Way-Too-Early 2026 Mock NBA Draft Reveals Hornets’ Dream Scenario originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 NBA Draft is finally behind us and the new league year is about to kick off. But before reality drags us back down, let’s have a little fun.
CBS Sports dropped its Way-Too-Early 2026 Mock NBA Draft, and if the projections hold true and the lottery gods finally decide to stop being petty, Charlotte might just find itself picking No. 3 overall next June.
The bad news is after another likely season of “development” for the Hornets, who could end up in position to draft the type of franchise-altering prospect they’ve long dreamed of. And the timing couldn’t be better with next year’s class projected to be one of the best.
The projected top three picks heading into the 2025–26 college basketball season are all incoming freshmen. Each of them have talent that screams NBA-ready. Darryn Peterson, a dynamic scoring wing, who is headed to Kansas. AJ Dybantsa, an elite BYU commit who’s been on NBA radars since middle school. Cameron Boozer, the Duke-bound powerhouse and son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.
If things go according to order, Charlotte could be perfectly positioned to draft Boozer at No. 3, which would be a dream scenario for a franchise in desperate need of an upgrade at power forward. Beyond his last name, what does Cameron Boozer bring to the table?
According to 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein, Boozer is one of the most decorated high school players in the sport’s history. Two-time Mr. Basketball USA (2023, 2025), two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year (2023, 2025), four-time Florida state champion, and three-time Nike EYBL champ (including a win over Cooper Flagg’s Maine United squad—yes, I was there, and yes, Boozer dominated).
Boozer is also a two-time gold medalist and 2025 national champion with Columbus High School. In short, the future Duke talent wins. Everywhere he goes and all the time. Boozer’s ridiculously efficient on both ends of the floor shine through. He plays with a high motor and almost no true weaknesses. There’s a reason scouts consider him a “can’t-miss” prospect.
Charlotte’s biggest positional need heading into the 2025–26 season is power forward. Their current depth chart at the 4 is serviceable but undersized.. Adding Boozer to a young core that already includes LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, newly acquired Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel could finally give this team the identity it’s been lacking.
Related: What The Collin Sexton Trade Means for Hornets’ Backcourt
But because this is the Hornets, we know how this script usually ends. Boozer goes No. 1 or No. 2. The ping pong balls bounce in another team’s favor and Charlotte ends up stuck in lottery purgatory again. Still, if there was ever a year to embrace the tank, this might be it. Aim for the one player who could actually shift the franchise’s ceiling… This might be it.
Related: Hornets Introduce New Era With 2025 Draft Picks
The Eastern Conference has more soft spots than a wheel of Swiss cheese. There’s room to rise. But there’s also space to bottom out with purpose. And if you’re going to be bad, you might as well do it with Boozer in mind.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.