The J’s 2026 NBA Big Board

Peterson’s freshman season confirmed him as an uber-high-quality scorer with good size. At a closer look, though, it was a more rocky affair. Peterson’s NBA scout season was headlined by cramping, ominous DNPs, and a creatine overdose. Still, he is mocked safely in the top 3 because when he is on the court, the talent pops. DP averaged 20 points in only 29 minutes per game while also shooting 38% from three on nearly seven attempts a night. His prowess from deep, ability to get to the free throw line, and defensive tools make him a top-two talent in this class.

The optimist in me sees the things that Peterson can do at the next level. I see an opportunity for immediate impact on both ends from the moment he first steps on an NBA floor. Still, I also see availability issues from a 19-year-old. Was it a lack of commitment in Lawrence? Constant miscommunication with Bill Self? Or will Peterson also be sitting out on a Monday night against Charlotte on League Pass? If he were able to be on the court consistently, he would be my favourite prospect in this class; sadly, I can’t guarantee that in any sort of confidence.

Peterson struggled with turnovers while having abysmal passing numbers. Though, it is called a SHOOTING guard for a reason. Peterson’s motor isn’t an immense issue, but his athleticism pops considerably less than his high school tape from a year prior.

You don’t pass on special. Darius Acuff lit the college basketball world on fire during his freshman season in Arkansas and was the best scorer in the college world.

Acuff will be 19 years old upon his NBA debut. Also, his Arkansas coach John Calipari is known for his guard development. In his many years at the college level, he has coached Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Derrick Rose, John Wall and so many more.

Acuff is lethal from all three levels. While averaging 23.5 points and taking home the SEC player of the year, he shot 48% from the field. On nearly six three-point attempts per game, Acuff shot 44% from deep as the undisputed number one option. Acuff was not only in the 96th percentile on 3pt%, but he was also in the 91st percentile on creating shots at the rim. Even further, the kid from Detroit found endless ways to get his teammates involved, averaging 6.4 assists per game and placing in the 91st percentile on rim assists created. All of this combined to make Acuff the most offensively impactful player on the basis of OBPM (offensive box plus minus).

Acuff found some sceptics with his size, yet his 6’2″ frame was unexaggerated, as he measured at that exact mark without shoes.

Still, unlike the top three, there is a catch for Acuff. He was no help to the 60th-ranked Arkansas defense in 2026 as he struggled to defend. His size doesn’t help but also isn’t the main culprit. Acuff’s STOCK% (steal%+block%) of 2.2 and defensive tape make it clear as to why some have Acuff falling down their boards. Seriously, the freshman put up a 0 in the season-long measured defensive impact (DBPM), which ranked in the 9th percentile.

Darius Acuff is a wildly unique talent because he is simultaneously the best offensive talent and worst defensive talent. My point of discretion is that teaching Acuff to play defense at a league-average mark should be easier than teaching other prospects how to be a generational scorer.

Mikel Brown Jr is the perfect summation of the modern NBA’s point guard. He has a great frame at 6’5 and holds the speed and agility of a prospect 3+ inches shorter. Brown’s three-point diet of nearly 8 attempts per game while being an explosive dunker at the rim matches modern NBA standards. I’m taking a flyer by having Brown over some of his constituents, but I think he’s worth it. Even though he only played 21 games in college, the flashes of being an exceptional NBA guard were apparent. For Mikel, a tonne of his game exists on his frame and what the eye test has shown. Brown averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 34.4% from three.

Flemings poses an interesting question that we must answer: production or projection? What I mean by that is how do we weigh a player’s college statistics versus trying to guess the player they will become at the professional level? Kingston Flemings and Darryn Peterson were the only two who ranked in the top 95th percentile in offensive and defensive impact as freshman guards. The Houston freshman averaged 16.1 points and 5.2 assists while being one of the most impactful players in the nation on both sides of the ball. He will still only be 19 years old upon his NBA debut and, in my eyes, will outshine his 6’2″, 183 lb frame. Plus, point guards who can assist the ball without turning it over will always have a market in the league. My main gripe: his shot diet is heavily midrange-reliant. That plays poorly in a league that continues to stray away from anything of the sort.

Life’s short, so I’m taking the risk on Ebuka Okorie. Okorie played his entire season at Stanford at 18 years of age and averaged 23.2 points per game. The freshman was one of the most offensively lethal players in college basketball and did it all in a power conference. Okorie didn’t amaze with his 3.6 assists per game, but he also didn’t turn the ball over, averaging under 2 per game. There is obviously room to grow on the playmaking part of his game, but he has so much time to do so. Okorie shot 35.4% from three on nearly 10 attempts per game. Meanwhile, he made his money at the rim. The 99th percentile in unassisted dunks is all you need to know. No NBA GM will take Okorie this high because of his 6’1″ stature, but age and production SHOULD do all the talking.

Unlike a hefty proportion of this class, Keaton Wagler was not a blue-chip prospect, nor was he seen as someone who could’ve gone one-and-done. Yet, here we are. Wagler is a tall guard who will be 19 upon his NBA debut. During his lone season in Champaign, Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while leading the Illini to a Final Four. Wagler shot an unbelievable 39.7% from three on a whopping 11.2 attempts per game. It was that efficient shot-making from deep that put him in the 95th percentile for offensive impact. Wagler isn’t astonishing on defense, but his quality 6’5″ frame helped him be an above-average defender on the year. Wagler plays as a true combo guard who will need to work on playmaking and self-creation if he wants to be an on-ball guard at the next level. Still, Wagler is an impressive shotmaker with great size.

When the Arizona Wildcats were 23-0 to start their season, I was seemingly high on Brayden Burries as a prospect. Since then, my stock in him has fallen, but the tools are still there. Burries is a gadgety scorer who effectively finds holes in good defenses. To pair, he is an excellent defender for his size. Out of this lottery group I see Burries as having the lowest ceiling because of his pedestrian rim % and AST %. Still, the freshman shot 39.1% from three on nearly nine attempts per game. In a league that loves 3-D guards and wings, Burries should be malleable enough to fit in any NBA system.

At face value, Labaron Philon is a quality scorer at all levels of the floor. He plays with good offensive pace and shoots nearly 40% from three on over 10 attempts per game. All of this was on an Alabama team that had a successful regular season and eventually lost to the national champions in March. Deeper though, Philon’s 6’2″ frame and poor defense don’t bode well with a rough NBA combine performance. Philon’s lane agility, shuttle run, and vertical weren’t in the top half of the attending NBA prospects. His tape bears resemblance to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s in some ways but has a much less developed passing game and plenty of work to do with his around-the-rim efficiency. Philon could very well end up as a home-run prospect for any team that can limit his turnovers and maximise his offensive creation skills. Still, he lacks too many NBA tools to be considered a blue-chip prospect.

Stirtz is an incredible shooter and proven scorer. His ability to self-create and get himself open makes him an attractive piece to plug into an NBA system. Stirtz is nearing 23 years old and has a less than ideal build.

Carr’s stock skyrocketed during the NBA combine. Normally, I wouldn’t buy into the hype, but Carr showed good efficiency during his lone season in Waco. His build and scoring upside make him an intriguing project.