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Jay Bilas names Peterson top talent, Boozer best player

6/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas named Kansas guard Darryn Peterson the most talented player and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa the NBA-built after the 19-year-old led the nation with 25.5 points per game.
He called Duke big man Cameron Boozer the best basketball player, citing his 7-foot-1 wingspan, 35-inch vertical and sprint times.
He selected North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson the dynamic athlete, noting his 7-0 wingspan and 39.5-inch vertical.

History

Historical Context

The 1979 NCAA championship, where Magic Johnson’s Michigan State beat Larry Bird’s Indiana State 75-64, drew a 24.1 Nielsen rating—the highest ever for a college basketball game—and helped launch ESPN’s national coverage. That media breakthrough set a pattern of early TV endorsements, a tradition continued today as ESPN analyst Jay Bilas highlights Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer.

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Story summary

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas named Kansas guard Darryn Peterson the most talented player and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa the NBA-built after the 19-year-old led the nation with 25.5 points per game.
He called Duke big man Cameron Boozer the best basketball player, citing his 7-foot-1 wingspan, 35-inch vertical and sprint times.
He selected North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson the dynamic athlete, noting his 7-0 wingspan and 39.5-inch vertical.

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