LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) - It’s not often that the Kansas Jayhawks fail to produce at least one draft pick in the NBA Draft.
But this year, the program run by head coach Bill Self failed to yield a selection in the now two-night, two-round event. It was just the fifth time in Self’s 22 seasons at Kansas that the Jayhawks haven’t had a player picked by an NBA franchise.
Never in those 22 seasons has Self failed to produce a draft pick in consecutive drafts, and next season doesn’t figure to be the first time that happens. As media outlets begin with early mocks of the 2026 NBA Draft, incoming Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson is expected to hear his name picked early next June.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo said there’s excitement for next season’s draft class with Peterson, BYU freshman A.J. Dybantsa, Duke freshman Cameron Boozer and Tennessee freshman Nate Ament expected to be picked early.
“Some league executives saying the top five has historic star power,” Givony and Woo said.
Peterson was mocked at No. 1 overall by ESPN in their initial 2026 mock draft, citing him as the best player in high school last season.
“Peterson will be the centerpiece of a Kansas roster built around his dynamic offense, giving him every opportunity to solidify his standing as the No. 1 prospect in next year’s draft,” Givony said.
CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish has Peterson going second overall in his initial look at next year’s draft, noting he “personally prefer(s)” Dybantsa to Peterson as a prospect.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman also had Peterson going first overall.
“Peterson has a case as the most skilled and well-rounded 2-guard prospect of the decade,” he said. “Even Anthony Edwards didn’t seem as polished or fine-tuned with his overall three-level scoring package and secondary playmaking heading into the draft.”
Peterson will likely be handed the keys to Kansas’ offense this fall as the Jayhawks hope to improve upon the worst season of the Bill Self era. But where he winds up for his NBA future will likely be determined by this time next year.
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