Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson announced on Friday that he’s heading to the 2026 NBA Draft. As a 6’6″ guard with tremendous scoring ability and terrific basketball IQ, he’s been viewed as a potential No. 1 pick all year. The only concern that has brought his draft projection into question is health.
Peterson battled severe cramps all season and only appeared in 24 games, but played consistently on the back end of the campaign. To put it simply, there are still plenty of reasons he should be drafted first.
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His shot-creation and offensive “bag” arguably trumps anyone else in the class. Peterson is a lethal bucket-getter with elite positional size. He can get downhill to the rim using his speed and size while also putting his defender in a blender before a tough fadeaway.
Peterson shot 38.2% from beyond the arc this season, establishing himself as a versatile three-level scorer.
As the primary ball-handler, he doesn’t over-dribble and has impressive playmaking instincts. While being an elite scorer, Peterson can also create good shots for his teammates.
He’s also proven to be more than capable on the defensive end. His physical traits combined with his competitiveness make him a very switchable defender. This rotational ability means he can also disrupt passing lanes while still making strong closeouts on these rotations.
The numbers Peterson puts up are certainly impressive, but what sets him apart is the eye test. Watching Peterson play puts into perspective just how advanced his game is.
It feels like watching a 10-year NBA veteran play. When he’s creating a shot, every movement he makes feels calculated and predetermined, and defenders cannot handle it. In terms of tough shot-making, Peterson is one of the greatest guard prospects of all time.
Even if the opposing player plays perfect defense, he can still make it look like a pre-game shooting drill.
The criticism and noise surrounding Peterson’s injuries this season leaked over into questions about his competitiveness. He told The Kansas City Star that those critics went quiet once he got healthy.
“There was some foolish stuff being said, but I could have probably did better in probably [getting] in front of it instead of people making stuff up,” Peterson said. ‘It’s over now, but don’t nobody say nothing about me finishing games and stuff now, which is funny to me. But I don’t really care. I am just glad I am feeling better.”
While other prospects like BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer are strong candidates to go No. 1, Peterson has proven himself as the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
