA Draft was just a few days ago and now the next set of upcoming stars will be looked at over the next few months heading into the 2026 NBA Draft come next summer. The 2025 NBA Draft headlined Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs), and V.J. Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers) as the top-3 picks, as the class of 2024 one-and-done prospects. The 2026 NBA Draft is expected to be loaded come next June and here are my potential one-and-dones from the 2025 class going into college this fall.
A.J. Dybantsa (BYU) – Dybantsa has been one of the more consistent names when it comes to talking about the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-9+ Brockton native has NBA scouts drooling over him with his elite skill set at his size. He has the insane combination of length, strength, skill, toughness, competitiveness, and size. A.J’s incredible versatility should translate to the NBA level in a year. He can be extremely impactful on both ends of the floor, has a great feel for the game, and has a good mentality on the court. He can be a good switch defender with his size, length, has the trust to make plays with the ball in his hands offensively, and can score in bunches.
Darryn Peterson (Kansas) – Darryn Peterson had a phenomenal high school season during his senior year at Prolific Prep (CA), winning the Grind Session and securing the MVP award for the year. Peterson shows shades of Phoenix Suns’s Devin Booker, with his incredible scoring instincts and his ability to make plays with the ball as an elite bucket-getter. He scores from all three levels, draws a lot of attention when the ball is in his hands, and has elite athleticism. Peterson will be able to continue to prove to NBA scouts on why he should be the No. 1 overall pick come next June. Kansas head coach Bill Self and staff will allow Darryn to rock and run the show in Lawrence next season as a potential lottery pick.
Cameron Boozer (Duke) – When we talk about winning resumes, Cameron Boozer quickly comes to mind. The 6-foot-10 prospect has won just about everything in his high school career and joining one of the most winningest college basketball programs, Duke University, as incoming freshman and potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Boozer is a strong physical forward who can stretch defenses with his capable perimeter shot making at his size. His ability to protect the rim, rebound at a high rate, and make the right plays with the ball in his hands are feels that NBA personnel have admired about Cameron over the last few years. He will certainly be competing for that No. 1 pick spot next June alongside Peterson and Dybantsa.
Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville) – Darius Garland, Damian Lillard, and Trae Young come to mind when you talk about Mikel Brown Jr. The next upcoming star for Louisville, Brown Jr. has shades of all those guys in his game and will be one of the top tier point guards in college basketball next season. The 6-foot-3 guard has an elite wingspan at his size, has the ability to shoot the hell out of the ball with range, and makes the right plays for his teammates in high level situation. Mikel has that shifty quickness and speed with the ball, serves off-ball value with his ability to score, and an underrated athletic ability. NBA scouts and teams have already put the incoming freshman on their radar for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Nate Ament (Tennessee) – Nate Ament has blossomed himself into a potential lottery pick over the last year or so from the grassroots season to his final year of high school. He is a legit 6-foot-10 forward with a polished game that can improve during his time in Knoxville come next season. His outstanding length, ability to score on all levels, and be effective on the defensive ends are what NBA personnel love about Mr. Ament. He can certainly space the floor with his perimeter shooting, be effective alternating and/or blocking shots defensively, and has a solid handle to create his own offensively. He will fit the modern day versatile forward in today’s NBA.
Koa Peat (Arizona) – Koa Peat has shown very high shades of Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero. With just around the same type of physical measurements, Peat will continue to draw eyes of the NBA scouts that will be at just about all of his games while he is at Arizona. He is 6-foot-8+ forward with great physicality, an unstoppable force inside the paint, but also has the skill that comes with his strength and physical play. He is a powerful finisher at the rim, has that explosiveness, and elite athleticism. Koa has the capability to knockdown jumpers from second and third levels, be an asset on the glass, and can be a versatile defender guarding every position.
Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor) – Keyonte George, Ja’Kobe Walter, V.J. Edgecombe, and now Tounde Yessoufou should be the next upcoming first round pick out of the Baylor Bears program under head coach Scott Drew. Yessoufou has impressed multiple NBA teams during his grassroots season and even at events like Nike Hoop Summit and the McDonald’s All American games this past year. He has elite size at 6-foot-5, an incredible motor, and plays with relentless energy on both ends of the floor. Tounde is capable of hitting jump shots, moves well without the ball, has elite explosiveness when attacking the basket, and comes in as one of the elite defenders in this class. He should be eyed as a 3-and-D type of prospect and shows shades of Indiana Pacer’s Aaron Nesmith.
Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston) – Kelvin Sampson is getting himself one hell of a prospect in Chris Cenac Jr. The New Orleans native has the elite versatility at his size at 6-foot-11 and with an outstanding wingspan. His strengths as a player certain comes on the defensive end and his rebounding ability, but Cenac Jr. has shown his versatile skill set on the offensive end as well in some cases. He can space the floor with his ability to hit shots from either the perimeter or even in the midrange game. Chris has eye-opening mobility for his size, has great hands when inside the paint, and serves as a rim running lob threat. He should be the starting big man in Kelvin Sampson’s lineup and can showcase his game to the NBA scouts that will be keeping tabs on him throughout the college basketball season in 2025-2026.
Brayden Burries (Arizona) – Could Arizona have two potential first round picks that are incoming freshmen under head coach Tommy Lloyd? Brayden Burries is an elite all around scoring guard that has the high level potential to bring instant offense to an NBA organization. Burries has elite size at 6-foot-5 with an already NBA body frame. His ability to draw fouls and finish through traffic when attacking the basket are consistent and have been noticeable throughout his development. He has the abilities to make nice reads with the ball outside of his scoring abilities, plays at his own pace, and gets to his spots on the floor when he wants. Hopefully he can showcase his game in the college level and should be the starting two-guard in Tucson come next season.
Nikolas Khamenia (Duke) – Nikolas Khamenia is my sleeper first round pick when it comes to the 2026 NBA Draft. Why? Khamenia is an extremely skilled 6-foo-8 forward with such a nice feel for the game. He might not be a big time scorer, but he has the ability to put a check mark on every stat on the box score when it’s all said and done. He has the skill set to make plays with the ball, whether he is scoring from all levels or making the right pass, and is just very productive when on the court. Khamenia will be able to showcase his all around abilities on a stacked Duke team featuring Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, and even Dame Sarr, who are potential first round picks come summer of 2026.
The Grind Hoops by Samad Hines 