NBA executives are out in force at conference tournaments across the country as they gather intel on the next class of professional stars. The Big 12 tournament at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center has been the main focal point, with the conference boasting 10 projected first-round picks in ESPN’s latest mock draft.

“Thursday and Friday, the place to be is Kansas City,” one Western Conference team president told ESPN. “Like a preview of lottery night — except this time we’ll all leave still excited.”

With the tournament showcasing many of the elite freshmen dominating draft discussions — including potential No. 1 picks in Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, plus Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac, and Arizona’s Brayden Burries and forward Koa Peat — all 30 NBA teams are in attendance, including many lead decision-makers.

And with the 2025-26 regular season reaching its final month, there are as many as eight teams currently playing for draft position. (That number would surely be higher if some bottom-dwelling franchises controlled their first-round pick in June.)

Meanwhile, for teams that miss out on the top-tier talent, the interest in this draft class goes beyond the potential No. 1 picks.

“We’re so interested in this draft because it’s so deep. There’s a lot of impact players,” an Eastern Conference scout said.

“And [the 2027] draft isn’t looking so good. You never know, there are players in every draft, but this year is like a double draft,” a West scout said.

That depth gives hope to teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards — four franchises that will enter the offseason on a collective 15-year run without a playoff appearance — that their pick, wherever it lands, could present a franchise-altering moment.

Ahead of Friday’s Big 12 semifinals (7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2), here’s a look at what executives, scouts and coaches are saying about the biggest names atop NBA draft boards.

The battle for No. 1 remains a two-player race

As it has been all season, Peterson and Dybantsa remain the top two prospects across the majority of draft boards.

Peterson, who remains the No. 1 pick in ESPN NBA draft analyst Jeremy Woo’s latest mock draft, entered the season as the presumptive top pick but has had an up-and-down campaign for the Jayhawks. The down has been due to injury, as he has sat out 11 games because of a series of issues while playing limited minutes in multiple other appearances.

But, when available, Peterson has shown how special he can be, including dropping 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting in the regular-season finale against rival Kansas State and having the highest usage rate in Division 1 at 33.6%, per CBB Analytics.

“As gifted a scorer as it comes,” one power conference general manager said of Peterson’s game. “The wiggle, the aggressiveness, he comes in and takes over games. The NBA guys are working to get the insight on the injuries, but he’s worth a headache or two.”

Dybantsa, meanwhile, is virtually the only healthy player remaining on a Cougars team that has faded down the stretch. Injuries, particularly to senior forward Richie Saunders, have derailed early-season Final Four ambitions.

But that hasn’t dampened his draft stock or his competitive fire. And between his 6-foot-9 frame and natural scoring ability — Dybantsa is the first freshman since Trae Young in 2018 to lead the nation in scoring — the BYU star still has many NBA decision-makers buzzing.

“He’s got all the tools, he’s a dynamic scorer who will put up points in the NBA right away,” a veteran East executive said.

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Is AJ Dybantsa ready for the NBA?

Jay Williams and Kendrick Perkins explain why they’re confident AJ Dybantsa can make it in the NBA.

On Tuesday, Dybantsa opened the Big 12 tournament with possibly his most impressive game of the season, hitting 15 of 21 shots for 40 points to break Kevin Durant‘s tournament scoring record for a freshman set in 2007.

“I think Dybantsa is the easy No. 1,” an East executive said. “He’s special. There’s just so much for him to still grow into.”

“He’s the easiest one to see how he gets to No. 1, but the game doesn’t come quite as easy to him like it does to some of the truly great players,” another East executive said.

“[Dybantsa] is probably going to be our No. 1,” a West scout said. “But it isn’t settled.”

Nowhere near settled, as Peterson, despite his uneven freshman season, remains the player most league insiders point to as the current favorite to be the first name called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver on draft night.

“Talent-wise, he’s clearly [No. 1],” an East scout said. “He’s got the full package. When he’s played, he’s shown that he has the ‘it’ factor.”

A Carolina clash for No. 3

Though a prospect could still leapfrog Peterson or Dybantsa, the widespread expectation is that the third and fourth picks will feature a pair of forwards from Tobacco Road rivals: Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.

Boozer might be the most fascinating player in this year’s draft. His numbers entering this week’s ACC tournament for the presumptive No. 1 overall seed in this year’s NCAA tournament are the stuff of video games: 22.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 58% from the field, 40.7% from 3-point range. He led Duke outright in points, rebounds and assists in eight games this season, the most by a freshman in 30 years.

That kind of production is why some NBA decision-makers argue that Boozer should join Peterson and Dybantsa as a potential No. 1 pick.

“I think there’s a top three, and a case for any of them,” a second East executive said. “Boozer has always been the best player at every level, and that can help overcome some of his athletic questions. … I would just say to trust the ultra high-level-feel guys to figure it out.”

So why isn’t Boozer firmly in the mix for the top pick? Simply put, it’s because he’s built like his father, two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. That has left scouts and executives with questions about whether the 6-9, 250-pound Boozer has already come close to maxing out his game and whether his potential athletic limitations will limit his NBA ceiling.

But for at least one NBA executive, Boozer’s résumé should be enough to curb any trepidation around the league.

“You can focus on what he doesn’t have compared to the other guys in terms of athleticism or whatever,” an East assistant general manager said. “But he’s a winner and he’s been a winner at every level and he’s won everything he’s touched this year.”

Wilson’s draft profile is the polar opposite. He flashed a dynamic skill set with the Tar Heels before a thumb injury suffered last week ended his season, particularly when going coast to coast in transition after snatching a rebound.

“He was a kid in high school who wanted the ball in his hands, wanted to be a point power forward but didn’t have a motor or a toughness to him,” a rival ACC coach said of Wilson. “Since he got to Carolina, his care factor and toughness has really stood out and gone to the next level.”

Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 57.8% from the field in 24 games, showcasing why many around the league argue he could go ahead of Boozer as the third player off the board.

“He’s so raw, and there’s a ton of upside there,” the first East executive said. “I can easily see him becoming a top-three player in this draft. I think Cam already has his NBA body, but Caleb has a lot of room to grow.”

After No. 4, multiple guards join the discussion

The consensus is that the next four picks will feature freshman guards: Flemings, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr.

Multiple sources compared Flemings’ top-end speed and quickness with the ball to a former MVP.

“Derrick [Rose] had the ability to turn the corner and get a clean layup,” another East scout said. “You don’t see that often and Kingston has that.”

Flemings, along with freshman teammate Cenac, earned praise from NBA scouts and executives for his willingness to play for Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson, who is known for running a no-nonsense program where minutes are not simply handed out.

“He’s shown he can do everything you need to do as a point guard in their two-guard system,” a West scout said. “He checks all the boxes: smart, makes teammates better, positional size, can shoot, engaged defender.”

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Kingston Flemings draws the and-1 bucket for Houston

Kingston Flemings gets to the rim and draws the and-1 for Houston.

Wagler has emerged onto the scene over the course of his freshman season at Illinois, with a 46-point performance against fellow NBA prospect Braden Smith and Purdue on Jan. 24 launching a new wave of attention. Wagler is the first Big Ten freshman in the past 30 years to average at least 18 points on 40% shooting from 3.

And at 6-6, his positional size should allow him to adjust to the NBA game.

“Wagler has flown up the board,” the first East scout said. “He has a Tyrese Haliburton profile in a way … weird shot, fast riser. I like him. He definitely has the size. If someone took him at five, I could see it.”

Acuff is the latest star guard to play for John Calipari, a list that includes Rose, John Wall, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey and Reed Sheppard, among others.

There will be questions about how Acuff’s slight frame will translate to the NBA, but the 6-3, 190-pound guard surely delivered for Arkansas. The SEC Freshman and Player of the Year has averaged 22.2 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 43.7% from 3.

“The guy who is most ready to play in the NBA is Acuff,” the first East executive said. “If you didn’t know anything other than watching him play, you’d think he was a four-year player. That’s how smooth he is.”

If it wasn’t for Peterson’s health questions at the top of the draft, the most perplexing storyline in the lottery probably would belong to Brown. The 6-5, 190-pound guard is averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 41% overall and 34% from 3-point range. He has dealt with intermittent back issues that have forced him to sit out the ACC tournament.

“He’s like a bigger Darius Garland, a high-level shooter who knows how to use ball screens and make plays for others,” the ACC coach said. (It’s worth noting that injuries limited Garland to only five games in his lone season at Vanderbilt, but the Cleveland Cavaliers still selected him No. 5 in 2019.)

Brown’s résumé features several eye-popping games for the Cardinals — he scored at least 20 points in nine of his 21 games, including 45 in a win over NC State on Feb. 9 — but his health has clouded how NBA teams view his draft profile.

“I like the Louisville kid,” the first East scout said. “He’s really smooth, though I think he’s more of a combo guard than a pure point. But the back stuff is a concern.”

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Within minutes of each other, the San Francisco 49ers welcomed back one key defender and said goodbye to another.

On Thursday afternoon, the Niners and linebacker Dre Greenlaw agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million, a source told ESPN. Around the same time that deal was struck, 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff, who will turn 28 on April 17, announced his retirement from football via his Instagram account.

Greenlaw’s return comes after a one-year detour to the Denver Broncos, where he signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal in March of last year. At the time, the 49ers strongly pursued Greenlaw with coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch taking the rare step of flying to Texas to try to convince him to stay.

But Greenlaw’s year in Denver didn’t go as hoped. He missed nine games with quad and hamstring injuries with one of those absences coming because of a suspension stemming from an argument with referee Brad Allen in a Week 7 Broncos win. He was released by the Broncos this week.

A fifth-round pick by the Niners in 2019, Greenlaw became a team and fan favorite for his hard-charging, relentless play style. He also struggled to avoid injuries, culminating with a devastating torn left Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII suffered when he was simply attempting to jog back on to the field.

Since, Greenlaw has appeared in just 10 regular season games over the past two seasons. Upon his return to the Niners, he figures to slot back into his usual spot at weakside linebacker alongside close friend Fred Warner if he can return close to full health. Dee Winters handled that position in 2025, starting all 17 games with 101 tackles and an interception. NFL Network first reported the Niners’ and Greenlaw reunion.

While Greenlaw’s return bolsters the Niners linebacker corps, Huff’s departure creates another need for pass rush help at defensive end.

In a little more than three-minute-long video posted to social media, Huff announced his retirement, thanked those who helped him along the way in his journey and then offered some details on the company he plans to start in the next chapter of his life.

Huff entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Memphis, signing with the New York Jets in 2020. He enjoyed a breakout fourth season under then-Jets coach Robert Saleh, posting 10 sacks and 21 quarterback hits in 2023.

That production landed Huff a three-year, $51 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency, though he didn’t really fit into Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme. The 49ers traded for Huff last offseason, reuniting him with Saleh in San Francisco.

For the Niners, Huff had 30 tackles, four sacks and 15 quarterback hits in 15 games in 2025.

“Through all of it, I realized something,” Huff said in the video. “Football has been my entire life. I’ve played ever since I was four years old, but at 27 years old, I know I’m capable of giving the world more than just football. The game taught me perseverance. It taught me discipline. It taught me how to lead and how to find a way forward when things feel impossible. Now it’s time for the next chapter of my life.”

Huff’s decision to retire comes one day before he was due a $1 million roster bonus and before the Niners would have to decide on a $14.635 million option bonus before the start of the 2026 season. Huff’s retirement will save the Niners $5.392 million against the salary cap, according to OverTheCap.

To begin his post-football life, Huff announced that he is planning to devote his time to a company called Naberstone that focuses on “building safety infrastructure” to help combat the fire risk associated with lithium-ion batteries.

“I can’t ask the people who believe in this mission to go all in if I’m not willing to do the same,” Huff said. “Football gave me everything and now it’s time for me to give everything to something new. To the game of football and everybody who believed in me and supported me along the way: Thank you.”

The hockey player who lost three family members in a mass shooting at a Rhode Island rink last month played the role of hero for his team Wednesday night.

Senior Colin Dorgan scored on a breakaway in double overtime, lifting Blackstone Valley Co-op to a 3-2 victory over Portsmouth and advancing into the Rhode Island Division 2 hockey final.

“Greatest moment of my life,” Dorgan told WPRI TV after his goal sent teammates pouring onto the ice in celebration and fans at Schneider Arena in Providence roaring with applause.

A month earlier, Dorgan’s brother, mother and grandfather were killed when a shooter, identified as Robert Dorgan, opened fire on spectators at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during Blackstone Valley’s senior day game. Officials have said the shooter, who died of a self-inflicted gun wound, was specifically targeting family members. Two others were critically injured.

All high school sports in Rhode Island were postponed for a week after the shooting. Blackstone Valley didn’t play for nearly three weeks, finally returning to the ice for the start of the D-2 quarterfinals late last week. All players on the team have a heart stitched on the front of their jerseys, with the initials of the three who died within it.

Dorgan scored a pair of goals in No. 5-seed Blackstone Valley’s clinching game of that best-of-three quarterfinal series, putting the team back on the ice in the semifinals Wednesday night.

“The biggest thing for us after the tragedy took place was to keep them together as a family,” coach Chris Librizzi told WPRI. “I was with [Colin] every single day, and his sister, and we as a group, as well, got together for 14 days straight. And I believe it made a difference. The bonding that this team went through every day the last two weeks has been nothing less than superior.”

That was evident against top-seeded Portsmouth, with Dorgan putting the finishing touches on the upset with his 2OT winner with 48.1 seconds left.

“These are all my brothers out here,” he told WPRI. “I love these kids, and I know they love me, too.”

Added Librizzi of the ending: “How much better can that be, right there?”

The D-2 final is March 18 at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence.

Less than a day after backing out of their trade for Maxx Crosby, the Baltimore Ravens made the best move available to significantly improve a floundering pass rush by striking a deal with free agent Trey Hendrickson.

Baltimore reached a four-year, $112 million agreement with Hendrickson on Wednesday, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, which capped a surprising turn of events that has captured the attention of the league over the past 24 hours.

The Ravens have drawn criticism among league circles for quickly pivoting to Hendrickson after rescinding a trade for Crosby, which would have cost them first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. League sources told ESPN that the Ravens had medical concerns that arose during Crosby’s physical on Tuesday.

By moving on from Crosby, Baltimore was still able to land a four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher in Hendrickson, who lasted longer than expected on the free agent market, without having to give up major draft capital. Hendrickson had received interest from a handful of teams (the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler) over the first couple days of the free agency window opening, but the Ravens made the aggressive move to get a deal in place by Wednesday morning.

ESPN Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley, NFL Analyst Ben Solak and national NFL reporter Dan Graziano answer pressing questions on the Ravens’ acquisition of Hendrickson.

Is the Ravens’ roster in a better spot now than it was 24 hours ago?

The roster alone is not better. Crosby is a better all-around defensive end than Hendrickson, as he’s leagues ahead as a run defender and is still a dominant pressure player even if he doesn’t produce the same sack totals. Crosby is also three years younger than Hendrickson; that’s almost the whole length of the deal on which the Ravens would have had Crosby.

However, it’s arguable that the roster and assets combined are preferable now that the Ravens have Hendrickson and hang onto those two first-round picks that would have been part of the Crosby deal. Once that No. 14 overall pick becomes a player — say a cornerback such as LSU’s Mansoor Delane or a wide receiver such as USC’s Makai Lemon — then the comparison will be between Crosby and Hendrickson plus that player. And there’s still the 2027 first-rounder coming down the mountain as well.

As of this moment, the roster is worse … but things might still come out in the wash for the Ravens. — Solak

How do Hendrickson and Crosby compare?

They bring the same level of production as far as the pass rush, which is what the Ravens desperately need improving. Since 2019, Hendrickson has totaled 79 sacks, which are 10 more than Crosby over that span. Hendrickson also has recorded a 12.3% pressure rate over the past seven seasons, which is better than Crosby’s 10.4% pressure rate. And, like Crosby, Hendrickson has put up four double-digit sack seasons since 2019. During that period, Baltimore has only had two edge rushers with more than 10 sacks: Kyle Van Noy (12.5 in 2024) and Odafe Oweh (10 in 2024).

Hendrickson isn’t the same run defender as Crosby, but the Ravens have Tavius Robinson who can set the edge on early downs. What Baltimore has lacked for years is a feared rusher coming off the edge. The Ravens’ outside linebackers currently on the roster — Robinson, Mike Green, Adisa Isaac and Kaimon Rucker — have a combined 12.5 career sacks. — Hensley

How will Hendrickson mesh with the Ravens D?

In the same vein as Crosby, Hendrickson is a relentless pass-rusher who brings intensity to every snap, which fits into the “Play like a Raven” culture. And, just like Baltimore envisioned with Crosby, the Ravens defense needs Hendrickson to be a difference-maker when it counts the most. Hendrickson’s 33 sacks in the fourth quarter and overtime leads the NFL since 2019. He can become a closer for Baltimore, which has blown an NFL-worst 16 leads in the final five minutes of games over the last five seasons.

This is an uncharacteristic move by the Ravens because they’ve been reluctant to sign veteran pass-rushers to big-money contracts since Terrell Suggs left in 2018. But Baltimore made this big swing because its draft picks (Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo and Isaac) have underachieved during their time with the team. Last season marked the first time since the Ravens’ inaugural 1996 season that they didn’t have an edge rusher record over 4.5 sacks. — Hensley

Will the called-off Crosby trade have long-term effects on the Ravens’ ability to make deals in the future?

I doubt it. It could theoretically make the Raiders, or perhaps Crosby’s agents, carry some negative feelings about the Ravens and their trustworthiness into potential future dealings with Baltimore. But teams are always going to do what’s in their own best interest, and agents are always going to do what’s best for their clients. So to let hard feelings (if there even are any) affect future deals would be bad business.

There are a lot of conspiracy theorists around the league right now throwing shade at the Ravens anonymously, but the fact is nothing is official until the start of the league year and sometimes these deals just fall apart. — Graziano