The 2026 NBA Draft class is unlike the many recent ones in that, atop it, there are multiple highly productive NCAA prospects who could become the No. 1 pick.
Beyond the creme of the crop, the feel of this class remains heavily dominated by college players.
Locally, there are six Arizona Wildcats listed in Jeremy Woo’s top 100 list that was updated Monday on ESPN.
No. 8 – PF Koa Peat
No. 32 – F Dwayne Aristode
No. 41 – G Brayden Burries
No. 49 – C Motiejus Krivas
No. 52 – F Ivan Kharchenkov
No. 100 – PG Jaden Bradley
Peat was on the radar as a high-profile recruit and regular on the Under-19 squad for Team USA, but his 30-point debut against a No. 3 Florida team with a couple NBA prospects guarding him brought more attention to his stock.
It made clear that head coach Tommy Lloyd is going to operate the offense in the freshman big’s hands. Writes Woo:
He’s mobile, active and has a well-developed identity as a player already, and it appears he’ll have a chance to shoulder the offensive load for Arizona.
It’s easy to appreciate the winning things Peat does, but the questions here have centered more around his upside — he’s physically mature and doesn’t shoot consistently from 3 yet, which scouts view as the biggest swing skill that would open up his game long-term. He appears set for a huge season, and while his appeal to lottery teams could be more fit-dependent, Peat’s workmanlike approach to winning games makes him easy to appreciate.
Peat is averaging 24 points, five rebounds and four assists on 68% shooting through wins over Florida and Utah Tech.
While chances are his build and physicality could make him among the most productive players in the country, several other freshmen have more NBA-appropriate ceilings in the view of evaluators.
Woo has Kansas guard Darryn Peterson atop his list of prospects due to his athleticism, natural scoring abilities and defensive upside.
Peterson has lately appeared to leapfrog widely regarded top prospect A.J. Dybantsa of BYU.
Both wings have an edge on Duke forward Cameron Boozer, who is a dark horse in the No. 1 pick race.
Arizona’s 2026 NBA Draft prospects through 2 games
Peat is joined on Woo’s list by the rest of Arizona’s starters, including Bradley, who is averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals over the pair of wins. His late second-half scoring helped lift Arizona past Florida in the season opener.
Burries has been relatively quiet with foul trouble and then turnovers hampering him in separate outings, but he did find 16 shots Friday against Utah Tech, a sign the Wildcats are expected to give him the green light offensively as well.
Kharchenkov has flashed offensive skills — but not much production — in a pro-ready frame on the wing, while Aristode is coming off the bench. Despite limited playing time so far, he possesses a prototypical skillset of an NBA 3-and-D wing.
Krivas has struggled to get out of the gates after injury zapped his 2024-25 season. His size at 7-foot-2 has stood out alongside improved mobility this year, but foul trouble (nine personals in just 43 minutes played) has limited his playing time and his numbers with that (six points and six rebounds per game).
Former Arizona and ASU players made Jeremy Woo’s top 100 NBA Draft prospects list
Woo’s list also includes some familiar faces.
Wildcat transfers Henri Veesaar (North Carolina, No. 46), Kylan Boswell (Illinois, No. 75) and KJ Lewis (Georgetown, No. 99) made the cut.
And former Arizona State center Jayden Quaintance, who is still recovering from an ACL tear as a member of the Kentucky Wildcats, is ranked No. 9 on the big board.