This surprise prospect challenges BYU's AJ Dybantsa for number-one NBA Draft pick

For months, the conversation for the number-one NBA Draft pick has boiled down to two contenders: BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darryn Peterson. Two players who jockeyed for the first spot all season long managed to separate from the pack on account of their elite athleticism, incomparable ability, and tantalizing potential at the next level.

But from the shadows emerged a surprise contender for the top spot. A player whose name rings familiar in the ears of the Utah Jazz fanbase, and has been kept at arm's length throughout the entire draft process.

But maybe we shouldn't be too surprised that college basketball's national player of the year is getting attention for the number-one pick.

Cameron Boozer, son of Carlos and Duke's freshman superstar, is generating buzz around the Washington Wizards and could very well be in contention for the top spot, as rumors continue to swirl about Washington's uncertainty at number one.

In an article by Forty Eight Minutes, they revealed information contrary to the general understanding of a two-man race between Dybantsa and Peterson.

"Our intel tells a slightly different story. While the Wizards have done extensive research on all the top prospects, sources connected to ownership expect Dybantsa to be the selection with the No. 1 pick. Washington is always evaluating trade offers, though the franchise is likely to keep the pick."

"Our scouting also has things slightly different with Boozer and Dybantsa as the top two prospects. Followed by Peterson and then Wilson as the No. 4 within the clear top-4."

Boozer is an excellent prospect, as a powerful forwards with ball-handling skills of a guard and the three-point shooting touch of, well, Kon Knueppel, if you'd believe that, as his 39.6% clip from distance is within a percentage of the Blue Devils' sharpshooter.

His strong season in Durham won countless accolades, and by all measures, Boozer projects to be an exceptional NBA player.

But his ceiling is believed to be significantly lower than that of the consensus top-two prospects, Peterson and Dybantsa, both of whom could be expected to appear in All-NBA teams for years down the line. If the Wizards are serious about picking up Cameron Boozer, they'll need to figure out where he fits alongside already rostered players like Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr.

Boozer is a safe, if not uninspiring, pick at number-one overall. He could conceivably develop into the best player in the class, sure, but when compared to his competition -- widely believed to be incredible, life-changing players for their respective franchise homes -- he's an unorthodox choice for the top spot.

Should the Wizards opt to take Boozer first off the board, the Utah Jazz are left with an impossible decision between the hometown hero and the best guard we've seen since Kyrie Irving.

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