In a year that has seen an uptick in tanking, two of the top players in college basketball are considering holding out of the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
Projected top-three picks Darryn Peterson, a high-scoring guard for the Kansas Jayhawks, and AJ Dybantsa, a dynamic forward for the BYU Cougars, both shared comments over the weekend that will have NBA lottery teams sweating bullets.
Following Kansas’ win over Kansas State on Saturday, Peterson–a player who many view as the future top draft pick from this year’s collection of talent–said he may “run it back” with Kansas.
“I love Kansas, I love everything about being here and my team,” Peterson said as his teammate Melvin Councin chanted “one more year” in the background. Peterson smiled, then said he may return for a second season of Jayhawks basketball.
“Maybe one more year. I might run it back.”
Darryn Peterson with a message for the critics:
“I love Kansas, I love everything about being here and my team.”
Melvin Council slowly chants ‘one more year’
DP: “Maybe one more year. I might run it back.”#kubball pic.twitter.com/P6MwUXrZY6
— Kole Emplit (@KoleEmplit) March 7, 2026
Could Darryn Peterson & AJ Dybantsa skip the 2026 NBA Draft?
On the heels of a 27-point, five-rebound, four-assist performance, the guard boosted his season averages to 19.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals on 45/38/81 shooting splits.
Availability has been a concern for Peterson’s 2026 NBA Draft stock, but when he’s on the floor, the production is always there.
Peterson has missed games this season for an assortment of reasons–flu-like symptoms, ankle injuries, a hamstring injury, and cramping–but added he feels healthy heading into the Conference Tournament and March Madness portion of the schedule.
“I’m feeling good,” Peterson said. “Perfect timing, if you ask me, going into the Big 12 Tournament and NCAA. I’m feeling probably the best I’ve felt all year.”
Peterson isn’t alone when it comes to evaluating his basketball future.
BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is likely to go first or second in the 2026 NBA Draft, with the forward recently stating he would like to be the top pick–but that doesn’t mean he’s certain to declare for the leap to the pros.
During a recent interview on the Deseret Voices podcast, the projected top-three pick hinted that he may return to BYU for a sophomore season.
“Well, I might not leave,” Dybantsa said. “I might not leave college. I’ve just got to get to the end of the season. My mom wants me to graduate. So I might not leave. But I might leave.”
AJ Dybantsa in a win against No. 10 Texas Tech:
21 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST pic.twitter.com/lmEJuYCCKl
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 8, 2026
Dybantsa has been a force for BYU this season, averaging 24.7 points (leads NCAA Division I), 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 51 percent shooting from the field, 34 percent from long distance, and 75 percent from the charity stripe.
When it comes to the actual likelihood that one or both players will remain in college for another year, it’s hard to see either being a truly realistic possibility.
While ending up in rebuilding scenarios like Sacramento, Brooklyn, Indiana, Washington, or Utah might not be as enticing as it was for last year’s top pick Cooper Flagg, who ended up in Dallas after also stating he may return for a second year of college ball, history tells us that it’s usually in the player’s best interest to enter the draft.
Last year, Flagg secured a four-year, $62. 7 million contract after being selected first overall, including $13.8 million during his rookie season.
Even in the age of NIL deals, Peterson and Dybantsa would be leaving some serious money on the table while risking hurting their draft stock in an eventual 2027 NBA Draft.
Both players will be drafted in the top three picks of the 2026 NBA Draft, alongside Duke star Cameron Boozer, while injured North Carolina star Caleb Wilson is also projected to be a top-four selection.
Wanting to be drafted by the right situation and team is important, but regardless, these players will likely become the face of the franchise wherever they end up. That means something, and it could be the difference between returning to college and joining the 2026 NBA Draft.
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When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will continue a five-game homestand on Tuesday night when they face the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center.
Sacramento lost to the Pacers by a final of 116-105 in Indiana back on December 8th.
Both teams will enter play on Tuesday with the bottom-two records in the NBA, giving each team a 14% chance of securing the top pick in May’s NBA Draft Lottery (52.1% chance of landing a top-four pick in the 2026 NBA Draft).
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Indiana Pacers action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Sacramento.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Tuesday, March 10th vs. Indiana Pacers – 7:00 PM PT
Wednesday, March 11th vs. Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, March 14th @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7:30 PM PT
Sunday, March 15th vs. Utah Jazz – 7:00 PM PT
Tuesday, March 17th vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7:00 PM PT
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