It's easy to feel dismayed about the rampant tanking in the NBA this season, but one look at some of the best freshmen in college basketball will make anyone a little more understanding.
Kansas' Darryn Peterson and BYU's AJ Dybantsa are far from the only freshmen who could make an instant impact in the NBA, but it's those two names that have been atop draft boards since the start of the season and remain there today.
Duke's Cameron Boozer may be the nation's most productive freshman, while Arkansas' Darius Acuff may be the hottest freshman entering the NCAA Tournament. Peterson and Dybantsa, however, are as close to the complete package as any players in the country, and the debate over who should come off the board first in June will rage on even after their seasons wrap up.
Here's a look at how Peterson and Dybantsa's freshman seasons stack up and what you need to know as a third of the NBA positions itself to make a run at one of the two young stars.
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AJ Dybantsa vs. Darryn Peterson: Stats
Darryn Peterson Stat AJ Dybantsa
22 Games 34
28.4 MPG 34.6
19.8 PPG 25.3
4.4 RPG 6.7
1.7 APG 3.8
1.5 SPG 1.1
0.5 BPG 0.4
44.2% FG% 51.3%
38.4% 3-pt% 34.0%
Both Peterson and Dybantsa have had impressive statistical seasons as freshmen, but Dybantsa's numbers really jump off the page. The BYU star leads the nation with 25.3 points per game, also averaging more rebounds and assists per game than Peterson.
Peterson, however, has flashed moments of excellence in spurts. He is averaging 19.8 points per game on fewer minutes and fewer shots than Dybantsa, shooting more efficiently from 3-point range.
Both Peterson and Dybantsa play essential roles for their teams, but Dybantsa in particular has to carry the load for BYU. The Cougars entered the season with limited offensive weapons outside of Dybantsa, Robert Wright III and Richie Saunders, and Saunders was lost to an ACL tear in February. That experience is important for Dybantsa, but it also explains why his raw numbers might be more inflated than Peterson's.
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AJ Dybantsa vs. Darryn Peterson: Efficiency
Darryn Peterson Stat AJ Dybantsa
44.2% FG% 51.3%
49.1% 2-pt% 56.8%
38.4% 3-pt% 34.0%
Both Peterson and Dybantsa have flashed impressive efficiency for their size as freshmen. Peterson is four inches shorter than Dybantsa and takes more outside shots, while Dybantsa, at 6-9, has more of an ability to score closer to the basket but isn't as refined of a 3-point shooter as Peterson and might never be.
Peterson is shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range and 44.2 percent from the field overall. 45.8 percent of Peterson's shot attempts are 3-pointers, while 3s account for only 24.1 percent of Dybantsa's shots. Dybantsa did become more efficient from beyond the arc as the season went on, however.
In the modern NBA, very few stars aren't capable of regularly shooting 3s. Both Peterson and Dybantsa clear that bar, but Peterson is a more advanced outside shooter while Dybantsa knows how to use his size to his advantage to score from all over the floor.
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AJ Dybantsa vs. Darryn Peterson: Defense
Darryn Peterson Stat AJ Dybantsa
22 Games 34
1.5 Steals per game 1.1
0.5 Blocks per game 0.4
1.3 Defensive win shares 1.6
.203 Defensive win shares per 40 min. .212
Defense will come secondary for any team that drafts Peterson or Dybantsa, as both are prolific offensive players, but the two Big 12 stars pass the test on the defensive end. Peterson is averaging 1.5 steals per game while averaging fewer minutes than Dybantsa, and he is actually averaging slightly more blocks per game despite the height disadvantage.
Peterson and Dybantsa grade out similarly in defensive win shares, with Dybantsa's mark only slightly over 40 minutes.
MORE: How AJ Dybantsa's Big 12 Tournament compares to Kevin Durant
AJ Dybantsa vs. Darryn Peterson: NBA outlook
One NBA front office will have a difficult decision on its hands after lottery night in May. On one hand, it doesn't look like you can go wrong with either Peterson or Dybantsa. On the other hand, one turning into an MVP-caliber player while the other struggles to get to that level could reflect poorly on a general manager.
Peterson is the projected No. 1 pick in the latest mock draft from ESPN's Jeremy Woo, but the race is close. The Kansas guard has dealt with questions about his availability and has had a few inefficient days for the Jayhawks, but his scoring ability when he's hot is nearly unmatched in college basketball. A lack of assists for Peterson is notable, but that could be more the result of his role than his ability. Peterson could shift back to more of a playmaking role in the NBA with more offensive talent around him.
Dybantsa isn't the type of shooter Peterson is, and shooting is essential in the modern NBA. He has improved on that end, however, and his physical gifts are off the charts. Peterson may be the safer bet for stardom, but with his size and athleticism, Dybantsa could have the higher ceiling if he can continue to grow on both ends of the floor.
Will Peterson's awkward and sometimes unexplained absences hurt his stock ahead of June's draft? NBA teams may come with questions when they speak to him, but it's hard to imagine any of those concerns distracting a team that believes he is the best player in the draft, particularly after a healthy finish to the regular season and Big 12 Tournament.