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 High Prospect Tracker, rounding up the highest performances of the very best faculty gamers which are anticipated to enter the upcoming NBA Draft in June.
The main trio of Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and AJ Dybantsa might 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 sort of actually 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 sort of the identical as all the Notre Dame staff 😮 pic.twitter.com/0dknhR88yf
— ESPN (@espn) February 25, 2026
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Darryn Peterson continues to be more likely to be the No. 1 general choose when the Draft lastly does come round in June, however the latest narrative surrounding his checklist of illnesses and perceived lack of need to be on the courtroom together with his teammates has reportedly led to some chilly ft concerning his efficacy as the highest choose 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 significantly better towards No. 5 Houston on Monday, scoring simply 14 factors on 5-of-14 capturing whereas once more scuffling with a 1-of-7 efficiency from past the arc. Luckily, 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 means to assault the basket and shoot make him a high prospect. pic.twitter.com/hjLO6y2aWg
— The Ringer (@ringer) February 25, 2026
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
AJ Dybantsa has been doing nearly all the pieces he can do to maintain BYU afloat, however the stark actuality of the Cougs’ state of affairs is that they’ve now misplaced 7 of their final 11 video games in Huge 12 play and are rapidly trying like a staff that might be fortunate simply to advance previous the primary spherical of the NCAA Event. Nonetheless, Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring at 25.1 factors per sport general and has averaged 30.4 factors per sport throughout his final seven video games. As a staff, BYU could also be in a free fall, however with Peterson’s latest shortcomings, Dybantsa could also be in nearly as good of a place to be the highest choose 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 staff 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 high six, and Kansas can play like the very best or worst staff within the Huge 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 sport. Houston will get three of the worst groups within the convention (Colorado, Baylor, Oklahoma State) to shut its schedule, so Flemings has an excellent 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 latest weeks has him rising up mock draft boards as we strategy March. Plus, if we all know something about how John Calipari’s guards operate on the NBA degree, Acuff Jr. is actually 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 sport 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
