Darryn Peterson declares for NBA Draft, in mix for top three spots

Darryn Peterson is officially in.

The Kansas guard announced he will enter the 2026 NBA Draft ahead of Friday’s early entry deadline, putting his name into a class where he is still expected to go near the top.

Maybe not No. 1 anymore. Still very much in the mix.

Peterson, 6-foot-6, averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a freshman with the Kansas Jayhawks. He shot 43.8 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from three and 82.6 percent from the line, earning All-Big 12 second-team honors.

The talent is obvious. The season, though, came with interruptions.

Injuries limited Peterson to 24 games, including hamstring and ankle issues along with bouts of full-body cramping. That slowed his push toward the top spot on draft boards and opened the door for questions, including some about consistency and playmaking.

Even so, the upside keeps him right there.

Peterson is currently No. 2 on ESPN’s big board and continues to show up near the top of mock drafts. He’s listed as No. 2 in the Hoops Wire mock, heading to the Wizards.

Evaluators still view him as one of the most gifted scorers in the class, with more room to grow as a creator than he showed in college.

Now comes the next step. The pre-draft process will be a big deal. Medical evaluations. Interviews. Workouts.

All of it will help shape where Peterson ultimately lands. 

But one thing is clear: He is in. And he is not falling far.