With March Madness underway, NBA teams are continuing to evaluate prospects in high-pressure settings. Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, of course, remains one of the most closely watched names in the 2026 class.
Peterson entered the season widely viewed as a potential top pick, but questions about consistency, health, and role have added some uncertainty to his draft outlook, writes Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports.
The freshman guard dealt with a lingering hamstring injury for much of the year and acknowledged it impacted his play.
“I was hurt for the majority of the year,” Peterson said. “I went through some really bad stuff. I wasn’t really myself for real until like the end of the year.”
Despite that, evaluators still point to his scoring ability, defensive instincts, and knack for drawing fouls as clear strengths.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic noted Peterson could land anywhere from No. 1 to No. 5 on draft boards, while also raising questions about how he was utilized at Kansas, often operating off the ball.
Meanwhile, AJ Dybantsa has strengthened his case for the top spot, per Jeremy Woo of ESPN.
Woo writes that Dybantsa’s improvement as a passer and decision-maker has helped offset concerns about his ball-handling and defense, solidifying his profile as a high-upside, well-rounded scorer.
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