NCAA Tournament: 5 Future NBA Stars' Last Chance

0:00On March 18th, this year's freshman class in college basketball stands out as one of the best ever, packed with future NBA stars that could fill. All-star rosters down the line. The 2026 NBA draft looks loaded, but for five key prospects, the upcoming NCAA tournament holds huge stakes beyond just winning a title. Darren Peterson and Kansas started as the projected number one pick, thanks to his elite scoring, playmaking and defense, but his stock has wobbled. Lately, AJ DiBanza of BYU has lived up to hype, leading the nation with 24.7 points per game, though his team's late slump from an injury, drops pressure on him to carry them deep. Darius Ackuff Jr. exploded at Arkansas, earning SEC player of the year honors with 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, rocketing him upboards as the most NBA-ready guard. Meanwhile, Mikel Brown Jr. at Louisville flashed big games like 45 points, but battled in

1:01efficiency, making a tournament run his best shot to rebound. Coa Pete Powers Arizona, a top seed, was solid 13.8 points and rebounding as a freshman leader. Scouts have mixed views on him, from lottery to late first round. A deep tournament run could lock in top spots or spark rises for these talents, reshaping the draft in the weeks ahead.