Why Darryn Peterson Is Still the Projected No. 1 Pick-Even Without a Full College Season
Darryn Peterson has played just eight games in a Kansas Jayhawks uniform, but that’s all it’s taken to convince many NBA evaluators that he’s still the guy in the 2026 draft class. Even with limited minutes and a laundry list of nagging injuries, the freshman guard remains a projected No. 1 overall pick-and that says a lot about how special his talent really is.
Let’s be clear: Peterson hasn’t been fully healthy at any point this season. From cramping issues to a hamstring strain, a quad injury, and even an illness, he’s been battling through it all.
He’s yet to log a full game, with his season-high in minutes being 32 against TCU. In total, he’s missed nine of Kansas’ 17 games so far.
And yet-he’s averaging 21.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in just 27.3 minutes per game. That’s not just efficient; that’s elite-level production in limited action. It’s the kind of output that turns heads, even when the sample size is small.
What Makes Peterson Stand Out
To understand why Peterson’s stock remains sky-high, you have to look beyond the box score. NBA Draft analyst Jeremy Woo, who’s been tracking Peterson since his high school days, puts it simply: when you see him play, you know.
Woo had a chance to watch Peterson at the Chipotle Nationals, a showcase for the best high school talent in the country, and came away impressed-not just by the numbers, but by the way Peterson controls the game.
“He’s extremely effective, even when he’s not at 100%,” Woo said. “It’s rare to see a guy take over without dominating the ball.
He’s become such a good shooter, and you can’t speed him up. He’s so deliberate, makes hard things look easy.
His balance getting into his shot is really impressive.”
That smooth, composed style is what sets Peterson apart. He doesn’t force the game-he reads it, manipulates it, and thrives within it. And when he’s healthy, he’s got another gear that most haven’t even seen yet this season.
The Health Factor
Of course, the biggest question surrounding Peterson right now isn’t about skill-it’s about availability. Cramping, soft tissue injuries, and illness have limited his time on the floor, and that’s created some uncertainty around his draft stock.
But Woo isn’t sounding any alarms just yet.
“When you miss time, people talk,” he said. “This year is unique because you’ve got two other guys-AJ Dybantsa at BYU and Cameron Boozer at Duke-playing really well.
That creates dialogue. Even if some GMs have made their minds up, the public narrative can shift when you’re not playing.”
Coming into the season, Peterson had a bit of a lead over the rest of the class. But when you’re not on the court, that gap can start to close-at least in perception. Still, Woo believes that unless Peterson’s health issues turn out to be long-term or chronic, it won’t be a major red flag for NBA teams.
“If it’s something that can be managed, and team doctors aren’t concerned about it being a career-long issue, I don’t think it’s going to significantly impact his stock,” Woo said.
What NBA Teams Are Saying
Behind the scenes, there’s still a lot of excitement around Peterson. Woo says NBA personnel were “pretty unanimously” high on him entering the season, and that hasn’t changed much-even with the missed time.
“I think people know he’s actually hurt,” Woo said. “There’s no sense that he’s dodging games or trying to sit out.
He strikes me as a guy who’s genuinely competitive. I think he wants to be out there.”
That’s an important distinction. Injuries are part of the game, especially in a long, physical college season. But how a player handles those setbacks-how they compete, how they communicate, how they stay engaged-matters just as much.
Peterson, by all accounts, checks those boxes.
Still the Favorite at No. 1?
With the draft still months away, there’s a lot left to unfold. Lottery results, team needs, and medical evaluations will all play a role in who goes No.
- But right now, Peterson remains firmly in the mix-if not the favorite.
Woo’s latest mock draft has Peterson at the top, followed by Dybantsa and Boozer. And even if he doesn’t play a full slate of games this season, his ceiling remains sky-high.
“I’d love to see him play more,” Woo said. “Because the more you see him, the more obvious it becomes why people are so high on him.”
It’s not often a player can miss more games than he’s played and still be the projected top pick. But that’s the kind of rare talent Darryn Peterson is.
When he’s on the floor, it’s clear: he’s got the tools to be special. And for NBA teams eyeing the future, that’s more than enough to keep him at the top of their boards.