Tuesday night's NBA Draft at Barclays Center doubled as a showcase for college basketball. BYU's AJ Dybantsa went No. 1 to the Washington Wizards, and according to NBA.com, the first 20 picks all came from college programs. That hadn't happened since 1994.
The top of the board
- No. 1: AJ Dybantsa, BYU, to Washington
- No. 2: Darryn Peterson, Kansas, to Utah
- No. 3: Cameron Boozer, Duke, to Memphis
- No. 4: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, to Chicago
- No. 5: Keaton Wagler, Illinois, to the LA Clippers
Nine of the first 10 picks were college freshmen, tying the record set in 2017 and matched in 2025, NBA.com reported. The Big 12 had nine first-round picks, breaking the conference record of seven. And Michigan put three players in the top 12: Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara.
The NIL effect
A few years ago, the path to the NBA was splintering. Top prospects had paid options outside college, including the G League Ignite program, which launched in 2020 as an alternative to college. Front Office Sports noted that in 2024, eight first-round picks skipped college entirely.
NIL and the House settlement changed the math. When schools can pay athletes directly and outside sponsors can add more on top, a year or two in college can be lucrative. Dybantsa reportedly made between $4 million and $7 million in NIL deals at BYU, according to Front Office Sports. The G League Ignite shut down in 2024, with the emergence of NIL cited as the primary reason, FOS reported.
It's also keeping more players in school longer. ESPN analyst Jay Bilas estimated there were about 71 early-entry candidates this year, which he said was down by roughly two-thirds from prior years. "For people like me who love college basketball, that's a good thing," Bilas said, per Front Office Sports.
A global recruiting pitch
NIL isn't just keeping American players in college. It's pulling international prospects in, too. Front Office Sports pointed to lottery picks Aday Mara of Spain and Hannes Steinbach of Germany as examples of a growing trend.
What it means for fans
For fans, this is a big win. The best young players are spending real time on college campuses again, which means more stars to follow, stronger rivalries and more reason to tune in during the regular season. Front Office Sports noted that several networks reported record viewership for college basketball's regular season.
It also means fans get to know players longer before they turn pro. A freshman who might've gone straight to a pro league a few years ago now builds a following at a school, and that following often comes with them to the next level.
What it means for athletes
For athletes and families, the draft is proof that staying in college doesn't have to mean leaving money on the table. Building an audience early, through games, content and direct fan engagement, can pay off both during college and after. The players who went in the first round on Tuesday had already built brands before the commissioner called their names.
What's next
The second round wraps up the draft tonight. Then attention shifts back to college rosters, where programs are already planning next season's spending.