Sports Stars of Tomorrow filmed these players in high school. They took the college route, and now they're being drafted. Watch our exclusive footage of the top prospects before they went pro.
The 2026 NBA Draft is one of the deepest classes in years. The top of the board, with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson, is stacked with future stars. Sports Stars of Tomorrow covered a lot of these players back in high school, before the national rankings and the hype.
Watch our interviews, game highlights, and profiles from their prep days, then see where they land this week.
This is a guard-heavy class with rare depth. Nine players were projected across every major mock as locks for the lottery, unusual for only 14 spots.
Projected No. 1 overall
Sports Stars of Tomorrow featured AJ Dybantsa as a five-star prospect during his high school career. He went on to play college basketball before entering the 2026 draft as the consensus top pick.
Projected 3-4
SSOT documented Caleb Wilson's rise from underdog to five-star recruit. His journey from overlooked prospect to top-five draft pick is one of the best stories in this class.
Projected 5-7
We covered Darius Acuff Jr. during his time at IMG Academy, where he developed into a top-ten prospect. His spotlight feature showcased the skills that made him a lottery pick.
Projected 6-9
Kingston Flemings was profiled on our Road to Success series as a five-star guard with elite court vision. His high school tape shows the playmaking ability that made him a first-round lock.
Projected late first round
SSOT featured Chris Cenac alongside other future pros before he committed to college. His high school highlights demonstrate the defensive versatility that teams covet in the late first round.
Projected 8-11
Our coverage of Brayden Burries came as part of a feature on first-round prospects. His combination of size and skill was evident even in high school.
Projected mid-to-late first round
Koa Peat was featured on SSOT as a possible first-round pick. His high school footage shows the raw athleticism and potential that made him a highly recruited prospect.
Projected 11-14
We profiled Labaron Philon Jr. at Link Academy, where he talked about wanting to follow in the footsteps of great Kansas point guards. His floor generalship was already NBA-caliber in high school.
Projected late first / early second round
SSOT covered Boogie Fland at Archbishop Stepinac when he committed to Kentucky as a five-star guard. His high school highlights show the scoring ability that has him on the first-round bubble.
Projected early second round
We featured Karter Knox at Overtime Elite, focusing on the work ethic that made him a five-star prospect. His dedication to improvement has him positioned as an early second-round pick.
Projected second round
Our profile of Otega Oweh at Blair Academy highlighted his family's influence on his game. His two-way potential has him projected as a second-round selection.
Projected second round
SSOT covered Bruce Thornton at Milton High School, where we noted he was one of the best two-way players in his class. That defensive intensity has carried through to the NBA level.
Projected second round
We profiled Zuby Ejiofor at Garland High School in Texas when he committed to Kansas. His versatility as a forward was clear even then, and it makes him an intriguing second-round prospect.
These projected first-round picks don't have SSOT high school footage.
| Player | Projected | School |
|---|---|---|
| Darryn Peterson | 2 | Kansas |
| Cameron Boozer | 3 | Duke |
| Keaton Wagler | 5 | Illinois |
| Mikel Brown Jr. | 8 | Louisville |
| Aday Mara | 10 | Michigan |
| Nate Ament | 11 | Tennessee |
| Yaxel Lendeborg | 12 | Michigan |
| Karim Lopez | 13-14 | New Zealand Breakers |
Projections based on pre-draft consensus. Results updated after June 24.
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