Former University of Kansas one-and-done combo guard Darryn Peterson huddled with scouts and front-office executives representing 10 pro basketball teams on Wednesday morning at the NBA Combine in Chicago.
“I didn’t plan. Whatever was on the schedule, I did,” said Peterson, who officially measured 6-foot-4 1/4 barefoot and weighed in at 199 pounds.
Peterson was speaking to reporters as he and other invited NBA prospects gathered for the pre-draft event’s media day.
The Canton, Ohio native said he relished the opportunity to speak with as many folks as possible — and perhaps alter some of the images people have of him following a college season in which he missed 11 games and took himself out of several others because of cramps, a sprained ankle, hamstring woes and/or illness.
“Just meeting the person, getting an opportunity for them to learn the real me,” Peterson said, asked what he looked forward to the most in his interview sessions with teams.
The former McDonald’s All-American and No. 1-ranked prospect in the high school recruiting class of 2025 is expected to be selected No. 1 (by Washington) or No. 2 (by Utah) in the June 23-24 NBA Draft. He said he disagreed with any NBA front-office personnel who believe he is “quiet.”
“I don’t know if anybody here (from the NBA) talked to any of my teammates and asked about me,” he said Wednesday, “but I wouldn’t say I’m quiet at all. Probably during games I’m not saying too much. I’m just locked in trying to win.
“I know I mentioned in an interview last year I was antisocial. That was blowing up. People put that and ran with it.”
He said he was an “antisocial loner” after KU’s home victory over Houston in February.
“I used the wrong word with that,” he said of “antisocial.”
“I meant just during that process (when he was being criticized online for missing several games) I was super introverted. I didn’t have anybody to talk about it mainly because I didn’t know what was going on,” he said.
Peterson said in an interview with ESPN that he recently learned his cramping issues were likely because of too much creatine in his system.
“That (being diagnosed) kind of helped my mental state as well,” he said, “because when something’s wrong (and) you don’t know what it is, it kind of can be rough.
“So it helped my mental figuring out what it was and now just getting back to it feeling well.”
Saying he is 100% healthy currently, Peterson noted of his mental state at KU: “It could have been easy for me to kind of feel sorry for myself or go into a shell and be a bad teammate. But me being me, I knew that none of it being said was true, so I didn’t find it important at all.”
As far as his ability … Peterson has said at this week’s combine that he sees himself as more of a point guard than a wing in the pros. He hit 19 of 25 three-point attempts during one spot-up 3-point shooting drill in Chicago.
“I think I can fit in with any team because I can play both on and off the ball and help my team wherever I go,” Peterson said when asked what he thought about the Wizards receiving the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery. “I’m going to work my butt off on both sides of the ball and challenge myself every day.”
He said he’s heard comparisons to — and watched film of — NBA players Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard.
“I’m just trying to prepare for the draft as much as possible and get better,” Peterson told reporters. “Coming here my main focus was to dominate the shooting drills and testing and stuff. I didn’t shoot as well as I wanted to. The testing was solid.”
Here are some of his results as compiled by 247sports.com.
His 76% in the spot up 3-point shooting drill tied for second along with Darius Acuff Jr., Tyler Bilodeau, Cameron Boozer and Ebuka Okorie.
His time of 2.95 seconds in the shuttle run placed 42nd. In the max vertical leap, Peterson’s 37.5 inch mark tied for 27th. Peterson’s no-step vertical of 31.5 inches ranked 27th, as well.
During off-the-dribble shooting drills, Peterson hit 21 of 30 attempts. His 70% shooting mark tied for 19th along with Alex Karaban, Isaiah Evans, Jeremy Fears, Nick Martinelli and Brayden Burries.
Peterson hit 6 of his 10 free-throw attempts. His 60% mark ranked tied for 58th.
He had a 6-9 3/4 wingspan and 8-7 standing reach, both fourth best of the guards measured.
“Blessed. I would just say I’m blessed,” Peterson said regarding the measurements and how he compares physically to other guards.
“You only get to do this once, just enjoy the experience,” Peterson added of the combine and upcoming workouts with NBA teams. He said he will lean on his “discipline. I am willing to do anything to be the best me possible.”
Asked by ESPN why a team should take him No. 1, Peterson, who averaged 20.2 points per game on 43.8% shooting (38.2% from deep) at KU, said: “I feel like I’m the best. Take a chance on me and I won’t let you down.”