If there were any doubts about which conference currently owns the future of college basketball, The Athletic’s latest NBA mock draft may have just erased them.
Three Big 12 freshmen landed inside the Top Five of the recent projection, headlined by BYU’s AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 overall. Right behind him at No. 2 was Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, while Kingston Flemings of the Houston Cougars came in at No. 5.
Three Programs, Three Game-Changers
Dybantsa’s rise to No. 1 overall is the big story here. People have gone back and forth all year picking between Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson, and at this point, you can’t really pick wrong. Meanwhile, Peterson continues Kansas’ tradition of elite NBA talent, keeping Bill Self’s machine humming in Lawrence. Kingston Flemings at Houston is another reminder that Kelvin Sampson’s program isn’t just about toughness and defense; it’s producing high-end pro talent. Developing a rising freshman into a Top Five pick is just another feather in the hat of the legendary Sampson.
But the fireworks don’t stop there.
Ten Big 12 Players in the First Round
The mock draft featured 10 Big 12 players in the first round, a staggering number for one conference in a single cycle.
Joining the three top-five freshmen were:
- Brayden Burries (No. 10) – Arizona Wildcats
- Koa Peat (No. 11) – Arizona Wildcats
- Christian Anderson Jr. (No. 21) – Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 23) – Houston Cougars
- Cameron Carr (No. 25) – Baylor Bears
- Motiejus Krivas (No. 28) – Arizona Wildcats
- Tounde Yessoufou (No. 30) – Baylor Bears
That’s representation from BYU, Kansas, Houston, Arizona, Texas Tech, and Baylor, essentially a showcase of the conference’s top-tier programs. Well, maybe not Baylor at the moment, but that’s alright.
For perspective, having double-digit first-round projections from a single league in a single draft class is historically rare. It speaks to recruiting reach, player development, and the sheer competitive grind of playing inside the Big 12.
What It Means for the Big 12
The narrative around the Big 12 has long centered on depth, physicality, and nightly battles. Now it’s adding in star power.
With three freshmen projected in the Top Five and 10 total players in the first round, the Big 12 isn’t just deep, it’s loaded with NBA-caliber talent at multiple programs. That kind of pipeline matters for recruiting, NIL leverage, and national brand perception.
If this mock draft projection holds even close to form, the Big 12 could be sending one of the most talent-rich draft classes in conference history to the NBA.
And yes, that’s truly insane.
