Dark-Horse Candidates for the 2027 NBA Draft's Top Five

While the 2027 draft class lacks the immediate star power of recent years, several prospects could rise unexpectedly. Duke's Cameron Williams, BYU's Bruce Branch, and Ohio State's Anthony Thompson each possess traits that might propel them into top-five consideration. Their upcoming college seasons will be critical in determining whether they can exceed current projections.

Cameron Williams enters Duke with a 6-foot-11 frame that fits the modern forward mold, though his draft stock remains speculative until he proves himself in college competition. Bruce Branch inherits a significant scoring role at BYU following AJ Dybantsa's departure, giving him a platform to showcase his mid-range shooting and downhill attacking.

Anthony Thompson arrives at Ohio State as a consensus top-10 recruit after averaging nearly 24 points per game as a high school senior. His scoring versatility is established, but evaluators will watch whether he expands his game to include rebounding, defense, and playmaking to justify a top-five selection.