All 30 NBA teams have sent representatives to the Big 12 tournament, with many lead decision-makers in attendance, as the 2026 draft class continues to generate extraordinary buzz across the league. The concentration of elite freshman talent has prompted scouts to describe this year’s class in terms rarely applied to any single draft.
“We’re so interested in this draft because it’s so deep. There’s a lot of impact players,” an Eastern Conference scout said.
“And [the 2027] draft isn’t looking so good. You never know, there are players in every draft, but this year is like a double draft,” a West scout said.
The Big 12 tournament alone features a remarkable collection of top prospects, including potential No. 1 picks Darryn Peterson of Kansas and AJ Dybantsa of BYU, alongside Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac, and Arizona’s Brayden Burries and Koa Peat.
Peterson and Dybantsa remain the top two prospects on the majority of draft boards entering the postseason. With the NBA regular season in its final month, as many as eight teams are currently playing for draft positioning, a number that would likely be higher if more bottom-tier franchises controlled their own first-round selections.
The depth of the class offers genuine hope to rebuilding franchises beyond the lottery. The Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards collectively enter the offseason on a 15-year run without a playoff appearance, and scouts suggest that wherever those picks land, franchise-altering talent may be available.
The concept of an actual double draft was kicked around for several years when it appeared the NBA would again allow high school players to enter the NBA and forgo college altogether. Under that scenario, the best players from two age groups would enter the NBA in the same draft. There is no longer momentum for a change to the minimum age, particularly considering the amount of money many players now earn in college under NIL deals.