The NBA draft takes place once a year and allows teams to pick players who have never played in the NBA before. Players must be 19 or over and have been out of high school for at least one year. They can be professionals from other leagues around the world or can have played basketball for their college before.
In the draft process, which consists of two rounds, the NBA’s 30 teams pick 60 players. The teams who have performed worst pick first. Normally, these are the 14 teams that didn’t qualify for the playoffs, and the order of their picks is decided in the NBA draft lottery. The team picked first chooses first and the others wait to see what their turn is. Teams 15-30 also pick in reverse order, with the team that won the recent NBA league choosing last. The second round is the same, with picks being made in reverse order but without the lottery.
Ultimately, the NBA draft creates more even competition between teams. Poorer performing teams get access to the next generation of players first, giving them a chance to raise their game. Below is a look at the NBA’s popularity in the US and best high school prospects for the 2026 NBA draft.
The NBA’s popularity
Although the NBA’s history dates back as far as 1947, when Boston Garden owner Walter Brown realized ice hockey arenas could be used to host basketball games when unused, it was around the mid-1980s that the league took off. The NBA commissioner, David Stern, transformed the NBA into an entertainment company and marketed star players such as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael “Air” Jordan.
The organization’s games still enjoy popularity today. In the USA alone, an average of 1.53 million viewers tuned in to watch regular season games on either TNT, ESPN or ABC during the 2024/25 season.
The NBA is also popular amongst American punters, as online sportsbooks continue to grow in the States due to relaxed laws. The most popular type of an NBA bet is moneyline bets, where punters choose the outright winner of a game. Various sportsbooks offer NBA betting options including BetMGM who are offering bonus codes for new bettors of a value up to $1,500.
Draft prospects for 2026
There are some fine prospects deserving of a shot in the NBA. Below are some of the best for the 2026 drafts.
Darryn Petersen
Darryn Peterson, who is with Prolific Prep and has signed with Kansas, is an elite scorer and one of the best modern guard prospects. Peterson has the power and the potential to make Kansas a force to be reckoned with again on college basketball courts. His shooting has improved and he’s especially dangerous to other teams when he’s making the most of his athleticism to attack above the rim. He’s a strong defender as well and can exert his impact at both ends of the floor.
AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsa is one of the top three draft prospects and has committed to Brigham Young University. The Massachusetts-born player has been one of the most prolific scorers in America throughout his high school career. In the 2022-23 season, he won the Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season and, despite playing up an age group in summer 2023, he was the leading scorer at the Nike Peach Jam.
This wing, who has also played on the US basketball team in under 16s and under 17s tournaments, is big, explosive and skillful. He can play different positions and is comfortable both playmaking and attacking. The BYU Cougars just need to surround him with enough talent and within a single season they could become nationally competitive.
Cameron Boozer
Cameron Boozer is the third big draft prospect for NBA 2026. The Christopher Columbus High School power forward has committed to Duke University’s Blue Devils.
Cameron is known for being the son of Carlos Boozer who is a two-time NBA All Star basketball player. Carlos spent his time playing in the NBA with a few teams including the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
Cameron looks to follow in his father’s footsteps and has been dominant and productive at high school level. On the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League 16U circuit, he ranked in the top three both in points and rebounds. In the 17U, he did even better and led in both categories in the spring. In July 2024, he led his team to the title in the Nike Peach Jam.
Boozer is highly efficient and good at scoring on the inside. His greatest skill of all, however, is his feel for the game. He’ll detect opponents’ weaknesses and then punish them for it.
Nate Ament
Nate Ament attends Highlands School, in Warrenton, Virginia, and has committed to the Tennessee Volunteers. The wing, who debuted with USA Basketball in 2024, has a classic basketball player build and can defend all over the court. His high release point and ability to make diverse shots coming off screens and pulling up off the dribble allows him to score whenever he pleases. His ballhandling, physicality, passing and defensive intensity have all improved and will continue to do so.
There are some amazing prospects coming up through high school that will be eligible for the 2026 NBA draft. Other players teams will be looking out for include Chris Cenac Jr, who is with University of Houston, and Caleb Wilson who is currently at the University of North Carolina.