Bill Self predicts Darryn Peterson, No. 2 pick, will be ‘perennial’ NBA All-Star
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- Bill Self called Darryn Peterson a “perfect fit” for the Utah Jazz.
- Persistent cramping sidelined Peterson for 11 of KU's 35 games.
- Self predicted Peterson could be a perennial All‑Star and average 20-25 points per game.
Seeing the Utah Jazz as a “perfect fit” for former Kansas one-and-done combo guard Darryn Peterson, coach Bill Self said he’s “really excited for him (and) excited for his family,” following the 19-year-old’s selection as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“Certainly he’s worked really hard,” Self, KU’s 24th-year coach, said Tuesday of the Canton, Ohio native who arrived at KU as the No. 1 ranked high school player in the recruiting class of 2025.
Peterson followed the Washington Wizards’ selection of AJ Dybantsa as the second college player chosen in the draft proceedings at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
“Unfortunately,” Self quickly added, “you hear all these accolades that everybody gives him — and it’s deservedly so about his talent — and we didn’t get a chance to see it consistently. We saw it at times, but not consistently with health issues. So it makes me very happy for him, but also kind of feeling of a ‘what if’ a little bit as well.”
Persistent cramping and health issues sidelined Peterson for 11 of the Jayhawks’ 35 games during the 2025-26 season, his only season in Lawrence. The former McDonald’s All-American also removed himself from several contests because of the cramping during a season in which he led the Jayhawks with a 20.2 scoring average.
Self was not surprised Washington went with BYU’s Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick, freeing the Jazz and former NBA champion/team CEO Danny Ainge to take Peterson at No. 2.
“I didn’t know one way or another. Visiting with the Wizards, they weren’t going to show their cards anyway,” Self said. “I thought it was very interesting the Wizards have the first pick and there was so much talk about trying to keep AJ in Utah (home of BYU) that, would there be some type of trade or some type of movement? But as of this point, that’s not going to happen.
“But I really didn’t have a feel one way or another. I actually thought it was closer to a coin flip, but the reality of it is the more I listen to people on TV, I thought that the percentage play was probably AJ over Darryn, just because I thought that’s what the masses thought more than anything else.”
Self said he felt Peterson would start at point guard from Day 1 in Utah for a Jazz team that went 22-60 a year ago.
“What is his ceiling? Well, his ceiling is in 10 years, he’s an eight-time All-Star. I mean, I think he could be a perennial All-Star every year,” Self said. “It may take him a year or two to get his legs under him. But I think he’ll be one of the best guards in the league. He’ll be one of the most talked about.
“He’ll be one of the guys that averages 20, 25 a game, I think, over the course of his career. And you say, well, that probably couldn’t happen. But you look at Wiggs’ career, I think Wiggs’ average is 17 or 18 (points) over the course of his career himself.”
“Wiggs,” who Self referenced, is former KU wing/current NBA veteran Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft who has a career scoring mark of 18.2 ppg.
“So yes,” Self continued, “I anticipate Darryn being a perennial All-Star.”
Self said he could see Peterson being selected No. 2 instead of 1 as a motivating factor in coming years.
“Well, I think it’s kind of ridiculous to think you’re slighted if you go 2 instead of 1 in an NBA Draft as a freshman, but I do know him well enough to know that he’ll use anything that he possibly can as motivation in the future,” Self said. “So the Dybantsa-Peterson matchups, although they’re only going to play twice a year, those games will be circled for sure both times.”
The bottom line, said Self, who was unable to attend the draft proceedings as he recovers from recent knee surgery, is “tonight was a great night for Darryn, his family, and all KU supporters. I obviously feel that he is the best prospect in the draft, and he’ll have an opportunity to prove that in Utah. Darryn has as much upside as anybody we’ve had here at Kansas. The fans in Salt Lake City will be so excited watching him play on a nightly basis.”
Peterson is the fifth Kansas player drafted by the Utah Jazz and the first since center Udoka Azubuike was taken in the first round at No. 27 overall in 2020.
Other Jayhawks selected by the franchise: current KU assistant coach Jacque Vaughn in 1997 (first round, No. 27 overall), Greg Ostertag in 1995 (first round, No. 28) and Kelly Knight in 1984. Peterson joins a Jazz roster which also includes former Jayhawk Svi Mykhailiuk, who has played for the team the past two seasons.
“Our hope now is that Tre (White) and Melvin (Council) can have their name called (during Wednesday’s second round, 7 p.m., ESPN). But even if not, I feel like they’re in good position to pursue their career (as free agents),” Self stated.
Self said former KU forward KJ Adams, who spent the last year on Self’s support staff as he rehabbed from Achilles surgery, “worked out for the (Dallas) Mavericks about two to three weeks ago. And he’s not where he needs to be, but he told me he felt pretty good and it felt good to be out there. And he probably did a bit better than he anticipated. But yes, he has the ability to do that now.”
This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 9:14 PM.
