Overview
- The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie places Kansas guard Darryn Peterson No. 1 with AJ Dybantsa No. 2 and Cameron Boozer No. 3, reporting a preseason consensus in that order.
- ESPN’s initial big board from Jeremy Woo also slots Boozer third behind Peterson and Dybantsa, reinforcing an early agreement on the top names.
- Early results boosted their cases as Peterson opened with 21 points vs. Green Bay and 22 at North Carolina, and Dybantsa delivered 21 points and six rebounds in BYU’s win over Villanova.
- Boozer’s preseason showings included 33 points, 12 rebounds and four assists vs. UCF, followed by 24 points, 23 rebounds and six assists vs. Tennessee, drawing strong scouting attention.
- Evaluators describe sharp uncertainty beyond the top tier, with divergent boards after the mid-lottery and Vecenie noting the 2026 class could prompt more late-season positioning given concerns about 2027.