The opening round of the 2026 NBA draft has wrapped up, revealing a striking shift in the all‑time leaderboard of first‑round selections. Kentucky and Duke entered the night locked at 60 historic picks each, a tie that had persisted for years.
Duke’s Cameron Boozer heard his name called third overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, a moment that nudged the Blue Devils back to a total of 60 historic picks, matching Kentucky’s count.
A short while later, Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs, pushing the Wildcats past the 60‑pick barrier and into sole possession of first place with 61 selections.
The New All‑Time Leader
The ripple effect is evident across the landscape of college basketball, where traditional powerhouses continue to dominate the draft’s early years. North Carolina sits third with 56 picks, followed by UCLA at 43, Kansas at 37, and Michigan at 35.
These figures underscore a long‑standing pipeline from collegiate programs to the NBA, a pipeline that Kentucky has now extended to a new high water mark. The Wildcats’ ascent reflects both sustained recruiting excellence and the NBA’s continued appetite for their talent.
As the draft’s history unfolds, the rankings of the top programs read like a who’s who of college basketball royalty. Kentucky now leads with 61 selections, Duke follows with 60, and North Carolina rounds out the top three with 56.