Week 1 of “[The Long Forecast](/nets-draft-rumors-news/102262/the-long-forecast-flemings-rises-dybantsa-shines-as-2026-nba-draft-board-takes-shape)” felt like dipping our toes into draft season. Now, one week later, it already feels like we’re in full swing. The college season is progressing, freshman roles are taking shape, and the [2026 draft board](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46661719/ranking-top-100-mens-college-basketball-players-2025-2026) is becoming clearer day by day.
Brooklyn enters this cycle with its own first-rounder and a pair of second-round picks, one locked in, the other tied to how the standings shake out.
If the Clippers continue to lose games and a few other bounces go the right way, that extra second-round pick could climb as high as No. 36. In that scenario, the Nets would be looking at three selections inside the top 36, a rare amount of early draft capital for a team that made five first-round selections last year.
Currently, Brooklyn, who doesn’t play again until Friday, holds the sixth-worst record in the league at 6-17.
To open his second season at Iowa State, Jefferson has come out scorching.
The Nevada native is averaging 17.6 points on 56.6% shooting, along with 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game, while hitting an eye-catching 45% from three.
At 6’8” and 22 years old, he’s an experienced, versatile wing who has a complete skillset. The 22-year-old is an elite playmaker with a high basketball IQ who would benefit significantly from improving his jump shot consistency.
Even as an older prospect, his blend of shooting and size makes him an easy fit as a young three-and-D piece within any NBA team’s system.
Last week, Yessoufou landed in the fallers section after struggling to generate any real offensive rhythm. One week later, he’s taken a noticeable step forward.
In each of his last two games, the 19-year-old has topped 20 points, and he went four-of-eight from three against Memphis, an encouraging sign in an area that had been an apparent concern to open up his freshman campaign
He’s still far from a finished product, and as I noted last week, his trajectory mirrors that of V.J. Edgecombe. Edgecombe, a top-five pick last year, also battled inconsistency as a college scorer but thrived defensively and saw his offensive game come together quickly at the NBA level.
Yessoufou profiles similarly: raw, but with the tools to grow.
After transferring from Arkansas to Florida rather than entering the 2025 NBA draft, Fland has sputtered through the first eight games of his sophomore season.
In 30.8 minutes per game, he’s averaging 12.5 points, 2.1 steals, and 2.3 assists, while shooting just 39.3% from the field and 25% from three.
As a second-year guard, he needed a statistical jump to build a legitimate lottery case. Instead, his size at 6’2” limits him defensively, and his struggles to create clean looks show up in both his efficiency and his modest assist numbers.
The good news: there’s still plenty of season left. It’s early, and Fland has more than enough time to turn things around.
Yes, the early hype around Amet is cooling. He entered his freshman year viewed as a blue-chip prospect, and the expectations for the Virginia native were high — expectations he hasn’t quite met yet.
Over his last five games, Amet has averaged 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, but he’s doing it on rough 31.1/33.3/82.8 shooting splits. At 6’10” and only 18 years old, his game is extremely raw. The tools and upside are apparent; the question now is whether he can translate them into consistent production on tape.
Still, there’s plenty of reason to believe his stock will trend back up. Raw, athletic freshmen often take time to adjust, and Amet fits that mold.
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson entered the season with legitimate No. 1 overall buzz, and through the early stretch of his college career, he’s lived up to that label and then some. The 6’5” guard arrived as one of the top recruits in the country, and his game has translated immediately against high-major competition.
Granted, he has only appeared in three games this season, but his hot start must garner attention as a freshman. Throughout 24.7 minutes, Peterson has put up 20 points per game on a blistering 53.8% from the field and 42.8% from three, coupled with 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks.
The 18-year-old is known for his relentless work ethic while being an elite three-point shooter with elite playmaking tools.
Don’t be surprised if you hear Peterson’s name called first in June… That is how special he is.
A freshman at Illinois, Wagler couldn’t have scripted a stronger start to his college career. He’s averaging 13.8 points on 42.2% shooting and 34.1% from three, along with 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
What really stands out is his control of the game. Wagler is committing just 1.1 turnovers per contest and has gone turnover-free in three of his last five outings, which is a rare level of poise for an 18-year-old.
At 6’6”, he profiles as an ideal sleeper in a loaded draft class due to his blend of size, strong decision-making, and efficiency. Those are three key traits NBA teams highly value within a prospect, and his age certainly helps that trend as well.
Bol-Bowen, now in his third college season and first under Nate Oats at Alabama, still profiles as a long-term developmental swing for NBA teams. Even with multiple years in the NCAA, his game remains raw, but the tools are undeniable.
At 6’10”, he brings length, athleticism, and intriguing touch, shooting an efficient 53.8% from the field. There’s always a market for size, shooting, and defensive versatility, which is why he remains on the radar as a potential second-round option.
To solidify that case, he’ll need to add strength, as he’s still just 195 pounds, and boost his overall production. The outlines of an NBA role player are there; however, the next step for him is to turn his upside into consistent production at the collegiate level.
Here is a list of games fans should tune into this week:
* Clemson vs. BYU: December 9, 6:30 p.m. tip-off. Look out for BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.
* Illinois vs. Ohio State: December 9, 7:30 p.m. tip-off. Look out for Illinois’ Keaton Wagler.
* Texas Tech vs. Arkansas: December 13, 12 p.m. tip-off. Look out for Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas.
* Kansas vs. NC State: December 13, 5:30 p.m. tip-off. Look out for Kansas’ Darryn Peterson.
* Arizona vs. Alabama: December 13, 9:30 p.m. tip-off. Look out for Alabama’s Taylor Bol-Bowen.
* Eastern Illinois vs. Ohio State: December 14, 1 p.m. tip-off. Look out for Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson.