Kansas Jayhawks star freshman guard Darryn Peterson has not yet officially declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. But Peterson spoke as if his time at Kansas was over after the Jayhawks’ heartbreaking 67-65 loss to St. John’s in the second round of the men’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Peterson was asked what he’ll remember about his one season at Kansas while crowded by reporters at his locker.
“A team full of brothers,” he said. “I had a coach that believed in me from the jump. Through all the ups and downs, he believed in me. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here.”
Peterson was also asked how he’d like to be remembered by KU fans.
“I’m not sure right now,” he admitted. “Hopefully, as a player that will have a place to even call home in Lawrence, Kansas. A player that went out there and played hard every time he could.” Peterson added, “It was a great year. I appreciate them for having our back throughout it all. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.”
In what’s expected to be his final game as a Jayhawk, Peterson scored 21 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field (3-of-8 from three) and collected four rebounds and four blocks in 36 minutes.
Peterson struggled with various injuries and illnesses and missed 11 games throughout the season. The Kansas City Star‘s Shreyas Laddha reported that severe cramping has been Peterson’s most persistent ailment. Peterson told Laddha that he was in the hospital for two bags of IV fluids at one point.
“I had like a full-body [cramp], super serious,” Peterson said. “You could say it was traumatic. I would say it was a traumatic experience.”
When available, Peterson led the Jayhawks in scoring (20.1 points per game) and steals (1.5).
On March 11, ESPN’s Jeremy Woo projected Peterson to be the No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s 2026 NBA Draft.
“His issues with cramping and inconsistent play have heightened the perceived risk around taking him first, but he remains the most gifted offensive player in the draft,” Woo wrote. “NBA teams have varying levels of concern but won’t have complete information around his long-term health or other intangibles until later in the process.”
Woo added, “It’s important to keep in mind how strongly many evaluators felt about Peterson coming into the season, particularly scouts who saw him play in high school. Although his role at Kansas has largely moved him off the ball, there remains optimism around his playmaking and ability to operate as a lead ball handler.”
Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa are widely considered to be the top 3 prospects heading into the draft. The order in which they’ll be selected will continue to be debated until draft night.
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