It is mid-January 2026, and if you haven't been watching BYU or Kansas lately, you’re missing the most chaotic shift in the basketball hierarchy we've seen in years. The class of 2025 basketball rankings aren't just a list on a website anymore. They are living, breathing arguments happening every night on national TV.
Remember when we thought this class was top-heavy? We were wrong.
Basically, the "Big Three" of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer have turned the freshman college season into a three-way tug-of-war for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But the rankings from their high school days are already looking a bit dated. Some guys have exploded. Others are struggling with the speed of the college game.
Honestly, the way AJ Dybantsa has taken over at BYU is the story of the year.
The Battle for the Top: Dybantsa vs. Peterson vs. Boozer
For the longest time, the industry was split. You had the "Dybantsa is a generational wing" camp and the "Cameron Boozer is the most polished winner" camp. Now that they're in college, the class of 2025 basketball rankings are being re-written by box scores.
AJ Dybantsa: The New King of Provo
AJ Dybantsa didn't just go to BYU for the mountains. He went there to be the "guy," and Kevin Young has unleashed him. As of January 2026, Dybantsa is averaging a staggering 23.1 points per game. He’s 6-foot-9, but he moves like a guard.
The Athletic recently moved him to No. 1 on their 2026 Big Board, leapfrogging everyone else. He’s shooting nearly 59% from the floor. That’s not normal for a freshman wing. He’s basically a walking mismatch.
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Darryn Peterson: The Scoring Machine at Kansas
Peterson was the first big domino to fall in the 2025 cycle when he picked Kansas. He’s had a bit of a bumpy start with a nagging hamstring injury that’s limited his minutes to about 159 total through the first 15 games.
But scouts don't care.
When he’s on the floor, the scoring is effortless. He’s still widely considered the best pure guard in the class. Even with the missed time, most mock drafts still have him going in the top three. Bill Self has a way of tightening up Peterson’s defense, which was the only real "knock" on him coming out of high school.
Cameron Boozer: The Double-Double Lock
Then there’s Boozer at Duke. He is exactly who we thought he was.
He’s a metronome. 20 points, 10 rebounds. Every. Single. Night.
While Dybantsa has more "flash" and Peterson has more "shake," Boozer has the highest floor. He’s helping Duke stay in the top 10 while playing a remarkably mature brand of ball. He’s currently the No. 2 or No. 3 prospect depending on who you ask, but if you want to win a college game today, he might be the first one you'd pick.
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The Risers: Who Most People Got Wrong
Rankings are never static. That’s the fun part.
Caleb Wilson at North Carolina is making a massive case to be in that Tier 1 conversation. He came into Chapel Hill as a top-10 recruit, but he’s playing like a top-five talent. He’s averaging 19.5 points and 11 rebounds. His "motor"—the thing scouts always talk about—is running hot.
He isn't just a "stretch four" anymore. He’s a defensive nightmare.
- Kingston Flemings (Houston): Kelvin Sampson doesn't give freshmen the keys. He just doesn't. But Flemings is the exception. His poise in that system is wild.
- Nate Ament (Tennessee): Rick Barnes got a gem. Ament is a 6-foot-10 jumbo wing who is starting to find his shooting stroke in SEC play.
- Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville): Louisville is relevant again, and Brown’s playmaking is a big reason why.
Why the Industry Rankings Vary So Much
If you look at 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals, they rarely agree. This is because they value different things.
ESPN often leans toward "NBA upside"—the physical tools that translate to the pros. 247Sports tends to look at "college impact" alongside pro potential. This is why you’ll see some players ranked 15th on one list and 40th on another.
Take a guy like Jayden Quaintance. He’s at Kentucky now, playing as a "sophomore" because of his unique age situation (he’s still incredibly young). His ranking is all over the place because he’s still raw offensively, even though his defensive "stocks" (steals + blocks) are through the roof.
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The NIL Factor
We can't talk about the class of 2025 basketball rankings without mentioning NIL. It changed how these kids chose their schools. Dybantsa at BYU is the prime example. The resources there allowed him to stay an extra year in the spotlight without the pressure of needing an immediate pro paycheck.
This has actually helped the "rankings" become more accurate. In the past, guys would "hide" in certain situations. Now, the best are playing against the best every Tuesday and Saturday.
What to Watch for the Rest of the Season
The "final" rankings for this class will basically be determined by the NCAA Tournament.
Keep an eye on the "Tier 2" guys who are currently ranked between 10 and 25. History shows that one big March run can skyrocket a player’s stock. Think about guys like Keaton Wagler at Illinois or Tounde Yessoufou at Baylor. They have the physical tools to be lottery picks, but they need the "moment."
Actionable Insights for Following the 2025 Class:
- Watch the Efficiency: Don’t just look at points per game. Look at True Shooting Percentage (TS%). Dybantsa’s efficiency is what separates him right now.
- Monitor the Injuries: Darryn Peterson’s hamstring is the biggest "what if" in the class. If he gets 100% healthy by February, Kansas becomes the title favorite.
- Follow the "Stocks": For players like Caleb Wilson and Jayden Quaintance, their value is tied to defensive versatility.
- Check the Age: Remember that some of these "freshmen" are nearly 20, while others (like Quaintance) are significantly younger. That gap matters for NBA scouts.
The class of 2025 is proving to be way deeper than the "weak" 2024 draft class. We are looking at potentially five or six "franchise-altering" talents. Whether you're a college fan or an NBA draft nerd, the next three months are going to be a blast as these rankings finally solidify.