2026 NBA Mock Draft: ESPN releases first projections following 2025 picks

There were 59 selections made last night, with several signings coming since, to finish off the 2025 NBA Draft. Now, the morning after, experts and analysts are already looking ahead to a much-anticipated class for the 2026 NBA Draft.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony released his first mock for 2026 with a Top 10 in an article on Friday. Then, from No. 11 through No. 60, Givony released a big board for the remaining prospects.

The early talking point for this class is how many prospects are making a case to be the No. 1 overall pick in ’26. Givony had four under consideration, all from this year’s incoming recruiting class, in BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, and Tennesse’s Nate Ament with them making up No. 1 through 4 in On3’s Industry Ranking.

They’ve been competing with and separating from one another for years now. And now, they’re off to college to play their freshman seasons and see who ends up being the top prospect in the class come June of next year.

As for programs, Duke leads the way with five more projected selections, two being in the Top 10, in 2026. Florida, Houston, Michigan, and Illinois then tie at second with three apiece, while 10 other programs have two projected picks each.

Here’s a very early look at the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Givony at ESPN:

1. Washington Wizards: G Darryn Peterson – Kansas Jayhawks

The No. 1 overall pick for Givony, headed to the Washington Wizards, is Darryn Peterson. Peterson, the No. 2 overall recruit per On3, is going into his freshman season where he should be the focal point for what they do this year in Lawrence, as the program’s top-rated recruit since getting Josh Jackson in 2016.

Peterson already has much in his game, namely as a scorer, along with “size, length, explosiveness” among others. Now, being the top guard for the Jayhawks is what Givony has as a separating factor with what he’ll be able to put on display this year at Allen Fieldhouse.

2. Utah Jazz: F A.J. Dybantsa – BYU Cougars

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall recruit per On3, then comes in at No. 2 for Givony, which would keep him in the state of Utah past college and into the pros with that pick projected to the Jazz. He’ll be playing in Provo this season as the highest-ranked recruit in the history of the school at Brigham Young.

Like Peterson, Dybantsa is going to have the role and opportunity with the Cougars to prove that he’s just as worthy as going No. 1 overall. He might be even more so with his pro-ready frame as “every NBA team is searching for 6-9 wings in Dybantsa’s mold who can score from anywhere, pass on the move and defend multiple positions,” writes Givony.

3. Brooklyn Nets: PF Cameron Boozer – Duke Blue Devils

Cameron Boozer is projected as the next freshman force to play in Durham. Still, he, at this point, finds himself at No. 3 for Givony in going to the Brooklyn Nets.

There’s little question currently of how productive Boozer can be with his skill set, having “an elite feel for the game, and can handle, pass, shoot and guard every position,” says Givony. That’s a high floor to work with, starting out in college as another top projected pick for the Blue Devils.

4. Charlotte Hornets: F Nate Ament – Tennessee Volunteers

At No. 4, Givony has another potential top prospect with Ament headed to the Charlotte Hornets. That’s ahead of his freshman season on Rocky Top as one of the Volunteers’ highest-ranked recruits in school history.

Ament, “a late bloomer,” has trended upward in his recruiting class and now in his draft class as he comes into college, as he’s “a tremendous shotmaker, has improved his passing and defensive versatility” which, when paired with his size, gives him “perhaps the highest upside of any prospect in this class” wrote Givony. That’ll be on full display in Knoxville as the center of what they do this season at Tennessee.

5. Sacramento Kings: PG Mikel Brown Jr. – Louisville Cardinals

Rounding out the top five is Mikel Brown Jr., a Top 10 recruit himself and the No. 1 PG in the class, going to the Sacramento Kings. That comes ahead of his freshman year at Louisville as one of the highest-rated signees for the program in recent history.

Brown leans more as your scoring point guard, rather than the playmaking one for now, having “shown dynamic scoring instincts and talent as a ball handler, passer and outside shooter” while being “inconsistent as a finisher, defender and decision-maker,” writes Givony. However, he’ll be able to develop further and justify this slot, with the ball in his hands for the Cardinals.

6. Memphis Grizzlies (via Phoenix Suns): F Jayden Quaintance – Kentucky Wildcats

The first non-freshman in this mock by Givony, despite being just as young, having reclassified himself, is Jayden Quaintance at No. 6 to the Memphis Grizzlies. He went on to average 9.4 points (52.5% FG), 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game as an All-Defensive and All-Freshman selection in the Big 12 at Arizona State before transferring to Kentucky.

Quaintance is a sizeable defensive prospect, having “a chiseled frame, huge hands, a 7-foot-5 wingspan and (being) exceptionally mobile,” wrote Givony. That said, coming off a torn ACL in February before having surgery on it to start April, his recovery in Lexington will be monitored, especially when it comes to his stock in next year’s draft.

7. Chicago Bulls: F Karim Lopez – New Zealand Breakers (NBL)

Karim Lopez, the No. 9 overall recruit in On3’s Ranking in 2025, is coming off the first season of a two-year deal as part of the NBL Next Stars program. There, he averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds this past season with the New Zealand Breakers. Now, after another year of development, Givony has him going at No. 7 overall to the Chicago Bulls.

“Lopez had an outstanding season with the New Zealand Breakers as part of the NBL Next Star program, showing significant improvement with his outside shooting. At 6-foot-9, he has guard skills, and the physicality and motor needed to defend big men,” Givony wrote. “Scouts are excited to see his potential progress in his second season in the Australian league, where he’ll likely be asked to step into a bigger role.”

8. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans): F Caleb Wilson – North Carolina Tar Heels

Another Top 10 freshman in this class found his way into the Top 10 of this mock, Wilson is projected to go at No. 8 overall to the Atlanta Hawks, via a trade from Wednesday night with the Pelicans. That’s ahead of his freshman season at UNC, with him looking to end a recent skid when it comes to the program in the NBA Draft.

Wilson is the prototype for a forward option at the next level with “outstanding frame, length and developing two-way versatility” and “attributes you can’t teach (being) loaded with long-term upside,” writes Givony. He’ll get a lot of chances to prove all of that, too, and be a Top 10 pick coming out of this year spent in Chapel Hill.

9. Memphis Grizzlies: G Dame Sarr – Duke Blue Devils

Dame Sarr is the second player in the Top 10, of the five in total, for Duke and is the second selection in this Top 10 by the Memphis Grizzlies. Now, with him being one of the latest additions to this year’s roster for the Blue Devils, having come over from Italy after playing professionally with FC Barcelona, Sarr could work his way this high into next year’s draft class.

“The 6-foot-8 wing is a versatile defender who has shown intriguing flashes as a perimeter shooter, passer and shot creator in the Euroleague and ACB last year, but is still unpolished in several areas, including his decision-making,” Givony wrote.

10. Miami Heat: G Dash Daniels – Melbourne United (NBL)

Finally, rounding out the Top 10 for the Miami Heat is another international name from the NBL with Dash Daniels, the brother of another former lottery pick in Dyson Daniels (G-League Ignite – Atlanta Hawks). Givony has him projecting very similarly to his sibling in the league, certainly defensively, upon eventually getting into the association in next year’s draft.

“(Daniels) brings many of the same strengths and weaknesses as his brother but is bigger, stronger and longer at the same age, which won’t hurt his NBA projection,” Givony wrote. “Similar to his brother, he’s an outstanding defender and a work in progress as a ball handler, shooter and scorer, but he has a strong feel for the game, and plays with pace and unselfishness. He appears to be making strides with his shooting, too, based on what he has shown this summer in the NBL1 league with the Sandringham Sabres. 

Remaining Big Board for 2026 NBA Draft

11. Houston F Chris Cenac Jr.
12. Arkansas PG Darius Acuff
13. Duke F Nikolas Khamenia
14. Michigan F Yaxel Lendeborg
15. Iowa PG Bennett Stirtz
16. Duke G/F Isaiah Evans
17. G Sergio De Larrea (Spain)
18. Arizona PF Koa Peat
19. Connecticut SG Braylon Mullins
20. Auburn PG Tahaad Pettiford
21. Houston C Joseph Tugler
22. Michigan C Aday Mara
23. Baylor F Tounde Yessoufou
24. Kansas State G Andrej Kostic
25. F Ognjen Srzentic (Mega Superbet – Serbia)
26. Washington F Hannes Steinbach
27. Arizona C Motiejus Krivas
28. Alabama G Labaron Philon
29. Florida PF Alex Condon
30. Purdue PG Braden Smith
31. Florida PG Boogie Fland
32. Arkansas F Karter Knox
33. Michigan PF Morez Johnson Jr.
34. St. John’s C Zuby Ejiofor
35. Connecticut F Alex Karaban
36. Texas F Dailyn Swain
37. Texas Tech PF JT Toppin
38. Duke C Patrick Ngongba II
39. San Diego State G Miles Byrd
40. Florida F Thomas Haugh
41. NC State F Darrion Williams
42. Oklahoma F Derrion Reid
43. Cincinnati C Moustapha Thiam
44. North Carolina C Henri Veesaar
45. Illinois F Andrej Stojakovic
46. Kentucky F Kam Williams
47. St. John’s G Ian Jackson
48. Illinois C Tomislav Ivisic
49. Texas A&M F Mackenzie Mgbako
50. Houston PG Milos Uzan
51. Washington G Wesley Yates III
52. Louisville G Ryan Conwell
53. Wisconsin C Nolan Winter
54. San Diego State C Magoon Gwath
55. Syracuse F Donnie Freeman
56. Kansas C Flory Bidunga
57. Oregon F Kwame Evans Jr.
58. Virginia Tech F Tobi Lawal
59. BYU G Richie Saunders
60. Illinois F Zvonimir Ivisic