NBA mock draft: BYU's Dybantsa headlines top tier with Kansas' Peterson, Duke's Boozer, UNC's Wilson

There’s a clear top tier of one-and-done prospects in this month’s NBA draft.

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa was widely discussed as the No. 1 pick before becoming a first-team Associated Press All-American. His top challenger for the overall top selection is Kansas combo guard Darryn Peterson, followed by Tobacco Road forwards Cameron Boozer of Duke and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina.

The first pivot point is seemingly set for No. 5 with a wave of one-and-done guards.

With the first round set for June 23, the AP’s initial mock draft starts with the longtime favorite:

The 6-foot-9, 217-pound Dybantsa averaged a national-best 25.5 points by pressuring defenses with his ability to create his own shot, get to the foul line (national-best 229 makes and 296 attempts) and find teammates (3.7 assists). Synergy rated him as “Excellent” in its analytics rankings as the ball handler in pick-and-roll scenarios (87th percentile) and post-ups (94th). He averaged 26.9 points in seven games against top-10 foes, including 35 points in a loss to Final Four-bound Arizona and a near triple-double (29 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) in an upset of sixth-ranked Iowa State.

There’s no questioning the talent and athleticism, nor the playmaking and scoring skillset. The 6-5, 199-pound Peterson averaged 20.2 points by attacking off the bounce or in transition, shot 38.2% on 3-pointers and made 82.6% of his free throws. The biggest questions arose from his availability. He dealt with a full-body cramping issue that required hospitalization before the season, missed 11 games due to injury or illness and frequently had limited minutes for uncertainty with his day-to-day status.

The 6-8, 253-pound son of former Duke and NBA player Carlos Boozer became the fifth freshman voted AP men’s national player of the year. He averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds, capable of finishing through contact (55.6% field goals) or stepping outside (39.1% on 3s). Synergy rated him as “Excellent” against man defense (94th percentile), on post-ups (86th) and spot-up shots (95th). He’s a strong passer (4.1 assists) out of double-teams and while initiating offense, notably assisting on Isaiah Evans’ late 3-pointer to beat reigning national champion Florida.

Wilson was an immediate star with explosive athleticism and a spotlight-embracing personality. The second-team AP All-American averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds while thriving at the rim and in transition with his go-go-go motor. He'll need to add strength to a lean frame (6-9, 211) and improve his 3-point stroke (25.9%). Wilson had a national-best 66 dunks when he went down with a broken left hand in mid-February, then he broke his right thumb in practice when he was on the verge of returning in March.

The 6-5, 188-pound freshman went from four-star recruit to second-team AP All-American in leading Illinois to its first Final Four since 2005, averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He shot 39.7% on 3-pointers, including hitting nine 3s in a 46-point performance against Purdue. He won the Jerry West Award as the nation’s top shooting guard, though he's a slim build lacking elite athleticism.

The 6-4, 215-pound freshman combo guard has a sturdy frame and two-way potential. He was the scoring leader (16.1) for a 36-win Final Four team, shooting 49.1% overall and 39.1% from 3-point range. He was fourth at the combine in standing vertical leap (35 inches).

The 6-2, 186-pound freshman is a dynamic lead guard who ranked third nationally in scoring (23.5) and 14th in assists (6.4). His standout performances included scoring 49 points in a double-overtime loss at Alabama, along with a three-game tear (91 points, 12 3-pointers) for the Razorbacks’ first Southeastern Conference Tournament title in 26 years.

The 6-3, 183-pound freshman was a third-team AP All-American as a lead guard capable of being disruptive defensively. Flemings was an efficient shooter (47.6% overall, 38.7% on 3s, 84.5% on free throws) capable of pressuring teams in transition or off the dribble. He finished with a nearly 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio and posted a Cougars freshman-record 42 points in a loss to Texas Tech.

The 6-5, 180-pound guard averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists, but showed his scoring potential when he went for 45 points and 10 3-pointers against N.C. State in February. There were also three other 29-point outputs. The biggest concern was back issues, which sidelined him for eight games at midyear then resurfaced to sideline him for the final six — including two March Madness games.

There’s an intriguing blend of versatility and fluid athleticism with the 6-10, 211-pound freshman, a playmaking passer and No. 2 scorer (16.7) for a team that reached the NCAA Elite Eight. He’ll need to add strength and he leans on his jumper, with spot-up shots accounting for nearly 19% of his usage, according to Synergy. But a monthlong run in the SEC (22.8 points with 39.1% shooting on 3s from Jan. 10 to Feb. 20) highlighted his potential.

The UAB transfer was a first-team AP All-American who helped the Wolverines win their first national title since 1989. He has a strong frame (6-9, 241) and good wingspan (better than 7-3). He also shot 37.2% from 3-point range in the highest volume of his career and showed a competitive fight in battling through ankle and knee injuries during the Final Four against Arizona and in the title game against UConn.

He stood out — literally — in the massive lineup that powered Michigan's title run and projects as a defensive force. The 7-3, 255-pound junior from Spain averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists while ranking sixth nationally in blocks (2.6). He led all players measured at the combine in standing reach (9-9) and was second in wingspan (7-6).

The slender 6-3, 176-pound sophomore thrived as a scorer (22.0) and a playmaker (5.0) as a third-team AP All-American, making a leap in his shooting efficiency (50.1% overall, 39.9% on 3-pointers). He thrived as the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls (94th percentile in Synergy) and repeatedly beat man defenses in the halfcourt (90th).

Another prominent piece of Michigan’s NCAA title run, the 6-9, 251-pound sophomore is a versatile player with physicality, and a strong frame could even have him see time as a small-ball 5-man. He averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He has a better than 7-3 wingspan and thrived as a cutter, in post-ups and in finishing at the rim.

The 6-5, 184-pound sophomore transferred after two seasons at Tennessee and blossomed in a lead role with the Bears, averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 49.4% overall and 37.4% on 3s. He ranked among combine leaders in standing vertical leap (second at 38 inches) and max vertical leap (third at 42.5 inches).

The 6-8, 222-pound native of Mexico has spent two seasons playing in the National Basketball League’s “Next Stars” developmental program that produced lottery picks LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alex Sarr. The 19-year-old averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds last year with his versatility, athleticism and a nearly 7-foot wingspan.

Health is the biggest question for the 6-9, 253-pound sophomore. The former McDonald’s All-American was a physical, athletic presence at Arizona State before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in February 2025. He transferred to Kentucky but played only four games amid lingering issues in that knee. He was fourth among all players measured at the combine in wingspan (better than 7-5).

The 6-10, 248-pound native of Germany matched Duke star Cameron Boozer for the national lead with 22 double-doubles after averaging 18.5 points and a national-best 11.8 rebounds in his lone college season. Steinbach shot 57.7% from the field, hit 18 3s (34.5%) and averaged 1.2 blocks with his better than 7-2 wingspan.

The 6-3, 186-pound point guard went from Division II to Drake and then to Iowa, where he led the Hawkeyes to their first NCAA Elite Eight since 1987. He averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals, becoming the first player to lead Iowa in those three categories in 26 years. Synergy rated him as “Excellent” as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll scenarios (91st percentile), working in isolation (84th) and finishing at the rim (90th).

The 6-11, 240-pound freshman arrived as a McDonald’s All-American with rangy skills and outside shooting that made him MVP of the NBPA Top 100 camp in summer 2024. He took a complementary role for a top-10 team, averaging 9.5 points and a team-best 7.9 rebounds. He hit 30 3-pointers (33.3%) to show inside-out ability, graded out well at the rim by Synergy and ranked fifth at the combine in wingspan (7-5).

The 6-7, 211-pound wing spent two seasons at Xavier before thriving in a lead role with the Longhorns, averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He also showed active hands by averaging 1.6 steals. He’ll need to improve his outside shooting after hitting just 34.4% last year and 29.3% through three seasons.

The 6-8, 226-pound Graves was the West Coast Conference’s freshman of the year and top sixth man in a complementary role. He averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 51.2% overall and 41.3% from 3-point range. He also showed defensive potential by averaging 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks.

The 6-7, 245-pound freshman was a key part of a Final Four team that spent nine weeks at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll. He scored primarily in transition, on post-ups or as the roller in pick-and-roll scenarios while averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He hasn't shown much range (7 of 20 on 3s). Peat tied for fifth at the combine in standing vertical leap (34.5 inches).

The 6-1, 180-pound sophomore was a third-team AP All-American who averaged 18.5 points while ranking fifth nationally in assists (7.4). He projects as a scoring playmaker who shot 40% on 3-pointers over two seasons. He thrived as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll scenarios (93rd percentile in Synergy) and as a spot-up shooter (90th).

The second-team AP All-American and senior used his strong frame (6-8, 246) to average 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. His passing is a standout skill; he averaged 4.8 assists with the ability to initiate offense and facilitate open looks for teammates while posting a nearly 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The 6-1, 186-pound freshman was a surprise star, ranking seventh nationally in scoring (23.2). He’s a bit undersized but had the burst to score in transition or the halfcourt. He posted eight 30-point games, including 40 in a win against Georgia Tech.

The 6-11, 227-pound junior fits today’s desired mold of bigs who can step outside. The 22-year-old from Estonia thrived (17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds) in a breakout year that included shooting 42.6% on 3s (40 of 94) after going just 31.6% (19 of 60) in two seasons at Arizona.

The sophomore offers game-turning ability to heat up from outside, shooting 38% on 3-pointers through two college seasons and hitting at least four 3s in 14 games last year. He’ll need to add bulk to a wiry 6-6, 186-pound frame to handle physical play.

The 6-10, 264-pound senior with a better than 7-4 wingspan blossomed as an interior force as the Huskies reached the NCAA title game. He had career-high averages of 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 blocks while showing good touch in the paint.

The 6-3, 190-pound freshman is a defense-stretching scorer (15.6) alongside top pro prospect Darius Acuff Jr. He shot 47.9% from 3-point range (56 of 117) after Christmas, a 25-game stretch spanning the Razorbacks’ run to the SEC Tournament title and the NCAA Sweet 16.

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FILE - This photo combination shows, from top left, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, March 19, 2026, in Portland, Ore., Kansas guard Darryn Peterson in Lawrence, Kan., March 7, 2026, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, March 21, 2026, in Greenville, S.C., and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson in Stanford, Calif., Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman, Reed Hoffmann, Brynn Anderson, Jeff Chiu)

BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Tough-on-crime outsider Abelardo de la Espriella took the lead in Colombia's presidential race in the first round of voting Sunday night, setting up a runoff with Iván Cepeda, an ally of Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro who questioned the results of the election.

With no candidate taking an outright majority of the vote, the election will head to a second round in June.

But Cepeda and Petro sowed doubt in the results of the first round, claiming without evidence that hundreds of thousands of votes were manipulated and that foreign actors manipulated the results of the election.

Cepeda said he was waiting for electoral authorities to scrutinize the results before accepting the election.

“Only when the vote-counting commissions have fully clarified what happened will we comment on tonight’s results,” Cepeda said, though he acknowledged the vote was likely going to a second round.

Cepeda won 41% of the vote, while de la Espriella won 44% of the votes, with 99.98% of the results counted by electoral authorities.

Cepeda is a progressive senator who has promised to carry on a fraught plan to achieve “total peace" by negotiating peace pacts with guerrillas and criminal gangs. He was consistently leading polls in the run up to the Sunday vote, but in the weeks leading up to the election de la Espriella rapidly gained support with a promise that he would crack down on armed groups.

The neck-and-neck results likely spell trouble for Cepeda in the run-off election, as de la Espriella is expected to scoop up support from voters who threw their support behind another conservative candidate in the first round.

De la Espriella — a newcomer known as El Tigre, or “The Tiger” — has sought to portray himself as a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Let the United States of America and democratic parties monitor this runoff election. I will lead this battle; I will be Colombia’s best warrior," de la Espriella said in an impassioned speech Sunday night, pounding his chest behind bullet-proof glass in front of supporters.

Voters across Latin America are increasingly ditching leaders that pitched progressive policies aimed at addressing the root issues of conflict, such as lack of opportunities for young people and corruption. Instead, voters have increasingly turned to candidates promising heavy-handed security crackdowns.

The polarized vote comes as the Trump administration is playing a more aggressive role in Latin America than any U.S. government in decades, placing mounting pressure on countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador to crack down on crime.

The election has also underscored two sharply diverging visions for the future of peace in a country marked by years of conflict.

On one side, Cepeda has promised to continue Petro’s progressive agenda and a largely failed effort to negotiate peace pacts with armed groups, following a plan that’s likely to sharply contrast with Trump’s vision for Latin America.

On the other side, de la Espriella has promised to fiercely crack down on criminal groups and build 10 mega-prisons, echoing the war on gangs policy of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, which has driven down homicide rates but fueled accusations of human rights abuses.

“Today’s election isn’t just important for us, it’s important for all of Latin America,” said Juan Acevedo, a 62-year-old sociologist walking out of a voting station in Colombia’s capital on Sunday morning. “Whoever wins here will suggest to the region if progressive policies will continue or if things are going to return to the right.”

The election — 10 years after Colombia signed an historic peace pact with guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC — as seen as a referendum on Petro’s policies.

The deal a decade ago had offered hope to break the nation’s vicious cycle of fighting between rebel groups and the government. But violence has since roared back, in part because armed groups have taken advantage of peace negotiations with Petro's government to make territorial gains.

That came to a head in the lead-up to the election. Criminal groups have increasingly launched drone strikes, armed attacks have plagued the race and last June, 39-year-old politician and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay was fatally shot at a political rally. Still, Cepeda and Petro have maintained strong support among many because of progressive policies pushed forward under Petro, such as boosting the minimum wage.

Both de la Espriella and Valencia have touted their affinity for Trump, though Valencia’s electoral loss dealt another blow to a once powerful political current known as Uribismo.

Maria Eugenia, a 57-year-old seamstress on Friday in downtown Bogotá, Colombia's capital, said she welcomed an all-out offensive on an expanding slate of criminal groups, regardless of the human cost.

While she approved of Petro’s pushes to improve the country's medical infrastructure, she said she was voting for de la Espriella because violence in rural areas of the country has gotten out of hand. She said negotiating peace pacts was effectively rewarding armed groups.

“Of course, whenever you come down with a heavy hand, there’s always going to be debate,” she said. “But some people are going to have to fall to clean up what needs to be cleaned up.”

Others, like Acevedo, the sociologist, said a security crackdown such as the one promoted by de la Espriella meant a return to past military campaigns that he said only reinforced Colombia's cycle of violence.

He said he supports Cepeda, adding that while the government hasn't done a perfect job — failing to pass ambitious reforms and follow through on promises to reduce violence — it was better to continue pushing forward with their political coalition's efforts to take a different approach in addressing the country's violence.

He added that his main critique of Petro's administration was the power grabs made by criminal groups as they negotiated with the government. He said he hoped that if Cepeda won, he would strike a better balance between negotiating peace and maintaining control over those groups.

“We're a country that has lived through 60 years of conflict,” Acevedo said. “The danger here is that we return to the times where everyone is saying that the only way to solve our problems is with bullets and more war.”

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

This story was first published on May 31, 2026. It was updated on Jun. 2, 2026 to correct the first name of the candidate to Abelardo instead of Aberaldo.

Election results showing presidential candidates Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement and Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition advancing to a runoff election are projected at Cepeda's campaign headquarters in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement celebrate after the candidate advanced to a runoff election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Police frisk voters arriving to a polling station during presidential election in Silvia, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

Supporters of presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition react as presidential election results are announced in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Supporters of presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement celebrate election results in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement salutes after voting during the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

A voter marks a ballot during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Supporters of presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition gather outside the polling station where he voted during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact coalition gestures to supporters after voting during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Voters check polling information during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

President Gustavo Petro shows a ballot during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Voters line up at a polling station during the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement depart a polling station after voting during the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Soldiers patrol as voters arrive at a polling station during the presidential election in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Electoral workers set up a voting center in preparation for Sunday's presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A man rides his motorcycle past the ruins of homes destroyed five months earlier in an attack by dissidents of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in Buenos Aires, Cauca, Colombia, Wednesday, May 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

Presidential candidate Sen. Paloma Valencia of the Democratic Center party waves supporters during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defenders of the Motherland movement and his running mate Jose Manuel Restrepo, left, raise their fit from behind a bullet proof booth during a campaign rally in Barranquilla, Colombia, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Sen. Ivan Cepeda, presidential candidate of the ruling Historic Pact coalition, speaks to supporters during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)