What Do NBA Scouts Think Of Darryn Peterson?

With March Madness right around the corner, Sports Illustrated projected the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Considered by many to be a loaded draft class, there are three players who people think have franchise-altering potential.

These three stand out among others, such as North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff, and Houston’s Kingston Flemings. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, a highly touted prospect since high school, is known for his athleticism and three-level scoring. Duke forward Cameron Boozer‘s specialty is consistent scoring and rebounding inside, and he is a reliable threat from deep.

The third one is Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson. A 6’6″ guard with excellent shooting, passing, and scoring, his past season has been marred by his availability. Thus far, Peterson has played in just 17 of the Jayhawks’ 28 games this season. Despite this, many believe that Peterson will be one of the top five, if not the top three, picks in this upcoming NBA draft.

However, what do NBA scouts think about this?

What Do NBA Scouts Think Of Darryn Peterson?

The Jayhawks’ Clipped Wings

Peterson has not been on the court consistently for the Jayhawks. He missed nine of Kansas’ first 13 games. So far, Peterson has roughly played just 40% of Kansas’ minutes.

In the Jayhawks’ win against Texas Christian University on January 6th, Peterson scored a season-high 32 points. However, for most of Kansas’ comeback against the Horned Frogs, Peterson was on the bench with heating wraps around his legs. However, he checked back in with five seconds left to play. Fouled on a three-point attempt, Peterson made all of his free throws before sitting out the entirety of overtime.

The Jayhawks’ February 9th win against Arizona was the Wildcats’ first loss of the season. Kansas coach Bill Self was incredibly happy with this win, so much so that he “bounced around” the court and hugged his players. However, this was not just any win over one of the best basketball teams in the country; it was one that the Jayhawks had earned without their best player.

Coach Self had this to say about Peterson’s frequent absences after a game against Oklahoma State, where the first-year guard played just 18 minutes, and asked to be taken out of the game.

“I thought we were past it, but obviously we’re not. It’s certainly a concern. You get into the NCAA tournament, you’re playing a team just as good as you and you need to have all your best players available, so to speak. All it takes is for one day like that to derail not only a game, but a season.”

Scouts And Load Management

According to Peterson himself, however, his missing games are not something intentional. The standout guard told ESPN’s Myron Medcalf:

“Everybody’s got an opinion on it. But basketball is my life. If I could have been out there every game this year, I would have. If you would have asked me last year, what were my goals for this year, I would never mention missing games. So all this stuff kind of just happened, but I’ve got to deal with it.”

And indeed, many have expressed strong opinions about Peterson’s availability. In the interview following their game against Oklahoma State, the same game where Peterson gestured to be subbed out, Coach Self discussed the impact that Peterson’s availability had on the rest of the team.

“One thing about it is that it’s happened often enough that our guys have learned to play without him, even though that’s not the way we want to play. But that’s certainly something that we’re not unaccustomed to right now.”

Due to the bizarre nature and timing of his ailments and his frequent unavailability, some have suggested that Peterson may not be playing in games to prevent injury and protect his draft stock. However, if Peterson is willing to miss games in high-level college basketball, where he makes millions in NIL money, how likely is it that this attitude will change once he enters the NBA?

An NBA scout interviewed by The Athletic said:

“I’d love to see Peterson play. In the end, if he ends up not playing enough, it might result in the team at No. 1 feeling more comfortable with one of the other two guys at the top from a safety perspective.”

This is a very real concern that may affect Peterson’s draft stock. NBA scouts reflect the sentiment that Peterson is still very much on teams’ radars.

However, depending on which team wins the draft lottery, another top prospect such as Dybantsa or Boozer may go number one instead of Peterson. This would be a safer option for a team looking to get a player who could impact winning from the get-go.

Other players in the top ten have simply played a lot more and have shown what they are capable of. Acuff scored 49 points playing a team-high 50 minutes in a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is despite wearing a walking boot in the two days leading up to the game. Both Dybantsa and Boozer average north of 30 minutes a game, which is a mark that Peterson has only reached once.

Ultimately, Peterson’s availability for March Madness and his results at the NBA Draft Combine will decide where he lands in the 2026 draft.