One-and-done freshmen have another historic showing in 2026 NBA Draft
One-and-done freshmen have another historic showing in 2026 NBA Draft
Scooby Axson, USA TODAYWed, June 24, 2026 at 2:15 AM UTC
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NEW YORK — The young kids continue to rule the day in the NBA draft, as one-and-done collegiate players dominated the selections of the first round at the Barclays Center in New York.
BYU freshman forward AJ Dybantsa was selected with the first overall pick by the Washington Wizards. His selection was just the beginning of a run of first-year players, as the first eight picks in the 2026 NBA Draft were college freshmen. That mark ties the 2025 NBA Draft for the most freshmen selected at the start of a draft.
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After Dybantsa, freshmen Darryn Peterson (Jazz), Cameron Boozer (Grizzlies), Caleb Wilson (Bulls), Keaton Wagler (Clippers), Mikel Brown Jr. (Nets), Darius Acuff Jr. (Kings), and Kingston Flemings (Hawks), were selected.
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Nine of the first 10 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft were college freshmen, tying the record for most freshmen in the top 10, set in 2017 and 2025. The only player that didn't meet that criteria was Michigan sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr., who was taken with the ninth pick by the Dallas Mavericks.
Johnson spent his freshman season at Illinois before transferring to Michigan and helping lead them to a national championship. He will be reunited with former college coach Dusty May, who left the school to become the Mavericks' head coach.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: One-and-done freshmen have historic showing in NBA draft first round
Source: “AOL Sports”
