NBA Scouts Flock to Kansas-BYU Showdown as Darryn Peterson Shines in Statement Performance
Saturday’s matchup between No. 14 Kansas and No.
13 BYU wasn’t just a marquee college basketball clash - it was a scouting goldmine. With NBA front office personnel from the Indiana Pacers and a five-person contingent from the Atlanta Hawks, including team owner Tony Ressler, in the building, all eyes were locked on two of the biggest names in the 2026 NBA Draft conversation: AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.
And if you were looking for a breakout moment, Peterson delivered - and then some.
Peterson Steals the Spotlight at Allen Fieldhouse
The first half was a showcase, and Peterson turned it into his personal highlight reel. The former No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2025 poured in 18 points on near-flawless efficiency - 6-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from deep.
He mixed it up, too: knockdown threes, smooth mid-range pull-ups, and strong takes to the rim. This wasn’t just scoring - it was scoring with purpose, confidence, and rhythm.
Peterson's performance was the engine behind a blistering 53-point first half from Kansas, who shot a scorching 18-of-28 from the field and 9-of-12 from three. That level of offensive execution doesn’t happen by accident. The Jayhawks were locked in, moving the ball crisply and capitalizing on every defensive lapse BYU offered.
And it wasn’t just Peterson making noise. Bryson Tiller and Tre White each chipped in 10 points, giving Kansas three double-digit scorers before halftime. The Jayhawks weren’t just hot - they were humming.
Defense Turns Up the Heat on Dybantsa
While Peterson was lighting it up, Kansas’ defense was busy making life difficult for AJ Dybantsa. The 6-foot-9 freshman, widely projected as a top pick, managed just seven points in the first half, constantly hounded by physical defenders and forced into tough, contested looks.
To be clear, Dybantsa didn’t play poorly - but Kansas’ defensive pressure kept him from finding any real rhythm. The Jayhawks forced six turnovers in the half and made every possession a battle.
The Cougars never looked comfortable, and the game began to tilt heavily in Kansas’ favor - reminiscent of the Jayhawks’ earlier rout of then-No. 2 Iowa State.
A High-Stakes Stage for Draft Hopefuls
This wasn’t just another regular-season game - this was a proving ground. With NBA scouts and executives in attendance, players like Peterson and Dybantsa knew the stakes. And while both have been impressive throughout the season - Peterson averaging 21.7 points in just 27.2 minutes per game despite battling through a hamstring issue, cramping, and an ankle sprain; Dybantsa putting up 23.6 points per game, second-best in the country - Saturday was a different kind of spotlight.
Peterson seized the moment. His blend of efficiency, versatility, and poise under pressure sent a loud message to anyone watching: he’s not just a top prospect - he’s ready for the big stage.
For Dybantsa, the talent is undeniable. But on this day, in this building, the momentum belonged to Kansas - and to Peterson.
With the 2026 NBA Draft shaping up to be one of the deepest in recent memory, performances like this matter. And for those sitting courtside with clipboards and draft boards, Saturday’s game offered a clear takeaway: Darryn Peterson is very much in the conversation at the top.