The NCAA early entrant withdrawal deadline officially locked the player pool for the upcoming June 23 NBA Draft. Bleacher Report insider Jonathan Wasserman released his final Big Board rankings, placing Duke forward Cameron Boozer at the No. 1 overall position. This evaluation drops consensus top prospects AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson out of the primary slot.
What We Know
- Boozer recorded the second-highest box plus-minus on record for an 18-year-old.
- Wasserman cited Boozer’s frontcourt shooting, elite passing IQ, and functional ball-handling efficiency.
- Major competitors CBS Sports and ESPN continue to rank Dybantsa ahead of Boozer.
Wasserman evaluated the finalized player pool and pointed to Boozer’s translatable traits as the driver for the placement. The Duke forward’s box plus-minus metrics trail only Zion Williamson and sit ahead of Anthony Davis for players at that age, according to the final big board.
The ranking diverges from the wider industry consensus. Analysts at CBS Sports and ESPN maintain Dybantsa at the top position. Those outlets prioritize Dybantsa’s 6-foot-9 wing frame, downhill physicality, and two-way ceiling. Front offices are now finalizing their internal evaluations ahead of the Tuesday selection event.