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The Utah Jazz learn their NBA draft fate this weekend. Will they get a shot at Dybantsa, Boozer or Peterson?

Here are some of the prospects Utah could land in the top eight.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa could be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa could be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft.

The Utah Jazz’s four-year rebuild might be over.

But before a playoff push can finally begin in the Delta Center, the front office needs to cash in on its reward for a 22-win season: a high draft pick.

The NBA draft lottery is set for Sunday, when the Jazz will learn their fate.

When the lottery balls bounce, Utah has an 11.5% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick. The Jazz’s odds of staying in the top four sit at 45.1%.

For most of the season, Jazz fans worried about giving away their pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Due to the Derrick Favors trade, Utah’s pick was top-eight protected and would be forked over to the reigning champs if it fell to nine.

But that’s officially off the table after a coin flip went Utah’s way last month. The Jazz are locked in at the fourth-worst record in the league and the lowest they can go is eight.

It’s good news for a franchise that’s never been lucky. Utah has never been awarded the top overall pick in the draft. Never mind that, the Jazz haven’t even moved up in the draft lottery with one of their own picks. (The team did jump into the top 3 in 2011, with a pick acquired from the Nets.)

But maybe that will change in a loaded draft class this year.

Draft analysts widely agree that the top four picks in this year’s class are all potential stars. After that, the consensus gets a bit murky.

The superstar of the draft is well known in Utah: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. But here are some other prospects the Jazz could land depending on their lottery fate.

No. 1: AJ Dybantsa

(Tyler Tate | AP) BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) goes to the basket for a dunk during the first half an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Provo.

Since coming to Utah Prep as a senior in high school, Dybantsa has been eyed as the top pick in this draft.

A dynamic 6-foot-9 forward who thrives from the midrange, the 19-year-old has been compared to Tracy McGrady and Paul George.

On the court, BYU may have squandered Dybantsa’s lone year in Provo by not winning an NCAA Tournament game. But as for Dybantsa himself, he lived up to the billing. He led the nation in scoring and became an All-American. When star guard Richie Saunders went down, Dybantsa routinely put up 35- and 40-point games.

He will need to improve as a shooter, particularly from distance, but he is clearly the most talented player to ever walk through the Marriott Center.

No. 2: Cameron Boozer

Duke forward Cameron Boozer passes against Virginia during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Duke’s do-it-all big man was the National Player of the Year and led one of the best teams in college basketball. If Dybantsa is known for his scoring, Boozer is known for his ruthless efficiency. He averaged 22 points per game with an effective shooting percentage of over 60%. He did that while facilitating the offense with more than four assists per game.

Some have knocked Boozer’s size if he wants to play inside in the NBA. He is only 6-foot-9 playing in the front court where there are routinely 7-footers roaming.

But the Jazz do have a Boozer connection. Boozer’s father, Carlos, was a Jazz legend playing here from 2004-10. Cameron Boozer was born in Salt Lake City when his father was playing for the Jazz.

No. 3: Darryn Peterson

Kansas guard Darryn Peterson (22) attempts to get past BYU center Abdullah Ahmed, center, as BYU guard Richie Saunders (15) also defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

There were stretches of this season where Peterson was the odds-on favorite to go No. 1. His effortless scoring ability, where he’d burst in the first half for 20 points, made it hard not to see Peterson as a future All-Star.

But things got weird when he routinely sat out for large stretches of critical games. Against BYU, for example, he poured in 18 points in 20 minutes and then didn’t play the final 16 minutes of the game.

Peterson said he struggled with severe cramping that kept him off the floor. When he started to play complete games toward the end of the year, his shooting numbers dropped off.

Peterson is still a dynamic guard, but the questions about his health might keep him off the top line of the draft.

No. 4: Caleb Wilson

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives to the basket past North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) during the game between the BYU Cougars and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Delta Center on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Caleb Wilson’s first real college action came at the Delta Center in a scrimmage against BYU. When his North Carolina team came to town, he dueled with Dybantsa and showed the wing span that has so many NBA teams intrigued.

At 6-foot-10, he scored nearly 20 points per game and had almost 1.5 blocks a night. His 3-point shooting wasn’t great, at 25%, but the size clearly fits the mold for an NBA scorer.

The rest of the top eight

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) takes the ball up the middle as Houston Cougars guard Kingston Flemings (4) defends in BIG 12 basketball action between the BYU Cougars and the Houston Cougars at the Marriott Center on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.

After the top four, there are a number of players shuffling around.

Some love Houston’s Kingston Flemings, a freshman who became one of the country’s best guards seemingly overnight. Others gravitated toward Illinois’ Keaton Wagler as he took his team to the Final Four. Dynamic scorer Darius Acuff and Arizona marksman Brayden Burries are in the projected top eight, too.

But the real prize in this draft comes in the top four, experts say. So the Jazz need to get a little lucky, and hope that 45% chance pays off.

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