We’re now several days into the 2026 NBA Draft Combine and we’ve learned a lot about this stacked draft class so far. Projected top-three pick Darryn Peterson is easily one of the best players in the class and one of the best scoring guard prospects we have ever seen.
While his scoring abilities are undeniable, the biggest concern about him as a prospect is his rocky track record of availability. He missed 11 games for the Jayhawks last season and had to leave several more games early due to cramping issues.
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This issue eventually hospitalized Peterson before doctors finally discovered it was being caused by his usage of creatine, a supplement often used for energy and training.
As he spoke to reporters at the combine on Wednesday, he said he feels like his athleticism and health are back to where they were in high school.
“Yeah, I’m feeling back at that level now. Obviously, I wasn’t where I wanted to be [at Kansas], just what I had going on, but I feel like I’m back at it now. Figuring out what it was, that kind of helped my mental as well because when something’s wrong, you don’t know what it is. It can be rough.”
So far in the combine, Peterson has shown no signs of health issues or physical setbacks. In fact, he impressed in the spot-up shooting drill, going 19-for-25 from beyond the arc.
Some of his other testing numbers have been less than elite, but his display of brilliance while on the floor for Kansas last season easily solidified him as a top three pick in this draft.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
