Future Problems (For NBA Defenders)
By Austin Garner
As the basketball world turns its eyes toward the 2026 NBA Draft, the top of the class is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. While there’s no clear-cut favorite just yet, a few names have begun to separate themselves in the eyes of scouts and fans alike. Among them, two elite prospects — Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson — are already staking strong claims as potential No. 1 overall picks.
Both players bring elite skill sets, advanced polish, and high ceilings — but in very different ways. Boozer, a physically dominant and remarkably refined forward out of Miami, looks like the most NBA-ready player in the class. Peterson, a smooth, shifty combo guard with elite shot-making and two-way potential, has the perimeter game and feel that franchises covet in modern lead guards.
In this breakdown, we’ll take a close look at what makes each of them special — and what might give one the edge as the draft race heats up.
Cam Boozer - Duke - Power Forward
Cameron Boozer is one of the top recruits in the 2025 class and widely considered the best long-term NBA prospect in high school basketball. The 6’9”, 230-pound forward from Miami has a well-rounded, highly advanced game that reflects not just elite talent but also pro-ready polish. The son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, Cameron shares much of his father’s interior scoring prowess while flashing perimeter skills that hint at even greater versatility.
Boozer is an incredibly efficient scorer who thrives in the post but offers much more than just brute strength. He has elite touch around the rim, utilizing hooks, floaters, and creative footwork to finish over and through defenders. He’s relentless in the paint and has the ability to overpower most defenders at the high school level, yet shows finesse with both hands and an array of counters when defenses collapse.
Over the years, his shooting ability has made noticeable strides. Once primarily a catch-and-finish guy, Boozer has become a capable three-level scorer. His mechanics are fluid with a soft arc, and he’s now a legitimate pull-up threat, particularly from the midrange. While he’s not quite a dynamic shot-maker yet, his ability to hit jumpers off the bounce — especially for a forward — is approaching elite territory.
One of Boozer’s defining traits is his basketball IQ. He’s a remarkably intuitive decision-maker, often showing the feel and patience of a veteran. Whether operating from the post or driving downhill, he keeps his head up, sees the floor, and delivers crisp passes — including skip passes, interior dishes, and lobs. He rarely forces shots and consistently demonstrates great shot selection, with shooting splits that hover around the coveted 60/40/80 efficiency profile.
As a ball-handler, Boozer is smooth and controlled, with a tight handle for his size. He can spin, cross, and change pace to navigate traffic or get to his spots. While not a breakdown creator in the traditional guard sense, he’s highly capable with the ball in his hands in open space or within structured sets.
Off the ball, he brings elite value as a screen-setter, cutter, lob target, floor spacer, and rebounder. He understands angles well, finds gaps in the defense, and creates advantages with his strength and timing. His ability to finish plays within the flow of an offense is arguably one of the most pro-ready aspects of his game.
Defensively, Boozer is versatile and intelligent, capable of guarding 3–5 depending on matchups. He’s strong enough to defend bigs and mobile enough to stay in front of wings. He produces a high number of deflections, contests, and stocks (steals + blocks), and is an outstanding rebounder on both ends. As a help defender, he rotates well, provides secondary rim protection, and limits opponents to one shot.
Despite his elite polish and production, there are a few question marks when projecting Boozer to the NBA level. While strong and fluid, Boozer remains more of a below-the-rim finisher. His vertical pop hasn’t developed as much as expected, and he lacks elite burst or quick-twitch explosion. That could limit his upside as a slasher or finisher against NBA athletes. As he’s matured, Boozer has leaned more into being a post-oriented forward rather than developing as a primary ball-handler. At 6’9”, that’s a concern when projecting him as a modern NBA 4 — especially without elite lift or lateral speed. Against quicker guards or elite space creators, his foot speed and recovery are vulnerable. He’s best suited defending forwards and bigs, which may restrict switch-heavy defensive schemes.
Darryn Peterson - Kansas - Combo Guard
Darryn Peterson, a 6’5”, 200-pound guard from Ohio, is currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the 2025 recruiting class. Set to play at Kansas in the Big 12, Peterson turns 19 in January and is widely viewed as a top-two prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. A skilled, polished, and instinctive combo guard, he blends advanced offensive feel with two-way impact — and is already one of the most complete perimeter prospects in the country.
Peterson thrives as a creator with the ball in his hands. He’s a gifted driver with a lightning-quick first step, deceptive shiftiness, and elite change of direction. His handle is tight and purposeful, using hang dribbles, snatches, and hesitations to break defenders down and keep them off balance. Despite lacking top-tier vertical pop, he consistently creates separation and finishes around the rim with elite touch — floaters, scoop layups, and off-hand finishes all come naturally. His balance, flexibility, and control on drives make him nearly impossible to stay in front of.
As a scorer, he’s equally dangerous from the perimeter. His shooting mechanics are fast, compact, and repeatable — drawing comparisons to Michael Porter Jr. with his quick trigger and high release point. He can knock down shots off the catch or dribble, with range that stretches comfortably beyond the arc. Whether it’s a step-back three, one-dribble pull-up, or fadeaway jumper, Peterson scores from all three levels with confidence and control. His shot selection can get a bit loose at times, especially when he’s asked to carry the offense, but his feel and touch allow him to convert tough looks at an impressive rate.
Perhaps his most advanced skill is his playmaking. Peterson processes the game quickly and consistently makes the right reads — especially out of the pick-and-roll. He manipulates defenses with patience, freezes weak-side help, and delivers high-velocity passes through tight windows. Whether it’s a lob, skip pass, pocket bounce, or no-look feed, he sees plays ahead of time and executes with sharp timing. His ability to create advantages and then capitalize on them makes him one of the most complete guards in the class.
In transition, Peterson shines as a decision-maker and scorer. He pushes pace, attacks space with confidence, and has the passing feel to hit teammates in stride or stop on a dime for a pull-up jumper when defenders sag off.
While he hasn’t been asked to play off-ball often, he has shown promise as a movement shooter. He’s dangerous coming off screens thanks to his footwork and quick release, and while his primary value comes with the ball, his ability to space the floor and shoot off motion adds to his versatility.
Defensively, Peterson brings real two-way upside. He has great size for a guard, and his long wingspan allows him to disrupt ball-handlers, block shots, and generate deflections. On the ball, he’s light on his feet, mirrors drives well, and forces tough shots with his footwork and discipline. He can guard 1–3 comfortably and holds his own on switches thanks to strong instincts and timing. Off the ball, he’s just as impactful. He times rotations well, blows up passing lanes, and has excellent hand-eye coordination for clean strips and poke-aways. His anticipation is special — he regularly slides into the help position before the ball even moves. Though he’s not the most explosive leaper, his defensive recognition, timing, and reach allow him to impact shots and make highlight plays in help situations.
Peterson’s biggest growth area is his frame. He’s still a bit wiry, and stronger defenders can bump him off his spots. Adding muscle should improve his ability to absorb contact, finish through bigger bodies, and withstand physical pressure at the next level. He also tends to shy away from contact around the rim at times, opting for floaters or picking up his dribble early rather than going up strong. As his strength and confidence grow, that should correct itself.
Shot selection is another area to monitor. While he’s capable of hitting difficult shots, he can fall into forcing the issue when defenses load up. He’ll need to find the balance between being aggressive and staying efficient — something that should improve with more structure and talent around him at Kansas.
Darryn Peterson is a dynamic combo guard who brings elite scoring, advanced playmaking, and strong defensive instincts to the table. He can run an offense, create advantages in isolation or in the pick-and-roll, and consistently make his teammates better. His polish, feel, and IQ stand out for his age, and while there are a few areas to clean up, they’re fixable and relatively minor. With continued development, Peterson projects as a high-end two-way lead guard at the NBA level — and a serious contender for the No. 1 overall pick in 2026.
As impressive as Boozer and Peterson are, the race for the No. 1 pick is far from settled. Just this summer, AJ Dybansta and Mikel Brown Jr. turned heads at the FIBA U19 World Cup, showcasing the kind of high-level tools that could shake up the top of the 2026 draft board. Dybansta’s explosive athleticism and two-way upside have him firmly in the conversation as a potential franchise wing, while Brown’s poise, playmaking, and shot creation at the point guard spot continue to raise his stock. With the spotlight only getting brighter, the next chapter of this draft race is just beginning — and the gap at the top might be closer than anyone thinks.