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Kansas star Darryn Peterson is projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick over AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer

January 18, 2026 by Zags Blog

By JAMES MADDEN

Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson is now widely considered the future No. 1 overall draft pick in this summer’s NBA Draft. Peterson leads a three-headed monster of draft prospects, being joined by BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. Many top NBA Draft services such as ESPN and Tankathon have listed Peterson as their top prospect in this year’s draft.

Making the No. 1 pick will once again depend on multiple factors, including which team lands the selection and what its needs are. The NBA Draft lottery grants the teams with the three worst records, the highest odds to land the No. 1 pick. At the time of writing, the New Orleans Pelicans (whose pick belongs to the Atlanta Hawks), the Indiana Pacers and the Washington Wizards each have the best odds at 14.0%.

It is widely considered that the Pacers could maybe lean towards taking Dybantsa or Boozer with the No. 1 pick, due to Tyrese Halliburton serving as the lead point guard before his injury in the NBA Finals last season.

Darryn Peterson has battled injuries throughout his freshman campaign, nursing different hamstring, quad and cramping issues. When the phenom has been on the floor, many analysts around the country have called him one of the most effortless superstars basketball has seen in a long time.

Peterson has received many Kobe Bryant comparisons, with ESPN’s Myron Medcalf saying he hasn’t seen a college player with Peterson’s abilities since Kevin Durant.

I haven’t seen a player with Darryn Peterson’s feel for the game, instincts and shot-making capabilities at this level since KD. He gets any shot he wants, when he wants and it’s always a good shot because he takes it. Just makes the game look so easy. Rare for a teenager.

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) January 17, 2026

In Kansas’ win over Baylor on Friday, Peterson tallied 26 points and three assists on 11-of-13 shooting from the field, in just 23 minutes. He is now averaging 22.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on 50.4% true shooting this season for the Jayhawks.

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The post Kansas star Darryn Peterson is projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick over AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer appeared first on Zagsblog.

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