Iowa Hawkeyes Star Stirtz Named Top Sleeper in 2026 NBA Draft

The 2026 NBA draft class is loaded with talent at the top, but the most compelling story for Iowa fans sits well outside the lottery. Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz has been named the top sleeper pick of the entire draft class by ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, giving Iowa basketball its brightest draft spotlight in years. Meanwhile, three franchise-changing prospects are competing for the number one overall selection.

Who Will Go First Overall in the 2026 NBA Draft?

Unlike previous years featuring obvious top picks like LeBron James in 2003 or Victor Wembanyama in 2023, this draft offers genuine suspense at the top. Bilas compares the 2026 class to 2022, when Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith all vied for the first selection right up until draft night.

Three prospects are worthy of the first pick: Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, and Duke forward Cameron Boozer. Each brings a different case to the table.

Peterson is the most talented, Dybantsa is the prototype who fits the NBA suit and Boozer is the best pure basketball player, the dream date of analytics.

Bilas gives the edge to Peterson, citing his fluid scoring ability and defensive potential. Peterson averaged 20 points at Kansas and 27.8 points per 40 minutes. The only concerns are persistent cramping issues that limited his season and his quiet demeanor off the court.

Why Bennett Stirtz Is the Draft's Best Value Pick

For Iowa fans, the real headline is Stirtz. Bilas called the Hawkeyes guard a terrific value pick and possibly the best shooter in the entire draft class alongside Peterson.

Stirtz's durability and work ethic stand out in an era of load management and early exits. He led all of Division I in minutes played, going the distance in 19 games. Over Iowa's final 19 games of the season, Stirtz played 758 out of a possible 765 minutes. He logged 40-plus minutes in each of Iowa's NCAA tournament games.

His shooting mechanics draw high praise. Stirtz has impeccable footwork and shot preparation, and he gets to his spots as effectively as any guard in the class. He also excels in screen-and-roll situations with a quick release. While he is not the most athletic defender, his shooting ability carries far more weight in today's NBA.

How Does the Rest of the First Round Stack Up?

Beyond the top tier, several prospects earned superlatives from Bilas that could shape rosters for years to come.

Most Built for the NBA: AJ Dybantsa

Dybantsa is readymade for the professional level. He is long, athletic, and skilled, gliding around the court with ease. Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance also fits this category at 6-foot-10 and 255 pounds with an immense wingspan, though injury limited his college production.

Best Pure Basketball Player: Cameron Boozer

Boozer combines a distinctive skill set with an advanced understanding of team dynamics and real-time game processing. He measured a 7-foot-1 wingspan and a 35-inch vertical at the combine, posting better sprint and shuttle times than Cooper Flagg did in 2025. Analytics models favor Boozer as the best overall player available.

Most Dynamic Athlete: Caleb Wilson

Wilson brings a 7-foot wingspan and a 39.5-inch vertical to the table. He drops jaws with his quick bounce and has another gear when the ball is tipped. Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr. and Baylor's Cameron Carr also rank among the draft's most explosive athletes.

Best Guard After Peterson: Darius Acuff Jr.

Acuff led the SEC in both scoring at 23.5 points per game and assists at 6.4 per game, becoming the first player since Pete Maravich in 1970 to lead the conference in both categories simultaneously. The Detroit native was the only player in the country to average more than 20 points, 5 assists, and shoot better than 40 percent from three-point range. Bilas believes Acuff could wind up as the best offensive player in the entire draft.

Best Passer: Braden Smith

Smith finished his college career as the NCAA's all-time assists leader with 1,103. Standing just 5-foot-10, he relies on intelligence, quickness, and vision in pick-and-roll situations. Bilas compares him to T.J. McConnell at the next level.

Best Rebounder: Hannes Steinbach

The Washington freshman led the nation at 11.8 rebounds per game and averaged 18.5 points. He grabbed 24 boards in a single game against USC. Arizona's Tobe Awaka, who nearly averaged a double-double in just 20.8 minutes per game, earned recognition as the best offensive rebounder.

Best Defensive Player: Jayden Quaintance

Despite limited action due to injury, Quaintance has the highest ceiling as a game-changing defender. Michigan's Aday Mara earned the top rim protector distinction after setting a Michigan record with 103 blocks and holding opponents to 35 percent shooting at the rim.

Which Prospects Outside the Lottery Could Make the Biggest Impact?

Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr. and Labaron Philon Jr. earned Bilas's favor as the best prospects outside the top 10. Johnson is an imposing 6-foot-9, 250-pound athlete with huge hands and the ability to defend multiple positions. Philon nearly doubled his scoring output from the previous season and tied Acuff with a dozen games of 25 or more points in SEC play.

What Makes the 2026 NBA Draft Unique for Iowa Fans?

This draft marks a rare moment where an Iowa Hawkeyes player commands national attention as a legitimate NBA prospect. Stirtz's combination of elite shooting, iron-man durability, and polished fundamentals gives him a real path to a productive professional career. In a draft full of athletic marvels and high-upside projects, Stirtz represents something refreshingly old-school: a player who simply stays on the court, gets to his spots, and knocks down shots.