標籤: freshman

The Brooklyn Nets have their sights set on the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. While four prospects – Darrin Peterson, AJ DiBunsta, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson – have separated themselves as the best, Brooklyn’s most likely landing spot is currently outside the top four.

Luckily for them, this year’s lottery is considered one of the darkest in recent memory. The Nets reportedly have interest in a breakout freshman point guard who is projected to land just outside the top four.

Draft analyst Corey Tulaba said on The Locked on Nets podcast, “According to what I’ve heard around the league, one name that’s really important for Nets fans to monitor is Kingston Flemings from Houston. I’ve heard that’s a name that the Nets have interest in.” “He’s been incredible this year. He was kind of an unknown, and he was also going to a veteran Houston Cougars team. So it was like, is he going to play? Or is he going to be a second-year guy? And he’s just blown the doors off. [this season]”

“Kingston Flemings is a name I’ve heard the Nets have interest in.”@koreetulaaba On the top draft prospect outside the top four that Nets fans should watch. pic.twitter.com/ZqhJgGbRi9

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 16 February 2026

Flemings, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Virginia, is the fifth-ranked prospect on ESPN’s latest big board. The 19-year-old is a dynamic athlete who consistently pressures the paint and is solid as a jump shooter, finisher and passer.

Nets showing interest in Houston’s star freshman Kingston Flemings

The Houston guard is averaging 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals on .497/.388/.840 shooting splits in 26 appearances. Flemings most recently scored 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting with six assists and two turnovers during a 69-65 loss to 12th-ranked Texas Tech.

Tulba, who took right tackle Egor Demin at No. 8 to the Nets in last year’s draft, was amazed at Flemings’ physical tools.

“His athleticism is crazy. Stylistically, he reminds me of what would happen if Derrick Rose didn’t look like a football player and jump like an Olympic gymnast? He’s still crazy athletic, but it’s more like his playing style. His first step is crazy,” he said.

What’s most impressive is that Flemings ranks ninth in the country with a 13.0 box plus-minus, according to Basketball Reference. He is one of five freshmen with a BPM of 13 or more this season along with Boozer, Wilson, Keaton Wagler and Allen Graves.

Before this season, only 11 freshmen since 2010–11 had posted a BPM of 13 or higher. Nine of them were top-three picks in the draft.

Some Nets fans may scoff at the idea of ​​selecting another point guard after drafting three in the first round of the 2025 draft. However, Demin (6-foot-8) has played off the ball for most of his rookie season and profiles as a jumbo, playmaking wing. Ben Saraf also has above average size (6-foot-6), which should give him positional versatility if he can develop an outside shot.

Nolan Traore, meanwhile, has shown encouraging flashes, but nowhere near the level that would prevent Brooklyn from selecting another point guard if he is the best player available.

Flemings is one of several point guard prospects who are projected to be selected in the top-10, along with Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr.

Tulaba said, “Egor is 6 foot 10 inches, Saraf is 6 foot 7 inches, and Nolan hasn’t proven anything close to the point where you don’t go to BPA.” “The problem with the point guard thing is it’s an absolutely crazy point guard draft. So if you’re not in that top four, there’s a lot of talent [is at that position]”