The 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to be an exceptional class, with the top three prospects - AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer - still leading the pack. However, the depth of this draft class has exceeded expectations, with point guard prospects and freshmen showcasing impressive skills. The freshmen class includes standout performers like Illinois' Keaton Wagler, Washington's Hannes Steinbach, Alabama's Amari Allen, and Iowa State's Killyan Toure, who have shown one-and-done upside. The sophomore class has also been strong, with Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner and Alabama's Labaron Philon making significant improvements in the SEC, and Duke center Patrick Ngongba finally getting healthy to showcase his immense talent. This draft class is one of the best in the last decade and might be the best, depending on how conference play goes. There's value to be found all over the place if most of these players stay in the draft, but it's always a question given the riches being offered by college basketball in the name, image, and likeness era. In that vein, to make this draft resemble the NBA Draft prospect pool in the NIL era, the author implemented some rules for the top 100 prospects: freshmen are not ranked outside the top 40, and underclassmen are not ranked outside the top 70. The author also discusses the impact of Peterson's injury on his draft stock and the potential of Iowa State's players, including Joshua Jefferson, Killyan Toure, Tamin Lipsey, and Milan Momcilovic. The article concludes with a bullish outlook on Iowa State's players and a discussion of the point guard class, which looks terrific.
