At the start of the men’s college basketball season, the soft consensus among NBA front office personnel was that Darryn Peterson had the edge on AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Dybantsa was considered a hair ahead of Boozer based on perceived long-term upside while Boozer offered a more substantial floor. Peterson offered the best combination of both. But each of these freshmen are considered legitimate No. 1-quality prospects; they just happen to be in the same class. After a historically strong start from Boozer and massive performances by Dybantsa -- coupled with a hamstring injury that waylaid the start of Peterson’s season and has lingered in...
