Cameron Boozer rises in latest USA TODAY Sports NBA mock draft

Heading into the 2025-26 college basketball season, it was already predetermined that three freshmen – Duke ’s Cameron Boozer, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson – would be the first three picks of the 2026 NBA Draft. That’s no longer the case, according to USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft, as Peterson has fallen out of the top three, being replaced by North Carolina’s Caleb Williams. More importantly, Boozer, the 2026 Wooden Award winner (among other trophies), has jumped to No.

2 on the board thanks to questions about Peterson’s inconsistency and injury issues during his one year with the Jayhawks. From Bryan Kalbrosky : According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the "preferred selection" for the Pacers because of his "potential fit" alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set.

The NBA draft lottery takes place on Sunday afternoon, so it will be intriguing to see where the former Duke star could land. This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Cameron Boozer rises in latest USA TODAY Sports NBA mock draft