Darryn Peterson Sticks to Wizards for Exclusive Pre-draft Talks
WHO:
ESPN - The Washington Wizards have narrowed their focus at No. 1 to Darryn Peterson and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa.
Sportskeeda - Darryn Peterson, a top NBA draft prospect.
Pro Football Network - Shams Charania, an NBA insider.
RealGM Basketball - AJ Dybantsa, a forward from BYU and fellow top prospect.
WHAT:
RealGM Basketball - Darryn Peterson's pre-draft medical evaluations have not raised significant concerns among NBA teams, clearing the way for him to be selected among the top two picks.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson has expressed a desire to play point guard in the NBA, and the presence of Trae Young in Washington is not viewed as an obstacle to that fit.
RealGM Basketball - If Peterson remains available to Utah, he would represent a strong fit alongside guard Keyonte George as the Jazz look to bolster their offense and push for playoff contention.
ESPN - The Wizards won the draft lottery in May after tying for the best odds to get the No. 1 pick.
ESPN - Wizards top basketball executive Michael Winger stated, "It's our fans that have endured the most... This No. 1 pick is for them."
Sportskeeda - ESPN projected the Utah Jazz to draft Peterson as the second pick in the draft.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson has informed the Utah Jazz that he plans to take no further team visits, signaling his preference to be selected first by Washington.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson began the season as ESPN's No. 1 overall prospect and is regarded as the most talented offensive player in the draft class.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson's season at Kansas was impacted by cramping issues, which he has said were linked to high doses of creatine.
Sportskeeda - Peterson is expected to be a top-five pick in the NBA draft.
Pro Football Network - Peterson is only meeting with the Washington Wizards before the 2026 NBA Draft.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson averaged 20.2 points per game as a freshman, the most in Kansas program history.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson missed 11 games due to injury, the most for a projected No. 1 pick since Kyrie Irving in 2011.
RealGM Basketball - The first round of the draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on June 23.
WHERE:
ESPN - The Wizards finished last season with a record of 17-65.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson has met with the Wizards in Los Angeles.
RealGM Basketball - The Washington Wizards hold the No. 1 pick in the draft.
WHEN:
RealGM Basketball - The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is on Tuesday, June 23, and the second round will take place on Wednesday, June 24.
RealGM Basketball - The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is on June 23, and the second round will take place on June 24.
WHY:
ESPN - The Wizards have not won a playoff series since the 2017-18 season.
RealGM Basketball - Rival teams do not view Peterson's decision to skip a workout with Utah as a significant factor in the Jazz's evaluation, citing precedent from last year when general manager Austin Ainge selected Ace Bailey fifth overall without a pre-draft visit.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson's decision to meet only with the Wizards is noted by lottery teams.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson expressed a desire to play point guard in the NBA.
HOW:
ESPN - The Jazz traded for big man Jaren Jackson Jr. in February, who played just three games before being shut down for knee surgery.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne in May that severe cramping caused his injury issues. He said doctors determined after the season that high doses of creatine contributed to the condition.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson's pre-draft medical evaluations have not raised significant concerns among NBA teams.
RealGM Basketball - Peterson has completed multiple on-court workouts in front of Washington's decision-makers.
Darryn Peterson's pre-draft medical evaluations have not raised significant concerns among NBA teams, positioning him to be selected among the top two picks in the upcoming draft. He has expressed a desire to play point guard, and the presence of Trae Young in Washington is not seen as a barrier to that ambition. If Peterson is still available when the Utah Jazz pick, he would be a strong fit alongside guard Keyonte George, as the team aims to enhance their offense and make a push for playoff contention during the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23 and 24.