University of Kansas men’s basketball legend and NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce likes what he’s seeing from KU freshman star Darryn Peterson.
Pierce returned to Allen Fieldhouse to watch Peterson match up against BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa last week. The pair, alongside Duke’s Cameron Boozer, are competing for the chance to be picked No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Pierce, whose No. 34 jersey hangs in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse, believes Peterson is a special talent. Despite dealing with a number of health issues this season, Peterson is still averaging 21.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game.
“I think he was a lot better than I was a freshman,” Pierce told The Star. “I mean I wasn’t NBA-ready as a freshman. Over time, players get better. He’s putting together one of the best freshman seasons ever out here at Kansas University. So, he’s in a lane by himself.”
Peterson and the Jayhawls won the matchup against BYU. Peterson scored 18 first-half points on a blistering 6-for-7 shooting clip. He also had three steals but played only three minutes in the second half due to cramping. He played a total of 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, Dybantsa finished with 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting after a relatively quiet first half.
“I think it's great for basketball,” Pierce said. “I think we’re going to be watching these two go against each other for a very long time.”
Peterson also had a couple of player comparisons for each — Peterson and Dybantsa.
“They’re both ahead of their league, ahead of their time — I mean, more advanced,” Pierce said. “If I had to compare Peterson, he’s got a lot of like Ray Allen, Bradley Beal. He can really shoot the ball, get to the basket.
“With Dybantsa, I see a lot of Tracy McGrady.”
There is one particular NBA legend whose name pops up in some Peterson comps ... but Pierce disagrees with it.
“I’m not going to Kobe, I’m not going there,” Pierce said “I don’t like doing that with players anyway. You can’t compare college kids to all-time greats, so not like the top of the top. Let’s give him some time to grow.”