AJ Dybantsa of the BYU Cougars drives to the basket during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on March 3 in Cincinnati.
Michael Hickey
Getty Images
The Sacramento Kings have won three of their last four games after upsetting the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. And while they’ve been mired in one of the worst seasons in franchise history, they’ve moved from having the worst record in the NBA to the third-worst.
That could have significant ramifications on where the team picks in the upcoming NBA draft. It’s been a polarizing issue among Kings fans: Lose games to be in the best position to take advantage of a draft class with potential stars at the top? Or win games to improve the vibes and create a more winning culture for next season and beyond?
The question comes amid what many observers have called one of college basketball’s deepest draft classes in recent memory, and the NCAA Division I Tournament bracket released Sunday afternoon represents the final chance to see many of the top players in action for March Madness ahead of this summer’s draft.
The Kings entered Sunday evening’s game against the Utah Jazz with the third-worst record in the NBA (17-51), better than the Indiana Pacers (15-53) and Washington Wizards (16-50), and just a half-game worse than the Brooklyn Nets (17-50). Indiana and Washington are both riding double-digit losing streaks while Sacramento has gone 5-5 in its last 10, including the Kings’ win over the Pacers last week.
The NBA changed its lottery odds rules starting in 2019 to give the three worst teams an equal 14% chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick, while the team with the overall worst record is guaranteed no lower than the No. 5 pick. The Kings are currently flirting with ending the season with the fourth-worst record or lower. If they’re fourth, their pick could fall as far as No. 8 with only about a 26% chance of a Top 4 pick and 6% to draw the overall pick.
All of which could make the NBA draft lottery on May 10 one of the most consequential nights in Kings history given the strength of this draft class.
Here are five prospects Kings fans should know and keep an eye on as the tournament unfolds. Four of them are set to play in the NCAA Tournament, while one is out for the season but remains a top-level prospect.
The official bracket with game dates and matchups were released Sunday afternoon, with start times and TV channels set to be released later in the evening.
AJ Dybantsa, BYU (6-9, 210)
Position: Forward
Size: 6-foot-9, 210 pounds
Dybantsa may have been built in a lab for the modern NBA game. His combination of size, length, athleticism and growing scoring ability has many observers believing he could be the No. 1 pick in the draft despite coming into the season behind Darryn Peterson as the clear top prospect out of high school. Dybantsa’s frame and competitiveness could help him become an elite defender down the line. The only knock is his outside shooting, where he’s 34% on 3-pointers this season.
Dybantsa came into the weekend leading the country in scoring at 25.3 points per game, and would be the first freshman since Trae Young to be the country’s top scorer in his first college season. But his team’s tournament hopes have taken a significant hit due to a slew of injuries, including an ACL tear to third-leading scorer Richie Saunders.
BYU lost to Houston in the Big 12 Conference tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, 73-66, with Dybantsa scoring 26 points. He was one of two Cougars to finish in double figures while Houston had four, including Top 10 prospect Kingston Flemings, who had 17.
The Kings have badly lacked athletic wings with good size and versatility, which is one reason they gave Keegan Murray a five-year, $140 million deal in October despite his shooting percentages dipping each year since his impressive rookie season.
Dybantsa would seemingly fit well next to Murray at forward on both ends of the floor, and his play-making could allow Murray to become more of a secondary option over the long haul.
Dybantsa’s game is reminiscent of a young Kevin Durant, Tracy McGrady or Paul George. That’s lofty praise, to be sure. Failure to live up to that hype could lead to a Jonathan Kuminga-type career, where his physical skills and consistency never align.
AJ Dybantsa of the BYU Cougars goes up for a dunk against the Houston Cougars in the first half during the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center on Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri. Ed Zurga Getty Images How to watch Dybantsa
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas/NC State (First Four winner), Thursday
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Position: Guard
Size: 6-5, 205
Peterson was heavily projected as the No. 1 prospect coming out of high school. Many believed he was a generational scorer akin to stars like Anthony Edwards or even Kobe Bryant.
Peterson’s season with the Jayhawks hasn’t lived up to that billing largely because of availability. Peterson has dealt with hamstring and cramp issues throughout the season, causing him to miss 11 games and leave others early. It’s made him the draft’s most polarizing prospect.
Peterson recently told the Kansas City Star that he was dealing with full body cramps stemming from conditioning drills in training camp, which required hospitalization to get intravenous fluids. “I would say it was a traumatic experience,” Peterson said.
He indicated his physical health is coming back as the postseason heats up. He’s played over 30 minutes in five of his last seven games. But his 3-point shooting has cooled down from 43% during his first 15 games to 27% in seven games since. There’s also a belief he could be more of a primary ball handler in the NBA rather than the off-ball option he’s largely been in college.
If Peterson remained healthy throughout the season, there’s a good chance he would have cemented his status as the top overall pick. But Dybantsa’s steady improvement, and appearing every game, could give him the edge even if Peterson has the higher ceiling.
Peterson would be more of a long-term fit than a short-term one. He overlaps with Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook, particularly if he works more as a point guard in the NBA like some observers believe he will as a pro.
The Kings would have to decide if its worth having Peterson play behind or alongside those established veterans, and if he would benefit from their stewardship. Or they could decide not to bring Westbrook back and try to move LaVine’s expiring contract to give Peterson a permanent green light to expedite his development.
It’s not hyperbolic to say Peterson could become a generational shooting guard like Edwards or Bryant. The other side of those expectations is a career like OJ Mayo or Jalen Green.
No. 4 Kansas is in the East Region bracket and would face No. 1 Duke in the Sweet 16 round if both teams win their first- and second-round games.
Darryn Peterson of the Kansas Jayhawks controls the ball as CJ Jones of the Kansas State Wildcats guards him during a game at Allen Fieldhouse on March 7 in Lawrence, Kansas. Jamie Squire Getty Images How to watch Peterson
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist, Friday
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Position: Forward/center
Size: 6-9, 250
Boozer doesn’t jump off the screen with explosiveness or athleticism. But he’s strong, steady and has won at a prodigious level, including four straight state championships at Columbus High School in Florida. The son of 13-year NBA veteran Carlos Boozer, Cameron is starring for the Blue Devils, who are 32-2 and the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
But Boozer is also polarizing. Some observers believe his skill set resembles Kevin Love or Al Horford, helpful NBA players who have won championships, but not stars who dramatically change a franchise on their own. Still, Boozer is considered by many to be the safest prospect in the draft with the highest floor.
There’s a chance Boozer defies those expectations. He’s more of an offensive hub than either Love or Horford. He’s shooting 42% from 3 and leading the nation in rebounding (10.3 a game) with a respectable 4.1 assists. He’s a good screener and passer, and an underrated driver to the basket. In some ways, he projects as a better scoring version of Domantas Sabonis given his physicality and ability to score in a variety of ways.
The caveat: it comes without elite size for a center, making him best used as a power forward. The good news is he’s shown signs of good interior passing which could help him play with a traditional center. The downside is what could happen defensively, as Boozer might be too slow to defend athletic wings and too small to protect the rim against 7-footers.
Boozer would be easy to incorporate with the current version of the Kings. He could play the power forward with Murray at the small forward spot and Sabonis (or Maxim Raynaud or Dylan Cardwell) at center. He could also benefit from playing alongside Westbrook, if the Kings bring him back.
In the long run, it would make sense to prioritize Boozer’s role in the offense and surround him with 3-point shooting, much like the Kings did with Sabonis when they had the league’s best offense in 2022-23.
The ceiling for Boozer could be an offensive big with rebounding, screening and passing skills like Sabonis — and the shooting ability of Karl-Anthony Towns. Or he could more resemble Love or Horford: a great role player who will play in the league for a long time.
As noted: If both teams avoid first- and second-round upsets, Boozer and the Blue Devils could face Peterson and the Jayhawks in the Sweet 16 round of March Madness.
Butta Johnson of the Clemson Tigers guards Cameron Boozer of the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during the semifinals of the men’s ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center on Friday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jacob Kupferman Getty Images How to watch Boozer
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena, Thursday
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina (injured)
Position: Forward/center
Size: 6-10, 215
If the NBA valued the scouting combine like the NFL does, Wilson might be the No. 1 overall pick. His size and explosiveness jump off the screen leaving many evaluators to wonder if he has the most upside given his physical gifts.
With that, Wilson is also raw. He’s a 26% 3-point shooter and has plenty to work on when he’s not close enough to dunk over whoever’s guarding him. He also could become a terrifying small-ball center on a team that prioritizes pushing the pace.
However, Wilson’s season was cut short after 24 games. He broke a bone in his left hand that caused him to miss time, then broke his right thumb while dunking in practice, which required season-ending surgery, meaning he won’t have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament.
Wilson might have the highest ceiling in the draft, but he might also be the most risky with a top-four pick. His athleticism and skill set is tantalizing, to be sure, but that was true for players like Brandan Wright, Tyrus Thompson and Nerlens Noel.
Adding him would mean the Kings would still need a primary ball handler and offensive creator to take advantage of Wilson’s ability to finish. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s in stark contrast to primary initiators like Dybantsa, Peterson and Boozer.
Wilson will be sidelined, but North Carolina made the bracket as the No. 6 seed in the South Region and will take on No. 11 VCU on Thursday.
Caleb Wilson of the North Carolina Tar Heels attempts a shot against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the second half at Hank McCamish Pavilion on Jan. 31 in Atlanta. Kevin C. Cox Getty Images Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Position: Guard
Size: 6-3, 190
Acuff is gaining serious momentum heading into the postseason, including his 37-point performance against Oklahoma in the SEC tournament on Friday followed by a dominant 30-point, 11-assist effort Sunday in leading Arkansas to win the SEC. He’s considered an elite offensive guard who could use work on the defensive end.
There’s also a growing contingent of observers who believe Acuff might be the best freshman guard to ever play for John Calipari. That group includes De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, John Wall and Devin Booker. To be sure, some of those players were late bloomers and Acuff having a better freshman season than Gilgeous-Alexander did at Kentucky in 2018 doesn’t mean Acuff is destined to become an MVP.
Still, Acuff entered the weekend averaging 22.7 points and 6.4 assists while shooting a robust 44% from 3-point range. His limitations exist on the defensive end, but his elite scoring could translate to the NBA right away.
Acuff’s fit with the Kings would be straightforward. The team is desperate for a long-term option at point guard that can run an offense be a primary scorer. Acuff represents that in spades.
But he would require a roster around him that could shoot and defend. It’s early, but he has the looks of a Damian Lillard or Trae Young-type of point guard.
Darius Acuff Jr. of the Arkansas Razorbacks drives around Jadon Jones of the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half in the quarterfinal game of the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on Friday in Nashville, Tennessee. Johnnie Izquierdo Getty Images How to watch Acuff
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii, Thursday
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Chris Biderman covers sports and local news for the Sacramento Bee since joining in August 2018 to cover the San Francisco 49ers. He previously spent time with the Associated Press and USA Today Sports Media Group, and has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Athletic and on MLB.com. He is a current member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and former member of the Pro Football Writers of America. The Santa Rosa native graduated with a degree in journalism from the Ohio State University.