Unquestionably, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson is one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft. He has shown himself to be an elite two-way guard prospect with the upside to be the primary option at the NBA level. The six-foot-six guard’s advanced abilities as a shot-creator and playmaker will be must-watch basketball whenever the college season starts.
As the season approaches, it is time to give a preview of Peterson’s overall skill set and what he can bring to the table for Kansas. Not only that, but also point out areas in which Peterson can stand to develop. Let’s dive into a preview of Kansas Jayhawk guard Darryn Peterson.
2026 NBA Draft: Kansas Jayhawk Guard Darryn Peterson Preview
What Peterson Excels At
Dynamic Scoring
The clearest and loudest area in which Peterson excels at is scoring the basketball. He is a bona fide three-level scorer who can get buckets like it’s nothing. Peterson averaged 30.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game while also shooting 52% from the field and 86% from the line at Prolific Prep. As a three-level scorer, he demonstrated great touch around the rim and in the mid-range. He can easily glide into the paint and finish at the basket with either hand. As for his mid-range shot, he has the composure and skill to knock down heavily contested jumpers. In fact, Peterson is a pull-up threat to score anywhere on the court. Additionally, Peterson has also shown an aptitude for drawing fouls. Considering his overall skills, it is hard to overstate how talented Peterson is as a scorer.
Advanced Shot Creation
Something that shouldn’t be ignored when talking about Peterson’s scoring is the way he can create those scoring opportunities. Peterson combines his advanced ball-handling, athleticism, and high basketball IQ into elite shot creation. When attacking the paint, he has an absolute bag of tricks to use, like hesitations or spins to shake defenders. He rarely gets sped up and knows how to dictate the pace to effectively get to his spots. A key element of his shot-making from anywhere on the court is the elevation that he gets on his jumper. Not only is Peterson great at creating shots in one-on-one scenarios, but he is an expert at operating in the pick-and-roll to create shots as well.
High-level Playmaking
What truly makes him such an offensively talented prospect is the blend of his excellent scoring and high-level playmaking. Peterson possesses excellent court vision and floor mapping, constantly vigilant of passing opportunities. He leverages his threat as a scorer to create opportunities for his teammates, reading the court well enough to find those scoring chances. Peterson is quick enough at processing the game to find teammates even when playing in traffic. One of the more impressive things about Peterson’s playmaking is that he isn’t usually susceptible to tunnel vision and will typically try to make the right play.
Defensive Upside
While the offensive end of the floor will dominate the talk around Peterson, he also possesses great upside as a defender. Standing at six-foot-five with a 6’10 wingspan, Peterson has the ideal measurements to be a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. As an on-ball defender, Peterson continuously competes to stay in front of his man and uses his length constantly to bother the ball. Case in point, he averaged 2.2 steals for Prolific Prep. Peterson doesn’t just use his length for steals, as he has also shown flashes of weak side shot-blocking. His defensive potential is something that will be intriguing to watch as he transitions to college.
Key Areas Of Development For Peterson
Three-Point Consistency
You would be hard-pressed to find any significant flaw in Peterson’s overall game. Based on everything he has demonstrated, Peterson possesses an extremely well-rounded game that one should expect from a top-three prospect. The only real area in which Peterson can use more development is his three-point consistency.
Undoubtedly, Peterson has a great shooting form that looks smooth and functional. However, he hasn’t been the most consistent shooter, especially in catch-and-shoot situations. To be fair, Peterson is usually playing on the ball, so the sample of him shooting those catch-and-shoot threes is small. Nevertheless, further refining his three-point shot will only help him in the long run.
The Last Word
Without a doubt, Peterson has everything that an NBA team would want from a top prospect. From the scoring to the defense, Peterson has the skills and potential to be a primary option in the league. He has the chance to show what he is truly capable of at the college level and can use that time to continue to develop. Undoubtedly, Peterson and the Kansas Jayhawks are going to be an intriguing watch all season.
© Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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