Now that the 2026 NBA Draft is ahead and the 2025 NBA Draft is behind us, there are some relevant comparisons to have between several former freshman stars and several future freshman stars in college basketball. Last draft process, the conversations went from three prospects eyeing their ceiling as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to a consensus No. 1 pick by the end of the season in Duke forward Cooper Flagg. Now, there seems to be similar conservations being had about this top-three as well.
Comparing the 2025 and 2026 Draft: The Best Top-Three
Top 3 v. Top 3
Cooper Flagg v. Cameron Boozer
Comparing the future of the Duke’s basketball program to the past, Cameron Boozer will have similar expectations to win the ACC and bring home a national championship victory, which is something Flagg failed to do. However, Flagg is the reigning 2025 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year and No. 1 overall pick while Boozer, as of now, can only have hopes to capture those achievements.
As dominant as Flagg was in high school, Boozer has one of the most decorated high school resumes in history. Even with this, there’s no question Flagg had more hype as a more polished and versatile forward prospect. Both Flagg and Boozer are six-foot-nine. However, there is a reason one classifies as a forward and another classifies as a big man. That is how impressive Flagg’s traits were for his age. Reclassifying to the 2024 recruiting class, Flagg’s versatility at his size was undeniable.
Point for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Dylan Harper v. Darryn Peterson
Comparing the top combo guards in the 2024 and 2025 recruiting classes, Darryn Peterson is a better prospect in all facets of the game entering this point of their careers. Even alongside other No. 1 overall prospect-caliber talent, Peterson has slowly gained consistent traction as the prospect at the very top. Not only does Peterson have the hype as the favorite to be selected with the top pick next year, but he possesses superior physical tools and overall skill set to Dylan Harper.
Harper surpassed expectations in his freshman season with Rutgers. Before last season, his fellow freshman teammate Ace Bailey was projected as a better prospect. Instead, Harper improved in game action, developing into the consensus No. 2 prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft while Bailey’s draft stock only plummeted. However, the improvement many scouts saw doesn’t equate to the ability Peterson still has to show his potential this upcoming season.
Point for the 2026 NBA Draft.
VJ Edgecombe v. AJ Dybantsa
Finally, we can compare the two freakishly athletic prospects in each draft class. Whether it’s AJ Dybantsa‘s long and springy frame or VJ Edgecombe‘s punishing hops, these two prospects have undeniable natural-born gifts. After reclassifying to the 2025 recruiting class, Dybantsa’s hype is only rising and should continue to do so. Taking a similar approach to Flagg isn’t a bad idea either.
Edgecombe set the tone for his season in Baylor’s opening game with a destructive poster dunk. As the season went on, he continued making those types of plays, displaying his all-around versatility and catapulting his draft stock into the top-three. However, Dybantsa’s improved handle and elite-level potential gives him the edge over Edgecombe. His unequivocal talent can’t compare to many others.
Point for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Appreciating the Future
There’s nothing wrong comparing the great NBA draft prospects of the past to those of the future. Recently, the NBA Draft has seen prospects like Victor Wembanyama and Flagg and the draft will continue to see future prospects like Peterson, Dybantsa, and Boozer defy the odds on how elite a draft class can be. 2027 NBA Draft prospect Tyran Stokes has already put the NBA draft world on notice too as he expects to be comparable to the top current and past prospects.
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