How NBA mock drafts view Kansas basketball freshman Darryn Peterson

LAWRENCE — As Kansas basketball continues to prepare for the 2026-27 season, Darryn Peterson continues to prepare for the 2026 NBA Draft.

The draft, set for later this month, will likely see Peterson selected as one of the top picks. Whether the KU freshman goes first, or BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa does, Peterson shouldn’t have to wait long to hear his name called. Although various health issues hindered him from having the effect many would have expected on the Kansas season, he still showed enough to ensure that the hype around his potential hasn’t fallen off to the point he’d drop much in the draft.

Here’s a look at a few of those projections, as of June 10:

Peterson would be selected No. 2 overall in the first round in this projection, by Utah. Dybantsa would go ahead of him at No. 1 overall to Washington. Peterson was an All-Big 12 Conference second team and all-freshman team selection this past season.

Peterson would also be selected No. 2 overall in the first round in this projection, by Utah. Dybantsa still goes ahead of him at No. 1 overall to Washington. Peterson averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season, across 24 appearances, and shot 43.8% from the field, 38.2% from behind the arc and 82.6% from the free-throw line.

Peterson would be selected No. 3 overall in the first round in this projection, by Memphis. Duke freshman Cameron Boozer would go ahead of him at No. 2 overall to Utah, while Dybantsa remains the No. 1 overall pick by Washington. Peterson helped KU to the Big 12 Conference tournament semifinals and round of 32 of the NCAA tournament this past season.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: NBA mock draft, where Kansas basketball’s Darryn Peterson could land