Why Darryn Peterson thinks he should be picked No. 1 in 2026 NBA Draft

LAWRENCE — With the NBA combine unfolding this week, and the NBA draft set for June, debates continue on who should be drafted No. 1 overall this year.

There’s Kansas basketball freshman Darryn Peterson. There’s BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa. And while there are some other high-profile prospects, the discussion around the top pick seems focused on those two standouts.

But even though there were health issues Peterson experienced during his season with the Jayhawks, that have done a lot to create an atmosphere where it seems Dybantsa will be picked first, the potential remains it could be Peterson. During an interview that appeared this week on the NBA on ESPN channel on YouTube, he said what makes him different is his discipline and willingness to do whatever he can to be the best he can possibly be. And he also gave his own perspective on why a team should take him with the No. 1 selection.

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“I feel like I’m the best,” Peterson said. “Take a chance on me, I won’t let you guys down.”

Peterson started 23 of his 24 appearances for a Kansas team that would finish 24-11 overall. The Jayhawks reached the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament and the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament. There were moments where Peterson looked like he should be viewed as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and KU a national title contender, but the issues Peterson had with his availability and Kansas’ own inconsistencies as a team limited the success he and the team would enjoy.

Peterson averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He made the all-freshman team for the Big 12, and was a second team honoree in the league overall. He’ll be one of the top picks of the upcoming NBA draft, it’s just a matter of in this pre-draft process if he can do enough to shake off the doubts that came with how his freshman year at KU played out.