With the start of the College Basketball season, now is the time to start identifying the top prospects to keep an eye out for. After covering the top point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards, the top power forward prospects are now on the board. While not as necessarily deep as the other positions, there are still multiple power forward prospects to watch for. Let’s dive into the power forward prospects to watch for in this 2026 NBA Draft cycle.

2026 NBA Draft: Top Power Forward Prospects To Watch For
Cameron Boozer

Duke forward Cameron Boozer is not only one of the top-three prospects, but also the top power forward of this class. Standing at six-foot-nine, Boozer is a well-built forward who is defined by his sheer versatility and production on both ends. As a scorer, Boozer does much of his work in the paint. In particular, he uses his strength, handle, and footwork to create advantages against opposing defenders. With that combination, he can power through contact and finish well at the rim. Plus, he is capable of facing up to the basket and knocking down shots in the mid-range. Speaking of shooting, Boozer can also extend his range beyond the arc.

As for his playmaking ability, Boozer is an excellent facilitator for his position. Using his height, he certainly can see the floor well. In both the half-court and in transition, Boozer has the vision to find open teammates for scoring opportunities. He can swing the ball from anywhere on the court, but he is especially skilled as an outlet passer. Boozer has also demonstrated advanced processing as he leverages his scoring to collapse defenses, where he can quickly make reads that get the ball to the open man.

Elsewhere, Boozer is the type of prospect who is a two-way talent, as he is a strong defender and rebounder. He has the defensive versatility to cover opponents ranging from sturdy bigs to quick guards. Boozer can guard multiple positions effectively and be a switchable defender. He has the size and strength to contend with bigs in the post and the quickness to keep up with guards. Additionally, Boozer uses his length well to be disruptive as a defensive playmaker. In terms of his rebounding, he is incredibly active on the boards at both ends of the floor.

Caleb Wilson

UNC forward Caleb Wilson is next on this list, and he is arguably one of the most athletic forwards in the class. The six-foot-ten Wilson stands out as a prospect due to his defensive versatility and offensive upside. Starting on the defensive end, Wilson has the size and athleticism to be a terrific multi-positional defender who can cover a lot of ground defensively. Not only that, but Wilson has the length to be extremely disruptive in the passing lanes and as a shot blocker. Wilson also has the quickness to keep up with guards and switch onto the perimeter.

Wilson still has plenty to prove on offense, but the flashes he’s shown are promising. Despite his lack of strength, Wilson is an impressive slasher and cutter to the basket. While his handle is still a work in progress, he has shown strong flashes as a driver and face-up scorer. As for his shooting, that area of his game is another thing he needs to work on. However, he has also shown plenty of flashes as a shooter in both the mid-range and from three. Another thing to like about his offense is his solid passing. Wilson has demonstrated good court vision and passing ability. He can make the appropriate reads against opposing defenses and move the ball to the right person. Overall, Wilson brings a level of defensive versatility and offensive potential that makes him someone to watch for this college season.

Koa Peat

Koa Peat is the best prospect on the Arizona Wildcats this season and another great power forward in this class. Standing at six-foot-eight, Peat is a physically imposing forward who uses his strength to body through his competition. While he can bully through contact, Peat also has the handles and body control to gain further advantages against opposing defenders. Shooting is definitely something Peat must work on, but he has shown flashes of mid-range shot-making. Adding another facet to his offensive game is his passing ability, as he has good court vision. Peat leverages his rim pressure to collapse defenses, where he can spray passes out to open teammates.

As for his defense, Peat has shown himself to be a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. His strength allows him to take on assignments in the post, and he has shown flashes of defending guards. Plus, Peat uses his length well to alter shots and bother passing lanes. Furthermore, he is also a diligent rebounder on both ends using that length. Peat has already shown out in his first game against Florida. If he can keep up his strong play, Peat will undoubtedly raise his draft stock. He is certainly someone to keep an eye on this season.

Karim Lopez

Six-foot-eight forward Karim Lopez is one of the better power forwards in the class and also one of the best international prospects. He is another strength-focused forward who utilizes his physicality to attack the basket. Lopez has the ball-handling capability to be a strong driver to the rim, but he is also a great cutter and off-ball mover. Additionally, Lopez has worked to become a better three-point shooter, and he is now a player that teams must respect beyond the arc. His size, length, and physicality also give him the potential to be a multi-positional defender. While he hasn’t been great defensively so far, he has shown flashes of being impactful on defense. With further refinement, Lopez has the potential to be a two-way wing in the league.

Honorable Mentions: Yaxel Lendeborg, Thomas Haugh, JT Toppin

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