For quite a long time now, Kansas Jayhawks freshman guard Darryn Peterson has been considered the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but that thought may be shifting in favor of BYU Cougars freshman forward AJ Dybantsa.
As Peterson has struggled to play consistently this season with injury issues while Dybantsa leads the country in points per game (24.8), three notable mock drafts released this week all have Dybantsa going No. 1, ahead of Peterson.
“Dybantsa continues to make his case for No. 1,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote. “He might have better physical tools entering his pre-draft year than any wing I’ve seen in a while. His ability to play with serious bend mixed with explosiveness allows him to consistently get into the teeth of the defense as a straight-line driver. In transition, he’s a menace. NBA scouts see that production mixed with upside as he continues to improve his skill set.”
Vecenie further wrote, “Teams are generally torn on who should go No. 1, with Dybantsa, Peterson and (Duke freshman forward Cam) Boozer all in contention. Peterson and Dybantsa, however, are the two most talked about options.”
Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, meanwhile, released a mock draft on X Thursday that has Dybantsa at No. 1, and wrote, “After talking to nearly a dozen NBA execs, here’s a mock first-round board. Many NBA execs are torn right now on the No. 1 pick.”
Finally, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote this week, “For the first time this season, Darryn Peterson has fallen from our projected No. 1 spot in the 2026 NBA draft. There still isn’t a consensus answer for who’s the top prospect is, but the support for AJ Dybantsa continues to grow.”
Later Wasserman wrote, “There are still believers and support for Darryn Peterson at No. 1. But right now with AJ Dybantsa, there is equal excitement over his trajectory and in-season development—and less perceived risk or questions. ...Dropping Peterson from the top spot isn’t even about the cramping or tapping out of games. Watching the tape, Dybantsa has just been able to create easier shots for himself and teammates.
“Dybantsa right now looks like the safer choice, which could be important enough to sway a general manager when it’s such a heated debate at No. 1.”
All of this comes as Dybantsa told the Deseret News’ Deseret Voices podcast a common refrain this time of year among top college prospects: That him leaving college for the NBA after this season isn’t a guarantee.
“Well, I might not leave … like, I might not leave college,” Dybantsa said in regard to whether he thinks he’ll be the No. 1 pick in this summer’s draft.