Headlined by a few prospects with All-Star upside, the 2026 NBA Draft could be one that fans look back on in 10 years, thinking that it’s among the best of all-time. However, it seems to be establishing a pattern. Since 2020, every other draft class has been devoid of a consensus No. 1 pick, leading to widespread speculation about how the top of the draft will shake out. To that point, BYU Cougars freshman AJ Dybantsa was the projected No. 1 pick up until a few months ago but that all changed when scouts started honing in on Kansas Jayhawks freshman Darryn Peterson.
Ranking The 2026 NBA Draft’s Lottery-Bound Freshman Point Guards
Unexpectedly, Peterson’s not just in danger of not being the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft due to Dybantsa or Duke Blue Devils freshman Cam Boozer snatching his chain. Him being in and out of the lineup all season is starting to become a glaring issue. Frankly, one has to ask whether Peterson’s stock is shaky enough for teams to pick another point guard over him, not just Dybantsa or Boozer.
With that in mind, it’s worth comparing the four freshmen point guards who are expected to be drafted in the lottery (between picks 1-14). Is Peterson really the cream of the crop, or is there another ball-handler that needs to be the top choice?
