Field Level Media's Ethan Ward breaks down the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
The Skinny: While his freshman season was wrought with scrutiny about a perceived lack of desire, Peterson's on-court production was mesmerizing both by the numbers and through the eye test. A 6-5, 200-pound backcourt hybrid with a compelling 6-foot-10 wingspan, his willingness and ability to oscillate between the lead guard role and off-guard duties gives him a leg up over many of the elite
guard prospects in recent drafts.
Strengths: A smooth-mover with the ball in his hands who can switch tempo and break down defenders going both directions. Has the full package as a pick and roll scorer - dribble pull-ups from range, lethal touch in the lane, hesitation switch-ups to manufacture angles. Masterfully gets, and keeps, defenders on his hip while turning the corner on picks. Possesses a lightning quick floater that he can flip up in traffic - made 50 percent of said looks in the upper paint (per CBB Analytics). Compact shooting form with a quick trigger, albeit a lower release point than is ideal. Can effortlessly square up, rise, and fire in a single motion or utilize a reset dribble. Buried 55.6 percent of his 27 corner 3-point attempts as a freshman. A workhorse moving off the ball - leveraging screens, handoffs, rim-dives, relocating to open up the lane. Rarely at a standstill and constantly in motion in the halfcourt. Maintains floor balance by zipping side-to-side, re-spacing, and engaging weakside teammates as secondary screen setters. Timely pocket passer when met with multiple defenders. Capable one-handed skip passer with a live dribble. Generated 1.18 points per possession as a pick and roll passer according to Draft Ballr. A passable team defender that exhibits rock-solid switch instincts, especially on help-side interchanges. Opportunistic swiping the ball away in opponent's blind spots. Generally engaged and well-attuned off-ball - pinching in from the deep corner and stunting well one pass away.
Weaknesses: Battled a recurring full-body cramping issue throughout the college season. His underlying medical history and durability could inevitably taint his long-term outlook in the eyes of some evaluators. Converted an underwhelming 34.8 percent of his above-the-break threes, which comprised 84 percent of his 3-point attempts. An intuitive passer but not necessarily an incisive one - primarily creates for others by leveraging his scoring threat. Untested as a full-time load-bearing initiator due to his off-ball insistence. Defensively vulnerable in switch scenarios. Easily displaced against outsized bodies - typically uses his upper body to counteract mismatches rather than his lower base. Prone to getting outmuscled on the defensive glass when blocking out baseline crashes.
Best NBA fit: Utah Jazz
Peterson had designs on being the No. 1 overall pick. He has backed off the position of working out for the Washington Wizards with signals strengthening that BYU's AJ Dybantsa is likely to be the top pick. Utah has the second pick and will weigh trade offers. More than likely, the Jazz decision comes down to Peterson and Duke's Cam Boozer.
--Field Level Media
