Darryn Peterson shockingly drops to No. 5 in Kevin O'Connor mock draft
· Yahoo Sports
Kansas Jayhawks freshman Darryn Peterson was once widely projected as the consensus favorite for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
While that is no longer the case after a season largely defined by inconsistency and injuries, Peterson is still widely considered one of the most elite prospects in this class. Despite playing hurt for much of his freshman campaign, he was still arguably the most impressive scorer in college basketball.
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When fully healthy, fans can expect to see a walking highlight reel whenever he is on the court and looks like a promising professional player. But which team will take him? That depends on the results of the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, of course, but one league insider offered a hot take in a mock draft.
Kevin O'Connor projected Peterson at No. 5 overall to the Utah Jazz (via Yahoo Sports):
"Peterson is the most tantalizing puzzle in this draft class. The shot-making is real. He can pull up from anywhere and get to his spots. Plus he’s 6-6 and plays with a fluidity that just screams superstar. Not to mention he’s a defensive playmaker with the tools to guard multiple positions and the approach to impact the game even if he’s not scoring. There’s a strong possibility that teams are making a mistake letting him fall out of the top-3. But league sources have said since midseason that there’s a chance Peterson could slip depending on how his medical report looks after injury issues derailed his freshman year.
Between the cramping saga, the missed time, the lack of apparent athletic pop and the stretches where he played heavy minutes but struggled to produce offensively, there’s a lot to be concerned about. At some point, though, Peterson’s upside will be too much to pass up. In this mock, that’s the Jazz, who similarly weren’t afraid to take forward Ace Bailey with this same pick one year ago. And they are looking wise for doing so with Ace flashing star qualities in his own right. A team like the Jazz could ultimately be the best-case scenario for Peterson anyway: He’d join a roster full of high-level talent with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George. There wouldn’t be pressure on him to be the savior straight away. Much like Bailey, the only goal would be to grow."
O'Connnor reported that Peterson "could slip" based on his medical report. Peterson continued to play through the Big 12 conference tournament and March Madness.
It is worth noting that North Carolina big man Caleb Wilson, who O'Connor projected above Peterson, also missed significant during his freshman season due to multiple injuries. Wilson was shut down for the season and missed the entire NCAA men's basketball tournament.
USA TODAY's latest mock draft has Peterson at No. 3 overall to the Washington Wizards.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Darryn Peterson shockingly drops to No. 5 in Kevin O'Connor mock draft