But there was no time to waste after March Madness concluded in early April. The biggest stars immediately shifted their focus toward the next step of their careers — their first professional stint in the best basketball league in the world.
It’s the moment they have dreamed about for years, and now, their NBA debut has never been closer.
The rising superstars will get one final opportunity to impress at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago in mid-May. Coaches, front-office executives, and scouts are evaluating their speed, agility, athleticism, and overall skill sets.
Once the combine concludes, only one step remains — hearing their names called on draft night and walking across the stage to join their new franchises.
The draft lottery took place on May 10, revealing the official draft order. The Washington Wizards will choose first, followed by the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, and then the Los Angeles Clippers.
The lottery gave the prospects an idea of where they might land. We looked at the biggest superstars in the draft pool and identified their best NBA fits.
Wizards - AJ Dybantsa (SF, BYU)
This year’s class features the "Big Three” – Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Anybody can become the No. 1 pick, but since the Wizards are picking first, Dybantsa seems like the obvious choice.
This pairing makes the most sense stylistically and organizationally. Washington has been miserable for years, recording three consecutive seasons with fewer than 20 wins.
They haven’t had a winning season since 2018 and haven’t made the playoffs since 2021.
Dybantsa led the country in scoring last season, and he checks all the boxes.
At 6-foot-9, he projects as the modern NBA prototype: a jumbo wing creator who can defend multiple positions and generate offense at all three levels. His 7-foot wingspan is a defensive nightmare. The BYU standout can shine on the wing, as well as in the paint. “It would mean a lot to be picked first,” Dybantsa said Wednesday at the NBA draft combine.
“It would just mean that all my hard work is paying off. All the countless hours and all the sacrifices I made have paid off.”
The Wizards traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis in January, and Dybantsa could be the last piece in the formula that gets Washington out of misery.
The last time the Wizards selected first in the NBA draft was in 2010, when they took John Wall, who became a franchise legend.
Dybantsa has the potential to do the same.
Jazz - Cameron Boozer (F, Duke)
The Jazz finished last in the Western Conference, winning only 22 games. They desperately need a youth talent that can contribute on both ends of the floor and make an immediate impact. Boozer fits the mold perfectly – at Duke, he averaged 22.5 points while shooting 56% from the floor and 39% from beyond the arc.
Boozer has a knack for scoring, but he also gets his teammates involved. The top prospect led all Duke players this past season with both 4.1 assists and 10.2 rebounds per game - the latter of which led the entire ACC - while also averaging 1.4 steals, second-most behind teammate Maliq Brown's 1.8.
His versatility would help the Jazz roster, which has struggled defensively and severely lacked interior toughness.
He would create a strong front-court trio with Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic, while helping the team improve its rebounding and three-point shooting percentage. Boozer stands at 6-foot-9 and has an impressive 9-foot standing reach.
His body gives him the option to play at the four but also compete as a five if his team goes small-ball. The Duke superstar is a tremendous all-around player who would be a great fit for a struggling franchise that seeks to improve many areas of the game.
In short, there's a reason why he won AP Player of the Year.
“I think my mind, for sure. My feel for the game is elite. My competitiveness, my will to win, I think those are the biggest things that are going to translate,” said Boozer when asked why he should be drafted at No. 1. And while the Wizards could still choose him, Utah might be even a better fit for the talented forward.
Grizzlies - Darryn Peterson (G, Kansas)
Peterson could easily hear his name called first overall, but scouts believe he still has untapped potential after not fully showcasing his abilities and potential at Kansas.
He is unanimously the most prolific scorer thanks to his elite shot-making ability. He excels both on and off the ball and can also run the point guard position. However, his lone freshman season was impacted by injuries, which may concern NBA organizations.
Ultimately, organizations want to know that he will be dependable and able to handle the 82-game regular season scheme.
Among the top five draft candidates, Peterson might have the highest ceiling. That's if he fulfills his potential and expectations; he can make an impact right away. This would be a massive win for the Grizzlies, a team that missed the postseason after four consecutive appearances.
Furthermore, the future of their biggest star – Ja Morant – is uncertain, and Memphis could look for the next guy up.
Bulls - Keaton Wagler (G, Illinois)
This may be a bold take, but Wagler made a huge case for himself by powering Illinois to its first Final Four appearance since 2005.
Wagler had a phenomenal breakout season as a freshman, recording 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.7% from the three-point line. He has a great size for a perimeter player, possesses elite decision-making, can run the offense as well as play at the two, and his explosiveness makes him difficult to defend.
The Bulls are in the middle of a rebuild after trading away seven players at the deadline in February and later firing both the general manager and president of basketball operations.
They urgently need an offensive weapon to complement guard Josh Giddey, and an athletic player with great perimeter size to help fix defensive issues.
Wagler went from an unsung recruit to shining at a Power 5 school and becoming an All-American, proving that he puts in the hard work that results in growth and production.
He has all the tools to succeed at the next level.
Clippers - Caleb Wilson (F, North Carolina)
It will be interesting to see where Wilson lands. He has terrific size, power, athleticism, and physicality. But an injury ended his college season in February, and the public didn’t see him play in the most important part of the year.
It doesn’t put his abilities in question, but it did allow other prospects to use March Madness to plead their cases. Wilson must hope that whatever he showed during the regular season was convincing enough.
At No. 5, the Second-Team All-American would be a perfect fit for the Los Angeles Clippers, who traded away James Harden and are expected to enter the next season with a significantly different roster.
They ranked second to last in total rebounds per game, and Wilson’s athleticism, high motor, and pursuit of the ball would significantly fix this issue.
At North Carolina, he averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, while being a reliable, solid defender. He can dunk with ease but also has a soft touch around the rim and hits mid-range jumpers with confidence.
His three-point shooting percentage is an area for improvement, but Wilson has shown he is capable of hitting from beyond the arc.