No. 1 vs. No. 2: Where do post-NBA Combine mock drafts rank KU’s Peterson?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- ESPN’s Jeremy Woo projects KU’s Darryn Peterson to be selected No. 2 overall.
- Teams await results of Peterson’s medical evaluation after serious cramping.
- Multiple analysts group Peterson among a consensus top-four draft tier.
Former Kansas combo guard Darryn Peterson will be selected No. 2 overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2026 NBA Draft, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Woo predicted Tuesday in his latest mock draft reflecting information gathered at last week’s NBA Combine in Chicago.
Former Utah small forward AJ Dybantsa held down the top spot at No. 1 (to Washington), while former Duke forward Cameron Boozer and former North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson were ticketed to be picked No. 3 by Memphis and No. 4 by Chicago respectively, in Woo’s mock draft.
“The order in which those (four) players are selected is not a foregone conclusion with NBA teams largely seeing little separation between the top prospects,” Woo wrote Tuesday.
A pro day for prospects will be held this week in Los Angeles, Woo indicated. Also dozens of players will be flown to NBA cities for individual testing and workouts with teams.
College players wishing to retain eligibility must withdraw from the draft pool by 11:59 p.m. May 27. The draft is set for June 23-24 in Brooklyn, New York.
“Peterson, Boozer and Wilson are all expected to receive consideration as the Washington Wizards go through their process. The fact that there is a consensus group of four has led some executives to view the top of this draft as more ripe for trades than in a typical year, but only if the top four teams see value in moving around within that tier,” Woo wrote.
Woo wrote that KU’s Peterson is “arguably the most talented prospect in the class. It’s also worth noting he wants to play point guard at the next level, a role he would have a runway to grow into in Utah. He measured well at the combine with a plus-5 1/4 wingspan, excellent dimensions for a ball handler.”
Woo reported that NBA teams are awaiting the results of Peterson’s recent medical evaluation.
“That is viewed around the league as the most important off-court piece after he dealt with serious cramping concerns, which he attributed to high dosages of creatine,” Woo wrote. “According to team sources, Peterson came across as quiet but serious in interviews last week and handled that part of the process well, addressing questions about his strange season (missing 11 games and opting out during others). Where that leaves him on draft night will play out in the coming weeks,” Woo wrote.
What about Bidunga?: Former KU forward Flory Bidunga was slotted as the No. 12 pick of round two in Woo’s ESPN mock draft. Bidunga, who played at KU two seasons, has said he’ll attend Louisville if he exits the draft. It’s been speculated he’ll make much more money in college than the NBA in 2026-27, thus many expect Bidunga to exit the draft before the deadline.
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo!Sports listed Bidunga as the No. 3 pick of the second round, No. 33 overall, to Brooklyn.
“He is a 6-8 vertical weapon with bouncy legs, soft hands, and the defensive instincts to anchor the paint. He also has some switchability, which could make him highly valuable on defense. But he lacks the size of a true center, and he lacks any perimeter skill on offense,” O’Connor wrote, adding that Bidunga has “untapped potential.”
According to reporters Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer, Bidunga has signed his paperwork, finalizing his NIL deal with Louisville. He has not yet said he’s definitely attending college a third year.
“Bidunga told ESPN at the combine that he hasn’t completely ruled out the idea of staying in the draft but would like to be a projected first-round pick before making his final decision. That doesn’t appear likely at this point, meaning a return to college to play for Pat Kelsey would be the next step,” wrote ESPN.com’s Jeff Borzello. “Bidunga is one of the best defensive players in the country and would immediately anchor the Cardinals’ frontcourt, alongside Iowa transfer Alvaro Folgueiras.”
Wagler a top 10 pick: Former Illinois point guard Keaton Wagler will be taken No. 5 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Woo’s projections.
The 6-foot-5 former Shawnee Mission Northwest standout led the Illini to the Final Four in his one-and-done college season.
“Any concerns about his explosiveness aren’t expected to heavily impact his draft stock,” Woo wrote. “He has excellent size for a ball handler at 6-5 barefoot. He is not overly long, measuring with a plus-1 1/4 wingspan, and tested in the middle of the pack athletically.”
Yahoo!Sports has Wagler headed to Brooklyn at No. 6.
Stirtz to Toronto?: Bennett Stirtz, a 6-6 combo guard out of Liberty High School and University of Iowa, is projected to be taken No. 19 by Toronto, both Woo and Yahoo!Sports projected.
“Stirtz shot the ball extremely well in drills at the combine, plus measured and tested fairly well, helping himself overall,” Woo wrote.
Ejoifor likely late first or second round: Former KU and St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor will be taken No. 29 overall by Cleveland, Woo stated. The 6-7 1/2 Ejiofor “has plenty of fans around the league and a good mix of traits for a rotational energy big,” Woo wrote.
Ejiofor will be the No. 45 overall pick of Sacramento, Yahoo predicted.
“The question with Ejiofor is the fact he’s undersized for a center and his jumper is still a work in progress. But he’s developed enough to deserve a chance to figure it out in the league,” O’Connor wrote.
NBA senior analyst O’Connor of Yahoo!Sports agrees with Woo on the first four picks: Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson.
“The concern isn’t his game. It’s his body,” O’Connor said of Peterson. “... Much like Ace Bailey last year, Peterson could ease into his NBA routine as a rookie.”
Will KU’s White be picked?: Tre White, a 6-7 wing who played at KU last season, is projected by NBAdraft.net to be taken as the 19th pick of round two (No, 49 overall), by Denver. The website has Peterson at No. 2 behind top-pick Dybantsa.
