Which player in the 2025 class could challenge AJ Dybantsa for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?

Going through the summer, one thing started to become clear, the 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to be a good one. Currently, in the process – 22 months out – six players have distinguished themselves atop the class. While AJ Dybantsa is universally thought of in a tier of his own, the intriguing part of the summer has been distinguishing the second tier of players.

The current players at Nos. 2 through 6 in the 2025 On3 150 update.

No. 2 PF Cameron Boozer, Miami (FL) Christopher Columbus
No. 3 SF Nate Ament, Warrenton (VA) Highland School
No. 4 SG Darryn Peterson, Huntington (WV) Huntington Prep
No. 5 PF Chris Cenac, Branson (MO) Link Academy
No. 6 PF Caleb Wilson, Atlanta (GA) Holy Innocents Academy

READ: Six players in 2025 recruiting cycle providing optimism for 2026 NBA Draft

However, even with Dybantsa being talked about as ‘the guy’ in this domestic 2026 NBA Draft class, I wanted to take a look at which player, if any, could possibly join Dybantsa in the No. 1 conversation for the 2026 NBA Draft. Looking at that second tier of players, I am interested in watching Nate Ament over the next couple of years of his development.

READ: A Full Breakdown on Why AJ Dybantsa is No. 1 in 2025

Can Ament push Dybantsa?

When talking about Nate Ament, let us start with his physical makeup. Ament is listed at 6-foot-9. At first glance, you see the lengthy frame, and watching him play you see the athletic fluidity he has. While Ament is not an explosively athletic player, he is twitchy and has more wiggle than most his size.

The wiggle is an interesting place to start. Ament is comfortable on the ball. Not only can he push the break under control, but he can also act as the initiator in the pick and roll. Ament is an excellent passer, able to make reads in tight spaces while distributing passes, with both hands, across multiple levels of the court.

Ament is also an excellent rebounder and instinctive defender. At 6-foot-9, Ament turned the corner this summer becoming a force on the glass, routinely averaging double-figure rebounds, and clearing space in his area. While still thin, he does not shy away from the physicality and uses his nose for the ball to end the opposing team’s possessions. He is also active as an off-ball defender. Ament uses his long arms in the passing lanes, but more overtly, he is an excellent weak-side shot blocker acting as his team’s rim protector sometimes coming from the wing position.

While Nate Ament has been ranked as a top fifteen player in this class since October of 2023, and this is his fourth update inside of the top ten, this summer Ament turned the corner. The physicality and the toughness took things to a new level, bolting Ament into the top three.

Still developing

For the purposes of this update, exciting the class of 2025 players’ final year of travel ball and entering their senior season, it was tough to overlook the overall resume of Cam Boozer. While Nate Ament has a higher upside, he still has some work to do to reach that considerable ceiling.

For starters, Ament is thin. The wing is listed at 6-foot-9, but he is also clocking in around 185 pounds. Ament will need to continue adding weight, which will help his overall ceiling. While he is a capable shooter, he will also need to continue working on getting into his shot off the bounce. Ament can knock down shots when given time, but his release can be lengthy, which gets him in trouble when shooting off side-to-side movement as well as when facing guys with his length and athleticism.

The fact that Ament can knock down a shot, at his size and length is a long-term positive. The release is clean and consistent, the shooting load can be cleaned up in time, the same with adding weight to a player. Both of these will be necessary as he continues toward his top-end ceiling.

To this point in his career, he has – for the most part – been taller than most that he plays against. As the physical tools start to even out amongst his peers, continuing to progress the game is a must. For Ament, a player who seemingly adds new parts to his game each time you see him, it will be interesting to see how Ament’s game grows over the next 12 to 24 months.

Why Nate Ament is that guy to watch

A look across the current NBA landscape and you see a host of two-way players who have defensive instincts and can create offense at the top of the game. That is part of what puts Dybantsa currently in a class of his own.

The Boston Celtics, this season’s NBA champions, took this player archetype to heart with their roster. They started with four players who could guard across multiple positions and create offensive advantages with the ball in their hands. Ament’s ability to quickly process and deliver on target and on time makes him a threat in the half-court.

His combination of size, athleticism, and skill set are unique. In a league that is routinely trying to get taller, across the board, at all positions, this type of unique two-way archetype will be looked at closely by NBA front offices. Through the Adidas Championships Ament averaged 15.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. Classified on Synergy as a ‘scoring ball handler’ he also shot 42.9 percent from three.

Of course, as we sit here in August of 2024, AJ Dybantsa is sitting in a tier of prospect by himself. With that said, we are 22 months away from the 2026 NBA Draft. With continued growth, it will be interesting to see where Nate Ament’s game sits in June of 2026.