Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson declares for the NBA draft and is projected as a top-3 pick

Q: What are Darryn Peterson's stats for the season?

Darryn Peterson averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 38.2% from three-point range in 24 games.

Q: Why did Darryn Peterson miss games during the season?

Peterson missed 11 games due to a severe full-body cramping issue and other injuries and illnesses.

Q: Who are the top prospects in the NBA draft alongside Darryn Peterson?

Alongside Peterson, top prospects include BYU's A.J. Dybantsa, who led the nation in scoring, and Duke's Cameron Boozer.

Q: What did Darryn Peterson say in his announcement about declaring for the draft?

Peterson expressed gratitude to his teammates and the University of Kansas for their support throughout his journey.

FILE - Kansas' Darryn Peterson dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Houston in the semifinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament March 13, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson declared for the NBA draft on Friday, just as nearly everyone had expected he would ever since his arrival on campus, and the high-scoring guard figures to be among the first three players selected in June. The 6-foot-6 Peterson showed flashes of brilliance with the Jayhawks, but he also caused a lot of headaches for the team. He dealt with a severe full-body cramping issue that required hospitalization before the season, and additional injuries and illnesses caused him to miss 11 games, hurting his ability to build any continuity with the rest of his teammates. Peterson wound up averaging 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc in 24 games. He started to hit his rhythm in the postseason, scoring 24 points against TCU and 14 against Houston in the Big 12 Tournament. He had 28 points in a first-round NCAA tourney win over Cal Baptist and 21 in a last-second loss to St. John's in the second round. “To my teammates, friends and everyone at the University of Kansas, a heartfelt thank you!” Peterson posted to social media Friday. “Your belief in me, your encouragement and your constant support have been invaluable every step of the way. This journey has been everything to me, and none of it would have been possible without your love, support and sacrifices.” Most mock drafts have Peterson or BYU's A.J. Dybantsa going first overall, though Duke's Cameron Boozer also could be in the mix. The closest comp to Peterson has generally been 6-foot-5 Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns' five-time All-Star. Both have the ability to score at all three levels, and their athleticism allows them to play much bigger than their size. Peterson's announcement came one day after Dybantsa declared for the draft in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts. Dybantsa led the nation with 25.5 points per game, while also pulling down 6.8 rebounds with 3.7 assists. He’s the first player to post those averaged in a season and be a consensus All-American since Larry Bird did it in 1978-79 for Indiana State. Tennessee freshman Nate Ament also declared for the draft Thursday after starting all 35 games he played and averaging 16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds. His announcement came in an in which he thanked the Volunteers for the opportunity. “I promise to always represent the Vols with the upmost pride,” Ament wrote. “This University means more to me than just basketball — to me it’s a place I call home. I might’ve only been here a year but I’ll remember this year for the rest of my life.” Another top draft prospect, Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas, declared for the draft on Wednesday. He joined LSU legend Pete Maravich as the only SEC players to have led the league in scoring (23.5 points per game) and assists (6.4 per game) in the same season. Ament and Acuff also are widely considered to be top-10 draft picks. \\_ AP college basketball: and