Kansas guard Darryn Peterson entered the season widely viewed as the favorite to go No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft. That belief has not disappeared, though his freshman year has raised some questions.
In ESPN’s latest draft rankings, analyst Jeremy Woo still lists Peterson as the top prospect in the class. Woo describes Peterson as the most gifted shot creator in the draft and one of the best perimeter shooters available, giving him arguably the highest offensive ceiling among this year’s prospects.
But the season at Kansas has not unfolded smoothly. Peterson has battled injuries, illness and occasional cramping, limiting both his availability and consistency. He has started 19 of the team’s 30 games and is averaging 27.9 minutes per contest.
Despite that, Woo notes there are very few concerns about Peterson’s overall talent. Scouts Woo spoke with still view Peterson as a high-level passer with strong explosiveness, traits that have not always been showcased in Kansas’ offensive structure.
The biggest unknown may simply be health. NBA teams are expected to take a closer look at Peterson’s medical reports at the draft combine before making final evaluations.
So, yes, the talent still stands out. Woo writes that Peterson remains the draft’s most naturally gifted prospect, though fellow elite recruit A. J. Dybantsa (BYU) could present a safer alternative depending on how teams assess the risk.
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