2026 NBA DRAFT: PLAYERS WITH SUPERSTAR POTENTIAL

PLAYERS WITH SUPERSTAR POTENTIAL

I have previously profiled the role players that will be available in this class. Now it is time for the guys that have the potential to be franchise players. This class has three players that would be a lock to go first overall in most drafts. They are Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. The fourth best prospect Caleb Wilson also had superstar potential but is not lacks the offensive ability of the other three players.

AJ Dybantsa is the most polished scorer at as a college freshman since KD and Carmelo. He has a chance to become an elite scorer at the next level. He also has elite athletic ability and great size to play either forward spot.

Cameron Boozer won the Wooden and Naismith Awards and statistically is the best Duke one and done ever. From an analytics standpoint, he is the best earning a perfect offensive score via CraftedNBA. He looks like a surefire All Star forward in the Kevin Love and Blake Griffin form. 

Darryn Peterson is an amazing shooter and scorer that has an advanced offensive skill set. He has great size for a wing though some see him as a lead guard. He is a score first create second guard in the Bradley Beal/Joe Johnson mold. He could also be the number one pick.

Caleb Wilson actually may be the safest pick because of the intensity and drive that he has. He really has zero bust potential because at worst he should be a Kenyon Martin or Josh Smith type. He is an elite athlete that can really play all three frontcourt spots. However, his shooting woes are cause for concern.

 

 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPARISONS

 

PLAYER	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	FG %	3P%	FT%
AJ Dybantsa-CF-BYU	25.5	6.8	3.7	1.1	0.3	51.0%	33.1%	77.4%
Paul Pierce-CF/SG 1998	20.4	6.7	2.6	1.1	1.1	51.3%	33.9%	73.8%
Kevin Durant-CF 2007	25.8	11.1	1.3	1.9	1.9	47.3%	40.4%	81.6%
Carmelo Anthony-CF 2003	22.2	10.1	2.2	1.6	0.9	45.3%	33.7%	70.6%
Dwyane Wade-SG 2003	21.5	5.3	4.4	2.2	0.9	50.1%	31.8%	77.9%
Cameron Boozer-PF-Duke	22.5	10.2	4.1	1.4	0.6	55.6%	39.1%	79.9%
David West-PF 2003	20.1	11.8	3.2	1.3	1.6	51.3%	34.6%	81.6%
Larry Johnson-PF 1991	22.7	10.9	3.0	2.1	1.0	66.2%	35.4%	81.8%
Blake Griffin-PF 2009	22.7	14.4	2.3	1.1	1.2	65.4%	37.5%	59.0%
Kevin Love-PF 2008	17.5	10.6	1.9	0.7	1.4	55.9%	35.4%	76.7%
Darryn Peterson-SG-Kansas	20.2	4.2	1.6	1.4	0.6	43.8%	38.2%	82.6%
Klay Thompson-SG 2011	21.6	5.2	3.7	1.6	0.9	43.6%	39.8%	83.8%
C.J. McCollum-SG 09-13	21.3	6.3	2.7	2.1	0.5	43.9%	37.7%	82.5%
Brandon Roy-SG 2006	20.2	5.6	4.1	1.4	0.8	50.8%	40.2%	81.0%
Bradley Beal-SG 2012	14.8	6.7	2.2	1.4	0.8	44.5%	33.9%	77.9%
Caleb Wilson-CF-UNC	19.8	9.4	2.7	1.5	1.4	57.8%	25.9%	71.3%
Shawn Marion-CF 1999	18.7	9.3	1.2	2.5	1.9	52.9%	29.9%	73.0%
Pascal Siakam-PF 2016	20.3	9.4	1.7	1.0	1.4	53.9%	20.0%	67.8%
Evan Mobley-PF 2021	16.4	8.7	2.4	0.8	2.9	57.8%	30.0%	69.4%
Kenyon Martin-PF 2000	18.9	9.7	1.4	1.4	3.5	56.8%	28.6%	68.4%

 

 

 

 

 

MEASUREMENT ANALYSIS AND COMPARISONS

 

PLAYER	HT	WT	WING	LENGTH	REACH
AJ Dybantsa-CF-BYU	6'9"	217	7'0.75''	3.75	8'10''
Carmelo Anthony-CF 2003	6’7.25"	233	7'0''	3.75	8'9.5''
Paul George-CF 2010	6'8.75"	214	6'11.25''	2.50	8'11''
Cade Cunningham-CG/SF 2021	6'7"	220	7'0.25''	4.75	8'10''
Cameron Boozer-PF-Duke	6'9"	253	7'1.5''	4.50	9'0''
Bam Adebayo-C/PF	6'9.75"	243	7'2.75''	4.25	8'11.5''
Kevin Love-PF 2008	6'9"	255	7'2.75''	4.25	8'10''
Al Horford-C/PF 2007	6'9.75"	246	7'0.75''	4.25	8'11.5''
Darryn Peterson-SG-Kansas	6'5.5"	199	6'9.75''	4.25	8'7''
Klay Thompson-SG 2011	6'7"	206	6'9''	2.00	8'7''
Bradley Beal-SG 2012	6'5"	202	6'8''	3.00	8'4''
DeMar DeRozan-SF/SG 2009	6'6.5"	211	6'9”	4.75	8'6.5''
Caleb Wilson-CF-UNC	6'10''	211	7'0.25''	2.50	9'0.5''
Jalen Johnson-CF 2021	6'9.25''	209	7'0.25''	3.15	8'10''
Josh Smith-CF 2004	6'8.25''	221	7'0.25''	3.15	8'10.5''
Luol Deng-CF 2004	6'8''	220	7'0.5''	2.50	9'0.5''

 

ATHLETIC ANALYSIS AND COMPARISONS

 

PLAYER	Agility	Shuttle	Sprint	Stand Vert	Max Vert
AJ Dybantsa-CF-BYU	11.06	2.99	3.14	33.5	42.0
Scottie Barnes-CF 2011	10.88	2.99	3.15	36.0	39.5
Jimmy Butler-SF/SG 2011	11.12	-	3.15	30.0	39.0
Iman Shumpert-SF/SG 2011	11.10	-	3.18	36.5	42.0
Cameron Boozer-PF-Duke	11.06	2.99	3.31	28.5	35.0
Blake Griffin-PF 2009	10.95	-	3.28	32.0	35.5
Kevin Love-PF 2008	11.17	-	3.22	29.5	35.0
Amar'e Stoudemire-PF/C 2002	11.19	-	3.25	32.0	35.5
Darryn Peterson-SG-Kansas	11.17	2.95	3.16	31.5	37.5
Brandon Roy-CG 2006	11.13	-	3.27	34.0	40.5
C.J. McCollum-SG 2013	11.02	-	2.91	32.0	38.5
Bradley Beal-SG 2012	10.95	-	3.28	33.0	39.0
Caleb Wilson-CF-UNC	11.17	3.11	3.23	34.5	39.5
Josh Smith-CF 2004	11.43	-	3.24	32.5	39.5
Aaron Gordon-CF 2014	10.87	2.76	3.27	32.5	39.0
Pascal Siakam-PF 2016	11.25	3.09	3.41	30.5	36.5

 

 

AJ Dybantsa-CF-BYU
6'9''/217/7'0.5''          
25.5 PTS       6.8 REB         3.7 AST         51.0% 3PT    77.4%-FT   
Fr./19.4
Hometown: Brockton, MA
Current NBA Comparison: Paul George/Taller Jimmy Butler   
Old School NBA Comparison: Carmelo Anthony/Tracy McGrady/Paul Pierce
ROLE: Superstar Potential, Day Primary Scorer
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Elite Length/Elite Athletic Tools/Alpha Mentality   

Dybantsa lived up to the hype at BYU where he led the nation in scoring. He can create his own shot at will and can get to the rim at will. He doesn’t waste dribbles and uses his length and frame to create space. He is a lethal mid-range shooter that is very similar to a young Melo, Pierce and McGrady. These elite scorers developed into elite 3-point shooters later in their careers. Therefore, the lack of three-point attempts last season should not be a worry. His combination of scoring, athleticism, length and feel for the game make him the best player in the draft.

Dybantsa also is an elite athlete who had combine numbers similar to Scottie Barnes, Jimmy Butler, and Iman Shumpert. Scouts were claiming Wilson as the best athlete in the draft then Dybantsa put up better numbers in every category. What is even more impressive is that he doesn’t rely on this athletic ability rather his skill set. This is similar to dare I say it (Michael, Kobe and LeBron). The only things that will limit him are if the team that drafts him doesn’t put the right players around him.

 

Cameron Boozer-PF-Duke
6'9''/253/7'1.5''          
22.5 PTS       10.2 REB         4.1 AST         55.6%-FG   78.9%-FT   
Fr./18.9
Hometown: Miami
Current NBA Comparison: Blake Griffin/Kevin Love 
Old School NBA Comparison: Amar'e Stoudemire/Larry Johnson
ROLE: Superstar Potential
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Rebounding/Playmaking/IQ/Power

Boozer was the best player in the country and the best one and done player in Duke history. That says a lot when you see the chart below. That list contains four players drafted first, three players drafted second, three players drafted third and two other lottery picks. Irving and Tatum are stars that have won titles with a Hall of Fame trajectory. Zion, BI, Paolo and Luol Deng have made All Star games. Only Bagley and Okafor were busts. Flagg and Boozer have a chance to be the best out of all of them

 

DUKE ONE AND DONE	DRAFT	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3P%	FT%
Cameron Boozer		22.5	10.2	4.1	1.4	0.6	55.6%	39.1%	78.9%
Zion Williamson	19-1	22.6	8.9	2.1	2.1	1.8	68.0%	33.8%	64.0%
R.J. Barrett	19-3	22.6	7.6	4.3	0.9	0.4	45.4%	30.8%	66.5%
Marvin Bagley	18-2	21.0	11.1	1.5	0.8	0.9	61.4%	39.7%	62.7%
Cooper Flagg	25-1	19.2	7.5	4.2	1.4	1.4	48.1%	38.5%	84.0%
Jabari Parker	14-2	19.1	8.7	1.2	1.1	1.2	47.3%	35.8%	74.8%
Paolo Banchero	22-1	17.2	7.8	3.2	1.1	0.9	47.8%	33.8%	72.9%
Jahlil Okafor	15-3	17.3	8.5	1.3	0.8	1.4	66.4%		51.0%
Jayson Tatum	17-3	16.8	7.3	2.1	1.3	1.1	45.2%	34.2%	84.9%
Brandon Ingram	16-2	17.3	6.8	2.0	1.1	1.4	44.2%	41.0%	68.2%
Kyrie Irving	11-1	17.5	3.4	4.3	1.5	0.4	52.9%	46.2%	90.1%
Luol Deng	04-7	15.1	6.8	1.8	1.3	1.1	47.6%	36.0%	71.0%
Austin Rivers	12-10	15.5	3.4	2.1	1.0	0.0	43.3%	36.5%	65.8%

Boozer has an exceptional skill set for the modern-day NBA. He can do a bit of everything as a big man and is very efficient. He erased doubts about his athletic ability at the combine where his athletic measurements were similar to Amar'e Stoudemire and Blake Griffin. His skill set, size and IQ are very similar to prime Kevin Love. The best comparison to me is a less EXPLOSIVE but more FLUID version of Griffin or Stoudemire. Basically, the Knicks version of Stoudemire which was arguably his best season.

 

Darryn Peterson-SG-Kansas
6'6”/199/6'9.75”
20.2 PTS       4.2 REB         1.6 AST         38.2% 3PT    77.4%-FT   
Fr./19.4
Hometown: Canton, OH
Current NBA Comparison: Bradley Beal//Klay Thompson/CJ McCollum
Old School NBA Comparison: Joe Johnson/Brandon Roy  
ROLE: Superstar Potential/Sharpshooter 
BEST TOOLS: Multi Level Scoring/Length/Playmaking upside

Peterson is an isolation scorer that can also create. Some have compared him to Kobe but Iso-Joe mixed with Beal is the more realistic comparison. Peterson is an absolute dynamic scorer that makes high percentage shots. He was a creator in high school and should be able to develop that skill set to as he develops. He has literally a picture perfect jump shot. 

His shooting splits are similar to Thompson, McCollum and Roy coming out of college. It would benefit him to play next to a good point guard where he can shine in a role a shooter and bucker getter. It worked great for Klay with Steph, Beal with John Wall and McCollum with Lillard. He would fit perfect on Washington with Trae Young or on the Clippers with Darius Garland.

 

Caleb Wilson-CF-UNC
6'10''/211/7'0.25''     
19.8 PTS       9.4 REB         2.7 AST         1.5 STL        1.4 BLK          57.8%-FG   
Fr./19.9
Hometown: Atlanta
Current NBA Comparison: Pascal Siakam/Jalen Johnson
Old School NBA Comparison: Shawn Marion/Kenyon Martin/Josh Smith
ROLE: Two Way Versatile Forward with All Star Potential and All Defense Potential
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Toughness/Defense/Scoring/Rebounding

Wilson is a great athlete that wants to block every shot and dunk every time he gets the ball. He uses his elite athletic ability as well as any young player. He plays with an attitude and swagger of K-Mart and the versatility of The Matrix. He really has zero bust potential because of his drive and ability to be an elite defender.

The shooting woes are a cause for concern which probably limits his upside. Siakam and Johnson are the modern era blueprints as All Star forwards that will never be elite shooters. Both players have steadily improved though in their NBA careers. If Wilson can improve his shot even a small amount, we are looking at a perennial All Star. If not, he will be another Josh Smith or Kenyon Martin. That is a great floor to have.