Darryn Peterson

Draft Notes

Peterson is a big combo guard with a very advanced game and elite ability. He’s one of the top guards to come out of the high school ranks in the past decade and is a likely top 3 pick in the 2026 draft. Even after the strange season he had at Kansas, which saw him miss a lot of time with cramping issues, he’s still an elite talent who could be the face of an NBA franchise.

Peterson can get his own shot and is a three level threat. He’s got a silky smooth jumper and is lethal shooting from outside.

He is also a really good passer and plays an unselfish game, finding a good balance between taking over the game with his scoring and keeping his teammates involved.

He has great handles, a good first step and changes pace really well. While he might not be the most explosive athlete he’s got a nice ability to get defenders off balance, which helps him get into the lane or shake free for his jumper.

Peterson isn’t just a great iso-scorer and play-maker, he also gives great effort on the defensive end and can really lock down ball-handlers. He can be a menace on the ball and is also really good at reading passing lanes and helping off the ball.

It’s rare to find a player with his combination of polish, athletic ability and natural talent. He’s going to be special.

Comparisons

• Kobe with less bounce.
• More advanced Ray Allen (better ball handling, driving game at the same stage)

Draft Projection

top 3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft

2026 SG Rankings

1. Darryn Peterson – 6-5 – Kansas
2. Keaton Wagler – 6-6 – Illinois
3. Brayden Burries – 6-4 – Arizona
4. Cameroon Carr – 6-5 – Baylor
5. Meleek Thomas – 6-4 – Arkansas
6. Ryan Conwell – 6-4 – Louisville
7. Quadir Copeland – 6-6 – NC State
8. Richie Saunders – 6-5 – BYU
9. Otega Oweh 6-5 – Kentucky
10. Chase Ross – 6-5 – Marquette
11. Ben Henshall – 6-5 – Perth, NBL
12. Fletcher Loyer – 6-5 – Purdue
13. Seth Trimble – 6-3 – North Carolina
14. Emanuel Sharpe – 6-3 – Houston
15. Nick Boyd – 6-3 – Wisconsin
16. Tyler Nickel – 6-7 – Vanderbilt
17. Jaron Pierre Jr. – 6-5 – SMU
18. Roddy Gayle Jr – 6-5 – Michigan
19. Isaac McKneely – 6-4 – Louisville
20. Josh Dix – 6-6 – Creighton
21. Oziyah Sellers – 6-5 – St. John’s
22. Peter Suder – 6-5 – Miami, OH
23. Rylan Griffen – 6-6 – Texas A&M
24. Scotty Middleton – 6-6 – Tulane
25. JJ Starling – 6-4 – Syracuse