Darryn Peterson 's availability for the Kansas Jayhawks has been in question lately. Even though he is regarded as a lock to go to the top three in the 2026 draft, many find it odd that he had the liberty to check himself out of games and questioned his commitment , not just to the school, but to the sport in general.
That said, it's not just DP's health and passion that are currently under fire. According to ESPN's Vince Goodwill, some league scouts believe he is a tier below AJ Dyantsa when it comes to potential. King McClure, a college basketball analyst for the network, agrees.
The 6'4" Jayhawks guard held on to the No. 1 spot in most draft boards until some analysts put Dybantsa on top of him recently. The BYU forward appealed more to the scouts, not only because of his athletic 6'9" frame, but also because of his availability.
AJ played the entire game against Texas Tech and Iowa State, while logging 38 minutes in losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati. Although Peterson played at least 29 minutes in each of his last five games, he only saw action for 18 minutes in a victory over Oklahoma State before controversially taking himself out of the game .
However, on the offensive end, DP seemed head and shoulders above everyone else. He is a polished three-level scorer and could put up numbers on the offensive end with ease. When his shot didn't fall as much in a loss to Arizona State a week ago, he made his presence felt in other areas. Peterson grabbed 10 boards, dished out four assists, and added five steals.
Would that be enough to consider a "can't miss" prospect in the upcoming draft? Apparently not, according to McClure and some anonymous scouts.
"I did talk to an executive this morning who said, 'Now, when you ask me top-level talent, are you asking me, multiple-time All-Star or chane your life?' I said, 'Change your life.' He said, 'Nah, he's a multiple-time All-Star,'" Goodwill said on "The Hoop Collective" podcast.
McClure agreed.
"100 percent spot on," the former Baylor Bear stated. "I agree. I don't think he's a guy that is gonna change your life. I mean, we look up in about 10 to 15 years, he's gonna average about 20-plus for his career, multi-time All-Star, but I don't really see a guy that's literally the 'change your life" type of star that Vince talked about. I agree, spot on."
Of course, it's not saying that a multiple-time All-Star is a bad career arc. Still, several teams are banking on these guys to change the trajectories of their franchises. That said, a scorer of Peterson's caliber could do damage right away when put in a position to succeed.
Perhaps the Washington Wizards, with Trae Young and Anthony Davis healthy next year, could be that franchise. Regardless, the only way that Peterson could prove the doubters wrong is to put his name on the draft, which appears to be in question. A couple of days ago, DP teased a potential return to Lawrence.
"I love Kansas. I love everything about being here and my team. Maybe one more year, I might run it back," Peterson said in an interview with KSNT 27's Kole Emplit.
Well, if he passes on the opportunity to turn pro this June, he might just change his life, one way or the other.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
