Get to Know Darryn Peterson
Darryn Peterson sits down with Lauren Green from NBA TV to discuss this year’s NBA Draft.
Overview
As a freshman at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Ohio, Darryn Peterson averaged 26.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, then 31.0 points and 9.8 rebounds as a sophomore before transferring to Huntington Prep and later Prolific Prep, where he posted 30.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game as a senior. He won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship, earned Naismith Prep Player of the Year honors and was named McDonald’s All-American Co-MVP. A consensus five-star recruit ranked No. 1 overall by 247Sports, Peterson committed to Kansas, where head coach Bill Self called him the best player he had ever recruited. As a freshman, Peterson averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 29.0 minutes per game on 44%/38%/83% shooting splits across 24 games, earning Second-Team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Freshman honors despite missing time with hamstring and ankle injuries.
Analysis
Peterson is a shot-maker. He fires three-pointers at one of the highest volumes in college basketball and converts them efficiently, but his midrange game is what separates him from his peers. He is lethal pulling up off the dribble and creating his own looks. With a frame built to absorb contact, he has the physical profile of a two-way wing who can guard multiple positions. He rarely fouls, and his hands are active enough in passing lanes to generate steals without gambling out of position. Peterson takes care of the ball at a quality rate relative to someone with his offensive workload.
Projection
Peterson projects as a primary scorer and secondary creator whose all-around shot-making, self-creation and defensive disruption give him multiple avenues to stardom at the NBA level. His ability to operate off the ball as a movement shooter while initiating offense with a live dribble makes him versatile wherever he lands in the draft. He draws comparisons to NBA guards like Bradley Beal, Jaylen Brown, Devin Booker and young Ray Allen. Peterson has the ceiling of a perennial All-Star guard.
Career Highlights
- 2025-26 AP All-America Honorable Mention selection.
- 2025-26 All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team pick.
- 2025-26 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year semifinalist.
- Ranked the No. 2 prospect by ESPN in the Class of 2025.
- 2024-25 Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year.
- Won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
Freshman (2025-26)
- Finished with the highest scoring average ever by a Kansas freshman (20.2 ppg).
- Scored 20 or more points 12 times despite missing 11 games due to injury.
- Recorded a career-high 32 points in an overtime win over TCU (Jan. 6).
- Posted 28 points vs. California Baptist in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (March 20).
Strengths
- Dynamic combo guard with elite shot-creation skills.
- Three-level scorer with deep range and a soft touch.
- Strong frame; absorbs and finishes through contact.
- Competitive defender with length and versatility.
Personal
- Favorite NBA player is Devin Booker.
- Father, Darryl II, played at Akron with LeBron James’ former high school teammates Dru Joyce III and Romeo Travis.
- Older brother, Darryl III, played football at Wisconsin and recently signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
Go Figure
Peterson averaged 20.2 points per game as a freshman in 2025-26, breaking the Kansas freshman scoring record previously held by former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins.
Quotable
“Darryn has an aura about him that only the greats possess and has the love of the game to match it. His ceiling is whatever he wants it to be.”
— Atlanta Hawks guard and family friend CJ McCollum, to Andscape
Darryn Peterson Media Availability
Darryn Peterson addresses the media after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
— Profile by RotoWire.com with additional info from the official NBA Draft Media Guide