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How the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Early March Consensus Big Board Impacts Pacers

The second week of March has arrived, which means there’s no better time to dive into the latest NBA Draft big boards and see how draft experts are ranking the top prospects in the 2026 class.

To get a clearer picture of the landscape, I pulled rankings from six different draft outlets: Jeremy Woo at ESPN,No Ceilings, Sam Vecenie ofThe Athletic,Tankathon, Matt Babcock ofBabcock HoopsandNBA Draft Room.

By combining the data from each site, I averaged their rankings to create a consensus lottery big board, offering a broader snapshot of how evaluators currently view the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Consensus Lottery Big Board

1). Darryn Peterson | Guard | Kansas - (Overall Ranking: 1.3)

peterson

Mar 3, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

No. 1 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Darryn Peterson

Tankathon - Cameron Boozer

ESPN - Darryn Peterson

Babcock Hoops - Darryn Peterson

NBA Draft Room - Darryn Peterson

Sam Vecenie - AJ Dybantsa

Darryn Peterson Rankings:

No Ceilings - 1st overall

Tankathon - 2nd overall

ESPN - 1st overall

Babcock Hoops - 1st overall

NBA Draft Room - 1st overall

Sam Vecenie - 2nd overall

At 6-foot-6, Darryn Peterson is a three-level scorer who can make it rain from anywhere on the court. He is one of the most polished guard prospects that scouts have seen in quite sometime and has the skills to become a franchise cornerstone for whatever team drafts him.

2). AJ Dybantsa | Forward | BYU - (Overall Ranking: 2.1)

dybantsa

Feb 14, 2026; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images | Aaron Baker-Imagn Images

No. 2 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Cameron Boozer

Tankathon- Darryn Peterson

ESPN - AJ Dybantsa

Babcock Hoops - AJ Dybantsa

NBA Draft Room - AJ Dybantsa

Sam Vecenie - Darryn Peterson

AJ Dybantsa Rankings:

No Ceilings - 3rd overall

Tankathon - 3rd overall

ESPN - 2nd overall

Babcock Hoops - 2nd overall

NBA Draft Room - 2nd overall

Sam Vecenie - 1st overall

At 6-foot-9, Dybantsa is the positional size small forward every team dreams of drafting. He can score at all three levels and impacts winning in a variety of ways. He can make tough shots, but that also comes with questionable shot selection. Dybantsa is a natural leader who has a high motor and a relentless work ethic.

3). Cameron Boozer | Forward | Duke - (Overall Ranking: 2.5)

Boozer

Feb 24, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) drives as Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Cole Certa (5) defends during the second half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

No. 3 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - AJ Dybantsa

Tankathon - AJ Dybantsa

ESPN - Cameron Boozer

Babcock Hoops - Cameron Boozer

NBA Draft Room - Cameron Boozer

Sam Vecenie - Cameron Boozer

Cameron Boozer Rankings:

No Ceilings - 2nd overall

Tankathon - 2nd overall

ESPN - 3rd overall

Babcock Hoops - 3rd overall

NBA Draft Room - 3rd overall

Sam Vecenie - 3rd overall

Boozer is as polished as they come, and he's only eighteen years old. His ability score from all three levels combined with his elite rebounding makes him the best big man in the upcoming draft. Boozer's ceiling might not be as high as Peterson's or Dybantsa's, but his floor his easily higher than both.

4). Caleb Wilson | Forward | North Carolina - (Overall Ranking: 4.0)

caleb wilson

Feb 7, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball as Duke Blue Devils forward Maliq Brown (6) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

No. 4 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Caleb Wilson

Tankathon - Caleb Wilson

ESPN - Caleb Wilson

Babcock Hoops - Caleb Wilson

NBA Draft Room - Caleb Wilson

Sam Vecenie - Caleb WIlson

Caleb Wilson Rankings:

No Ceilings - 4th overall

Tankathon - 4th overall

ESPN - 4th overall

Babcock Hoops - 4th overall

NBA Draft Room - 4th overall

Sam Vecenie - 4th overall

As you can see, there is zero doubt where Wilson lands in the upcoming draft. At least for now. Wilson is clearly a special talent, but his ceiling is not high enough to crack the top three -- especially since he is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a broken thumb. He is a two-way forward, who has a high-motor. He runs the floor well, likes to play in transition, is a terrific rebounder, and has the abilities to grow into an all-around scorer.

5). Kingston Flemings | Guard | Houston - (Overall Ranking: 5.0)

Kingston

Mar 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars guard Kingston Flemings (4) looks to pass against the Baylor Bears in the first half at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

No. 5 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Kingston Flemings

Tankathon - Kingston Flemings

ESPN - Kingston Flemings

Babcock Hoops -Kingston Flemings

NBA Draft Room - Kingston Flemings

Sam Vecenie - Kingston Flemings

Kingston Flemings Rankings:

No Ceilings - 5th overall

Tankathon - 5th overall

ESPN - 5th overall

Babcock Hoops - 5th overall

NBA Draft Room - 5th overall

Sam Vecenie - 5th overall

Flemings is clearly the first player out of the consensus top four, but with Wilson being sidelined for the NCAA Tournament, a deep Houston run, with Flemings leading the way, could push him into the Top 4 category. With his quick burst, ability to score in the midrange and punish opponents in the pick-and-roll, Flemings is the "do-it-all" guard that teams fall in love with.

6). Keaton Wagler | Guard | Illinois - (Overall Ranking: 7.6)

wagler

Mar 3, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) drives the ball up court during the fist half against the Oregon Ducks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

No. 6 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Mikel Brown Jr.

Tankathon - Darius Acuff Jr.

ESPN - Keaton Wagler

Babcock Hoops - Darius Acuff Jr.

NBA Draft Room - Mikel Brown Jr.

Sam Vecenie - Jayden Quaintance

Keaton Wagler Rankings:

No Ceilings - 7th overall

Tankathon - 7th overall

ESPN - 6th overall

Babcock Hoops - 7th overall

NBA Draft Room - 8th overall

Sam Vecenie - 11th overall

Wagler is a bucket getter. He can put the ball in the basket with ease, and has a great feel for the game. Defensively, Wagler is solid, but will need to continue growing in that area. With a high basketball IQ, a knack for scoring, and length at the guard position, he will be a coveted prospect for teams in the 5-10 range.

7). Mikel Brown Jr. | Guard | Louisville - (Overall Ranking: 8.3)

mikel brown jr.

Dec 3, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr (0) shoots against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Malique Ewin (12) during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 89-80. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

No. 7 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Keaton Wagler

Tankathon - Keaton Wagler

ESPN - Nate Ament

Babcock Hoops - Keaton Wagler

NBA Draft Room - Darius Acuff Jr.

Sam Vecenie - Koa Peat

Mikel Brown Jr. Rankings:

No Ceilings - 6th overall

Tankathon - 8th overall

ESPN - 9th overall

Babcock Hoops - 11th overall

NBA Draft Room - 6th overall

Sam Vecenie - 10th overall

Brown Jr. will need to add size to be the most effective version of himself at the next level, but he is a smooth operator in the pick-and-roll, and has a silky shot. His ability to play off-ball showcases his versatility, especially standing at 6-foot-5, with capability to play the one or the two.

8). Darius Acuff Jr. | Guard | Arkansas - (Overall Ranking: 8.5)

acuff

Feb 28, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives the ball against Florida Gators guard Urban Klavzar (7) during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images | Travis Register-Imagn Images

No. 8 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Darius Acuff Jr.

Tankathon - Mikel Brown Jr.

ESPN - Darius Acuff Jr.

Babcock Hoops -Nate Ament

NBA Draft Room - Keaton Wagler

Sam Vecenie - Yaxel Lendeborg

Darius Acuff Jr. Rankings:

No Ceilings - 8th overall

Tankathon - 6th overall

ESPN - 8th overall

Babcock Hoops - 6th overall

NBA Draft Room - 7th overall

Sam Vecenie - 16th overall

If there is any player whose draft stock can rise by an extraordinary NCAA Tournament run, it's Acuff Jr. Darius is a top-level competitor who is also a score-first guard. He can get downhill, thrives in the pick-and-roll, and plays with a level of physicality that allows him to make up for 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame.

9). Nate Ament | Forward | Tennessee - (Overall Ranking: 10.8)

ament

Tennessee forward Nate Ament (10) dribbles the ball past Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. (0) during a NCAA basketball game between Tennessee and Alabama at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Feb. 28, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 9 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Brayden Burries

Tankathon - Nate Ament

ESPN - Mikel Brown Jr.

Babcock Hoops - Brayden Burries

NBA Draft Room - Hannes Steinbach

Sam Vecenie - Hanes Steinbach

Nate Ament Rankings:

No Ceilings - 10th overall

Tankathon - 9th overall

ESPN - 7th overall

Babcock Hoops - 8th overall

NBA Draft Room - 13th overall

Sam Vecenie - 18th overall

Ament is unpolished, but has a lot of upside. Standing tall at 6-foot-10, Ament has the positional size that teams are looking for, but he will need the proper development to take the flashes of success he's shown to a more consistent level. A flameout in the NCAA tournament could impact his stock if he underperform in the tournament, and if players below him have bigger standout moments.

10). Braylon Mullins | Forward | Connecticut - (Overall Ranking: 13.1)

mullins

Mar 7, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) during the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

No. 10 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Nate Ament

Tankathon - Hanes Steinbach

ESPN - Karim Lopez

Babcock Hoops - Labaron Philon Jr.

NBA Draft Room - Braylon Mullins

Sam Vecenie - Mikel Brown Jr.

Braylon Mullins Rankings:

No Ceilings - 13th overall

Tankathon - 11th overall

ESPN - 14th overall

Babcock Hoops - 14th overall

NBA Draft Room - 10th overall

Sam Vecenie - 17th overall

As is the case for many prospects, Mullins will need to add muscle at the next level, and improve his overall strength. That said, this is one of the best offensive wings in the draft. He shoots more threes than twos per game, and is connecting on 36.4% of them on 6.4 attempts per game. His feel offensively will translate to the next level, and his draft stock could rise as teams are looking for the next Kon Knueppel. Mullins is probably the closest thing to that.

11). Labaron Philon Jr. | Guard | Alabama - (Overall Ranking: 13.3)

philon

Mar 7, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. (0) enjoys a moment as Auburn calls a timeout at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated Auburn 96-84. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 11 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Yaxel Lendeborg

Tankathon - Braylon Mullins

ESPN - Thomas Haugh

Babcock Hoops - Mikel Brown Jr.

NBA Draft Room - Brayden Burries

Sam Vecenie - Keaton Wagler

Labaron Philon Jr. Rankings:

No Ceilings - 12th overall

Tankathon - 12th overall

ESPN - 21st overall

Babcock Hoops - 10th overall

NBA Draft Room - 12th overall

Sam Vecenie - 13th overall

On-ball defense. That is one of the many things that makes Philon Jr. such a gifted player. You attach that to his three-level scoring abilities and his high basketball IQ, he has all the makings of an elite guard. His frame is thin, but he can add the proper strength over time, and doesn't use it as an excuse. Rebounds well for his size and position and has strong court vision, but can be turnover-prone. His player comparisons have ranged from Rajon Rondo, T.J. McConnell, and Jrue Holiday.

12). Yaxel Lendeborg | Forward | Michigan - (Overall Ranking: 13.3)

lendeborg

Mar 8, 2026; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

No. 12 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Labaron Philon Jr.

Tankathon - Labaron Philon Jr.

ESPN - Yaxel Lendeborg

Babcock Hoops - Koa Peat

NBA Draft Room - Labaron Philon Jr.

Sam Vecenie - Thomas Haugh

Yaxel Lendeborg Rankings:

No Ceilings - 11th overall

Tankathon - 13th overall

ESPN - 12th overall

Babcock Hoops - 20th overall

NBA Draft Room - 16th overall

Sam Vecenie - 8th overall

Lendeborg will be 24 by the start of next season, which could ultimately lead to a fall from 12. He's a playmaking big who has helped lead Michigan to one of the best records in all of college basketball. He's shooting 65.2% on his twos, but is a low-attempt three-point shooter. Solid defensive player that uses his wingspan and basketball smarts to impact on that end of the floor.

13). Hannes Steinbach | Center | Washington - (Overall Ranking: 13.5)

steinbach

Mar 7, 2026; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Washington Huskies forward Hannes Steinbach (6) dribbles the ball after a rebound during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

No. 13 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Braylon Mullins

Tankathon - Yaxel Lendeborg

ESPN - Hannes Steinbach

Babcock Hoops - Karim Lopez

NBA Draft Room - Nate Ament

Sam Vecenie - Labaron Philon Jr.

Hannes Steinbach Rankings:

No Ceilings - 23rd overall

Tankathon - 10th overall

ESPN - 13th overall

Babcock Hoops - 17th overall

NBA Draft Room - 9th overall

Sam Vecenie - 9th overall

Steinbach is a polished big man, with a strong low post presence. Averaging a double-double this season of 18.6 points per game and 11.6 rebounds, his size will be useful in the NBA, as positional size continues to be coveted. While he is shooting 35.6% from three this season, it is only on 1.6 attempts per game. He is more of a traditional big who is best at the rim. Defensively, he can protect the rim, but struggles to guard in space. At twenty-years-old, adjusting to the speed of the game will be key if he wants to succeed at the highest level.

14). Brayden Burries | Guard | Arizona - (Overall Ranking: 15.5)

burries

Jan 31, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

No. 14 Overall Rankings:

No Ceilings - Jayden Quaintance

Tankathon - Brayden Burries

ESPN - Braylon Mullins

Babcock Hoops - Braylon Mullins

NBA Draft Room - Karim Lopez

Sam Vecenie - Patrick Ngongba II

Brayden Burries Rankings:

No Ceilings - 9th overall

Tankathon - 14th overall

ESPN - 17th overall

Babcock Hoops - 9th overall

NBA Draft Room - 11th overall

Sam Vecenie - 33rd overall

Burries has shown strengths on both sides of the ball this season. His level of maturity for his age is notable, and when paired with his confidence, it leads to the utmost success. With the ability to score at all three levels and his toughness, Burries could be a riser on draft night.

Honorable Mentions

15). Jayden Quaintance | Center | Kentucky

Quaintance was ranked as high as 6th by Sam Vecenie, and as low as 34th by NBA Draft Room. His overall ranking came out to 17.6.

16). Karim Lopez | Forward | New Zealand

Lopez was ranked as high as 10th by ESPN, and as low as 26th by Sam Vecenie. His overall ranking came out to 18.5.

Final Thoughts

NBA draft rankings will continue to shift multiple times before late June, and the influence of the NCAA Tournament on player evaluations is very real. A poor performance on college basketball’s biggest stage can hurt a prospect’s stock, while a breakout run can quickly send a player rising up draft boards.

The top three prospects in the class feel relatively locked in, with Caleb Wilson widely viewed as the clear No. 4 option. However, anything beyond the fifth spot could see significant movement as teams continue evaluating what many consider to be one of the strongest draft classes in recent years.

You can follow me on X@AlexGoldenNBA and listen to my daily podcast, Setting The Pace, wherever you get your podcasts.

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