Top NBA Draft Prospects: Darius Acuff and Cam Boozer Shine in March Madness

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 21, 2026 2:15 PM ET

The NCAA Tournament serves as a final exam for NBA Draft prospects. A strong March run can reshape a player’s draft outlook.

Filmogaz.com previews Top NBA Draft Prospects: Darius Acuff and Cam Boozer Shine in March Madness. The tournament offers the best stage to answer scouting questions.

Why March matters for draft stock

One game is a small sample. Still, deep tournament runs can add about 18 percent to a player’s seasonal sample.

Scouts watch for consistency, versatility and how prospects respond under pressure. That can change draft positioning.

Prospects to watch this tournament

Cameron Boozer — Duke (No. 5 seed)

First-round opponent: Siena. Potential second-round opponents: Ohio State or TCU.

The 6-foot-9 freshman averages 22.5 points, 10 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He shoots 56.5 percent overall and 40.9 percent from three.

Boozer has a long resume of winners’ titles at high school and youth levels. Questions remain about translating his ground-bound game versus NBA length.

Darryn Peterson — Kansas (No. 4 seed)

First-round opponent: Cal Baptist. Potential second-round opponents: St. John’s or Northern Iowa.

Peterson missed time with hamstring issues and cramping. He averaged 18.7 points over his last nine games.

His recent shooting dipped to 37.8 percent overall and 33.3 percent from three. Kansas went 4-5 in that span.

AJ Dybantsa — BYU (No. 6 seed)

First-round opponent: NC State or Texas. Potential second-round opponents: Gonzaga or Kennesaw State.

Dybantsa led the nation at 25.9 points per game this season. Over his last 16 games he averaged 28.4 points.

He shot 48.6 percent overall, 36.4 percent from three, and 76.8 percent from the foul line. He averaged 4.1 assists during that run.

Darius Acuff Jr. — Arkansas (seeded)

First-round opponent: Hawaii. Potential second-round opponents: Wisconsin or High Point.

The freshman has surged late, averaging 27.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists over his last 14 games. He shot 49 percent overall and 47.4 percent from three.

Acuff’s offense appears settled, but defensive questions remain. Scouts see his defense as a major pre-draft focus.

Braylon Mullins — UConn (No. 8 seed)

First-round opponent: Furman. Potential second-round opponents: UCLA or UCF.

Mullins can swing UConn’s offensive consistency with his shooting and movement. Scouts rank him roughly between 12 and 25 in mock boards.

He has struggled late, averaging 10.6 points over his last seven games. Strength and finishing against bigger defenders are concerns.

Chris Cenac Jr. — Houston (seeded)

First-round opponent: Idaho. Potential second-round opponents: Saint Mary’s or Texas A&M.

The 6-foot-11 big shows upside as an athlete with perimeter skills. He produced a 17-point, 14-rebound game against Kansas.

Cenac has also had inconsistent outings versus high-level competition. A strong tournament could lock him into the top 20.

Nate Ament — Tennessee (seeded)

First-round opponent: Miami (OH) or SMU. Potential second-round opponents: Virginia or Wright State.

The 6-foot-10 playmaker averaged 19 points in conference play and got to the foul line frequently. He averaged eight free-throw attempts in SEC play.

Scouts worry about his jumper mechanics and strength finishing at the rim. Virginia would present a tough, physical matchup.

Mikel Brown Jr. — Louisville (seeded)

First-round opponent: South Florida. Potential second-round opponents: Michigan State or North Dakota State.

Brown has shown massive scoring bursts, including consecutive 45, 29 and 29 point games. He has also produced extended low-output stretches.

A back injury cost him time this season. The tournament will test his consistency and ability to handle physical defenses.

Amari Allen — Alabama (seeded)

First-round opponent: Hofstra. Potential second-round opponents: Texas Tech or Akron.

The 6-foot-8 freshman averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists in conference play. He shot 39.5 percent from three on five attempts per game.

Allen ended the regular season in a slump, including several poor shooting outings. He missed time with an ankle issue this winter.