The potential No. 1 NBA draft picks who will define the NCAA Tournament

Duke's Cameron Boozer, Brigham Young’s AJ Dybantsa, and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson are all vying to be the No. 1 pick. Here's why they will define the NCAA Tournament.

In most years, men’s college basketball would be lucky to have one transcendent star, a player who could both carry his team during the NCAA Tournament and be a hyped professional prospect.

In 2026, there are three: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Brigham Young’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer.

The trio have been jockeying for position at the top of NBA draft boards all year while also having impactful seasons for their schools. All three play for teams that have legitimate Final Four hopes, with Duke and Kansas earning the first and fourth seeds in the East, while BYU is the sixth seed in the West.

So how have Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer fared this season? And what makes them such great NBA prospects? Let’s dive into each player.

First tournament game: 9:45 p.m. ET Friday vs. California Baptist