Freshman Standouts Define Opening Week as 2026 Draft Buzz Surges

Early debuts plus high-profile endorsements are pushing the class to the center of 2026 draft talk.

Overview

AJ Dybantsa scored 21 points in BYU’s 71-66 win over Villanova in Las Vegas, reinforcing his No. 1 recruit billing.
Darryn Peterson put up 21 points in 22 minutes in Kansas’ opener, with Bill Self calling him the most talented freshman he has coached.
Cameron Boozer logged a double-double in Duke’s win over Texas, while North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson debuted with 22 points.
Arizona freshman Koa Peat opened with 30 points against defending champion Florida, highlighting the class’s top-end firepower.
Former NBA guard Jeff Teague said the first seven picks in 2026 might be freshmen, though observers note these are early, small-sample impressions.