Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-6 standout announced on Instagram ahead of Friday’s early-entry deadline.
Peterson averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 29.0 minutes per game during the 2025-26 season, shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from three-point range and 82.6 percent at the free-throw line. His production earned him a spot on the All-Big 12 second team.
Multiple health problems — including hamstring and ankle injuries and episodes of severe full-body cramping — restricted him to 24 games in his lone collegiate campaign. Those setbacks, along with questions about his competitiveness noted by Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, prevented him from solidifying a consensus No. 1 status.
Even with those concerns, Peterson sits at No. 2 on ESPN’s latest big board and was projected second overall in Bleacher Report’s most recent mock draft. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo labeled him the “most gifted scorer and shot-maker” in the 2026 class, while both Woo and Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman believe he could show greater playmaking potential than he displayed at Kansas.
The pre-draft process is expected to be crucial for Peterson as teams evaluate his medical history and discuss the health issues that limited his freshman season.
Source: HoopsRumors
