2026 NBA Draft Early Entry Candidates list includes two BYU players
Apr 27, 2026, 4:08 PM
PROVO, Utah – The early entry deadline for players to enter the 2026 NBA draft has passed.
Two players from the BYU basketball program are going through the 2026 NBA draft process. Everyone knows about potential No. 1 NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa declaring. The nation’s leading scorer made that official last week at his elementary school in Brockton, Massachusetts.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that 71 players have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2026, which will be held Tuesday, June 23 (First Round) and Wednesday June 24 (Second Round) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. pic.twitter.com/GfV338yqsz
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 27, 2026
“I’m declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft,” Dybantsa said on April 23 in Brockton. “But, as you all know, my mom wanted me to stay in college to graduate. I told my mother that I’m gonna declare for the draft, but I’ll also finish my degree online. I’ll probably finish within the next four years. I’m gonna stay at BYU and enroll in classes online. I’ll probably major in mass communications.”
Kennard Davis Jr. declares for 2026 NBA Draft
Along with Dybantsa, BYU starting wing Kennard Davis Jr. has declared for the NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-6 junior who put his name in the transfer portal earlier this month has declared as an early entrant for the upcoming draft.
Players who declare for early entry into the NBA Draft can withdraw their name by 5 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday, June 13.
Davis still has one year of eligibility remaining in his collegiate career, so he could easily go back to whichever college he plans to play for next season. As of Monday, April 27, he has not committed to another school out of the transfer portal.
A total of 71 players declared for early entry into the 2026 NBA Draft. According to Draft Express, it’s the lowest number of early entrants since 2003. By comparison, there were 106 early entrants last year.
The NIL era is flipping the NBA Draft on its head.
Only 71 players entered the 2026 NBA Draft, per the NBA. Down from 106 last year and a peak of 363 in 2021.
That's the lowest early-entrant total since 2003.
College basketball stars are staying in school, overwhelmingly. pic.twitter.com/sGoHkBuVU5
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 27, 2026
The 2026 draft class, led by early entrants such as AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson of Kansas, Caleb Wilson of North Carolina, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer, is viewed as one of the best and deepest classes in nearly a quarter-century.
Other notable players who declared early for the NBA Draft include 7-foot-2 center Luigi Suigo from Serbia.
Suigo is a prospect whom BYU has recruited.
2026 NBA Draft will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn
The 2026 NBA Draft takes place in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
