Rejoice, Dallas Mavericks fans. You’ve won the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, landing the rights to the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
It’s rare for a No. 1 pick to so clearly alter the trajectory of a franchise, but Flagg is that kind of prospect. While Dallas celebrates and Nico Harrison plays it off like he knew this would happen all along, several other organizations are in mourning.
The good news: Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are both premier draft prospects in their own right, each with the potential to be a franchise cornerstone. But few players out of college can change the outlook of a franchise with such confidence.
Harper and Bailey won’t numb the sting just yet, but there’s hope in 2026 with another strong draft class on the way from the 2025 college basketball player rankings.
Here are 5 players who could be worth tanking (again) for
Darryn Peterson | CG | Kansas
Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 195 | Age: 18.3
Peterson enters the 2025–26 season as the No. 1-ranked high school player and the top overall draft prospect. He already has the frame to step onto an NBA court, but what separates him is just how polished and well-rounded he is as a guard.
NBA teams covet guards who can operate as both primary scorers and initiators, and that’s exactly what Peterson projects to be. He has ideal positional size, elite athleticism and outstanding feel for the game.
Peterson is a dangerous three-level scorer with an alpha mentality. He’s capable of taking over late in games and can already make advanced reads and pro-level passes. He isn’t flashy off the court — he lets his game do the talking.
AJ Dybantsa | SF | BYU
Ht:6-9 | Wt: 210 | Age: 18.3
Once the consensus top prospect in the 2025 recruiting class and 2026 draft class, Dybantsa has lost the crown but remains the highest-upside player entering the season.
He’s paving a unique path — transferring to a startup high…
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