Even if the 2024-25 college basketball season is not even two months old, there is already some speculation about the 2026 NBA Draft.

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report recently listed his top 20 prospects for the 2026 draft. He noted that his rankings “reflect long-term potential under the NBA scouting lens, not necessarily current high school impact/production” for players in the 16 to 18 age range.

Kentucky signee Jasper Johnson now plays for Overtime Elite in Atlanta and in his first five games this season the 6-4 combo guard averaged 19.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 31.2 minutes per game. He shot 52.6 percent overall from the field and 42.9 percent from 3 despite going 1-for-7 in his first game.

Wasserman has Johnson seventh on his 2026 draft board. He believes his game is fueled by confidence, speed and shotmaking” that should fit well into the style of play in Overtime Elite play. He also likes the way he hit 3-pointers at Link Academy last season and then went 11-for-24 from 3 for Team USA at the U18 Americas Championship.

“Johnson loves to shoot 3’s in transition, though he does have some athletic pop around the basket on fast breaks. In the half court, he’s more accurate spotting up, but he has some flashy handles to create separation and pull up from deep,” Wasserman wrote. “Rarely does he take a 2-point jumper. Johnson instead opts for a lot of floaters, a shot he made at an outstanding 48.6 percent clip last year in high school.

“At 175 pounds, it would be more comforting to see Johnson take on more of a playmaking role, given the size of NBA 2-guards. He’s taller than former Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, but he has a similarly thin frame and scorer’s mentality.

“Still, there is enough creativity with Johnson’s dribble and game for playmaking. And when he wants to pass, he clearly can make the ones point guards are supposed to. He’s going to be an offensive spark in any setting.”

Johnson was at Kentucky’s win over Western Kentucky in Rupp Arena with his parents when he returned home to Lexington for a Thanksgiving visit. He was introduced to the crowd and got a huge ovation when he was on the court.
 
Major Kentucky recruiting target Caleb Wilson, Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta, is 10th on Wasserman’s list. The 6-9 forward has Kentucky on his final five list and watched UK beat Duke in Atlanta earlier this season.

“At 6-9 with a strong frame, he mainly leaves his mark on games by delivering easy baskets (transition, off dump-downs, put-backs), defending in space, creating turnovers and making plays on the ball,” Wasserman wrote. “Defensively, his size, feet and strength are tremendous, particularly for guarding wings around the perimeter. He’s the type who could rank near the leaderboard of 3-point attempts blocked.

“Offensively, he does add something with his passing, but Wilson’s self-creation skill and shooting are behind his physical abilities, and he will be 19 years old to start next season (wherever it may be).”