Darryn Peterson: NBA draft scouting report and intel

6-5 | 195 lbs | 6-10 WS | Freshman

Team: Kansas

Position: SG

Agent: Darren Matsubara / THE·TEAM

Best aggregate mock draft rank: Best rank: 1 / Worst rank: 2

2025-26 stats: 20.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.6 bpg, 43.8% FG, 38.2% 3P in 24 games this season.

Strengths

* Strong free-throw generation for a perimeter scorer, with a .371 free-throw rate that shows he can pressure defenses and not just settle for jumpers.

* Elite shot creator with one of the deepest scoring bags in the class. He can score off pull-ups, step-backs, movement shooting, straight-line drives, and tough self-created jumpers.

* He projects as an elite isolation scorer and high-level pull-up shot-maker because of his balance, pace, and ability to rise into jumpers from all three levels.

* Excellent shooter for a combo guard. He hit 38.2% from three on 6.9 attempts per game and 82.6% from the line, which supports his long-term projection as a real perimeter threat.

* Plays with strong poise and control. He operates at his own pace, does not look sped up, and creates separation with timing and skill instead of relying only on burst.

* Good downhill scorer who beats the point of attack and gets into scoring spots. His bend, flexibility, and touch help him finish inside even without top-tier vertical pop.

* Strong off-ball scorer who relocates well, cuts, and finds soft spots in the defense. He does not need every possession built around him to create offense.

* He projects as a valuable movement shooter and secondary scorer who can scale next to a primary ball-handler without losing impact.

* Shows real defensive playmaking tools. His 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game reflect quick hands, timing, and good instincts for a guard when he tried.

* Has strong size for a combo guard at 6-foot-6, which helps him shoot over smaller defenders and gives him lineup versatility across either guard spot.

* Very polished scorer for his age. Multiple evaluators describe him as one of the most skilled and complete scorers in the class, and the film supports that.

* Good balance and body control as a shooter. He gets into pull-ups cleanly and makes difficult shots look easy.

* Flashes secondary playmaking ability. He is not a pure point guard, but he can make quick reads, keep the ball moving, and function as a secondary initiator.

Weaknesses

* Playmaking volume is modest for a player with lead-guard flashes. His 1.6 assists per game suggest he is more of a scoring combo guard than a true offensive organizer right now.

* He currently profiles better as a secondary creator than a full-time pick-and-roll engine, because his passing reads and table-setting are still developing.

* Finishing profile raises some questions. He is skilled and crafty, but he is not an elite above-the-rim athlete, which could make interior scoring tougher against NBA length.

* Not the most explosive athlete in the class. He has speed and twitch, but some scouts question whether he has the top-end burst or verticality of a true generational guard prospect.

* Point-of-attack defense still needs polish. He creates events, but he can struggle with physicality, screen navigation, and containing stronger matchups.

* Off-ball defense can be inconsistent. He has tools and instincts, but his attention level away from the action still needs to sharpen.

* Shot selection can swing game to game. There are nights when he leans too heavily on difficult jumpers and settles instead of consistently forcing better looks.

* Efficiency inside the arc is solid but not dominant for a top-tier guard prospect. His overall field-goal percentage of 43.8% leaves room for growth in shot diet and finishing consistency.

* Role clarity matters. He is listed as SG/PG, but at this stage he looks more like a scoring two who can handle than a full-time lead guard.

* Availability is part of the evaluation. Several scouts noted a strange season shaped by missed time, limited minutes, and questions about rhythm, consistency, and overall impact on winning.

* There are some concerns about maturity, buy-in, and long-term consistency from outside evaluators. Even if those concerns are overstated, teams will still do work on that part of his profile.

* His ceiling will depend on whether the rest of his game catches up to the scoring. If the playmaking, decision-making, and defensive consistency improve, he has superstar tools; if not, he may top out as a high-level scoring guard rather than a full offensive engine.

Scout's Notes:

A pro scout on Darryn Peterson:

“He’s a tough shot maker who’s insanely good at shooting off the dribble and can get to his spots. The only but I have is he didn’t facilitate well this year. That said, it’s hard to judge, because he did show some passing ability at times, maybe it’s just the result of constantly shuffling in and out of the lineup with injuries, plus being asked to carry a heavy scoring load whenever he played. Honestly, everyone on that team couldn’t shoot and no one, except Melvin Council, averaged over two assists.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Darryn Peterson: NBA draft scouting report and intel