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.