With the NCAA Nationwide Participant of the 12 months race all however wrapped up in favor of Duke’s freshman phenom Cameron Boozer, the bi-weekly NPOY Ladder will now shift right into a Prime Prospect Tracker, rounding up the highest performances of the very best school gamers which are anticipated to enter the upcoming NBA Draft in June.
The main trio of Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and AJ Dybantsa will probably be featured on the tracker for its period, whereas the fourth and fifth spots could also be extra up for grabs relying on how the efficiency of different gamers throughout the nation impacts their respective draft inventory.
The 5
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Out of respect, the inaugural tracker suggestions off with the man who is nearly definitely going to stroll away from his lone collegiate season with a mantle of varied Nationwide Participant of the 12 months trophies. Cameron Boozer scored seven consecutive Duke factors within the closing minutes of the Blue Devils’ win over No. 1 Michigan on Saturday in an 18-point effort, and he was much more spectacular towards Notre Dame on Tuesday. In a 100-56 win over the Preventing Irish in South Bend, Boozer tallied 24 factors and 9 rebounds en path to handing Notre Dame its worst house loss in 128 years.
Cameron Boozer’s stat line within the first half is nearly the identical as the whole Notre Dame workforce 😮 pic.twitter.com/0dknhR88yf
— ESPN (@espn) February 25, 2026
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Darryn Peterson continues to be prone to be the No. 1 total decide when the Draft lastly does come round in June, however the current narrative surrounding his record of illnesses and perceived lack of want to be on the court docket along with his teammates has reportedly led to some chilly toes relating to his efficacy as the highest decide in league circles. Peterson was largely a non-factor in Kansas’ 84-68 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday, the worst house lack of the Invoice Self period, scoring 17 factors on an unimpressive 7-of-17 capturing (1-of-7 from 3-point vary). He wasn’t a lot better towards No. 5 Houston on Monday, scoring simply 14 factors on 5-of-14 capturing whereas once more fighting a 1-of-7 efficiency from past the arc. Thankfully, Kansas collectively did sufficient at hand the Cougs a shocking third straight loss.
“We simply don’t see guards like this.”@BillSimmons and @jkylemann on why Darryn Peterson’s capability to assault the basket and shoot make him a prime prospect. pic.twitter.com/hjLO6y2aWg
— The Ringer (@ringer) February 25, 2026
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
AJ Dybantsa has been doing nearly every part he can do to maintain BYU afloat, however the stark actuality of the Cougs’ scenario is that they’ve now misplaced 7 of their final 11 video games in Massive 12 play and are shortly wanting like a workforce that might be fortunate simply to advance previous the primary spherical of the NCAA Match. Nonetheless, Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring at 25.1 factors per recreation total and has averaged 30.4 factors per recreation throughout his final seven video games. As a workforce, BYU could also be in a free fall, however with Peterson’s current shortcomings, Dybantsa could also be in pretty much as good of a place to be the highest decide as he has been all season.
Video games with 25+ factors this season:
AJ Dybantsa = 13Darryn Peterson + Cam Boozer = 13 pic.twitter.com/NUdLpKc1Ze
— Underdog (@Underdog) February 25, 2026
Kingston Flemings, Houston
Freshman Kingston Flemings has emerged as the very best participant on a Houston workforce that returned three starters from final yr’s nationwide runner-up and added a fellow freshman in Chris Cenac, who was a higher-rated recruit than Flemings throughout the board. Whereas Houston has technically misplaced three video games in a row, Iowa State and Arizona had been each ranked within the prime six, and Kansas can play like the very best or worst workforce within the Massive 12 on any given night time. Flemings was stable in all three video games, nonetheless, and averaged 18.3 factors, 5 rebounds, and three.3 assists per recreation. Houston will get three of the worst groups within the convention (Colorado, Baylor, Oklahoma State) to shut its schedule, so Flemings has alternative to proceed placing up good numbers whereas the Cougs discover their approach again to the win column.
Kingston Flemings makes the sport look straightforward 🥶
(Through @tyler_rucker 🎥)
pic.twitter.com/huulD9A77k
— Gamers Period (@Players_Era) February 24, 2026
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
We knew Darius Acuff Jr. was a excessive lottery-level expertise all season lengthy, however his efficiency in current weeks has him rising up mock draft boards as we method March. Plus, if we all know something about how John Calipari’s guards perform on the NBA stage, Acuff Jr. is basically a can’t-miss participant in a category that’s seemingly stuffed with them. He impressed with 20 factors, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in a 94-86 win over Mizzou on Saturday, however his most spectacular efficiency of the week was really a 49-point endurance effort within the Razorbacks’ 2OT loss at Alabama final Wednesday. Acuff Jr. made 16-of-27 makes an attempt from the sector in what was a surefire recreation of the yr contender, draining six of his 10 makes an attempt from 3-point vary within the effort.
Darius Acuff Jr. with an ALL-TIME efficiency towards No. 25 Alabama 🔥
🏀 49 PTS in 50 MIN🏀 5 REB🏀 5 AST
A defensive nightmare 😤 pic.twitter.com/Jxpq4K7qXs
— ESPN (@espn) February 19, 2026
