Four college stars declare for 2026 NBA draft
Four college stars declared for the 2026 NBA draft this week, expanding the early entry class.
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2026 NBA Draft Class Declarations
Multiple top college basketball prospects from the 2026 recruiting class declared for the NBA draft in late April, including Kansas guard Darryn Peterson as a projected top-3 pick. The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 10, with the draft in June.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 25 Apr, 00:37 UTC
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What happened
Darryn Peterson averaged 20.2 points in 24 games for Kansas
During his one season at Kansas, Darryn Peterson played in 24 games and averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 38.2% from three-point range on 63 makes from 165 attempts. Peterson played approximately 29 minutes per game for the Jayhawks.
Peterson projected as top-3 pick with Anthony Edwards comparison
Darryn Peterson is widely projected as a top-3 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, with some mock drafts projecting him as the No. 1 overall pick and others placing him at No. 2. NBA analysts compare Peterson to Anthony Edwards, citing his ability to score at all three levels and his capacity to play bigger than his 6-foot-6 frame. Peterson profiles as a scoring guard capable of creating self-generated offense through isolation plays and ball screens.
Arkansas's Darius Acuff Jr. declared for 2026 NBA draft Wednesday
Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas announced his declaration for the 2026 NBA draft on Wednesday. Acuff led the SEC in scoring with 23.5 points per game and in assists with 6.4 per game in the same season, joining LSU legend Pete Maravich as the only SEC players to accomplish this feat. He is widely considered a top-10 draft pick.
Arizona's Koa Peat declared for 2026 NBA draft
Arizona freshman Koa Peat, a projected first-round pick, declared for the 2026 NBA draft on Friday via Instagram. The 6-foot-8 native of Arizona averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 36 games while helping the Wildcats reach the Final Four for the first time since 2001.
Darryn Peterson missed 11 games due to health issues at Kansas
Darryn Peterson missed 11 of Kansas's 35 games during the 2025-26 season due to various health ailments. He suffered from severe full-body cramping that required hospitalization before the season began, which he described as a traumatic experience. Additionally, he dealt with hamstring injuries, a sprained ankle, and flu-like symptoms throughout the season, causing him to leave some games early.
BYU's AJ Dybantsa declared for 2026 NBA draft Thursday
AJ Dybantsa from Brigham Young University announced his declaration for the 2026 NBA draft on Thursday, one day before Peterson's announcement. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game while also averaging 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He is the first player since Larry Bird in 1978-79 to post those averages in a season while being a consensus All-American.
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson declares for 2026 NBA draft
Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson announced on Friday that he is declaring for the 2026 NBA draft after one season with the Jayhawks. Peterson made the announcement via social media, stating that after reflection and prayer, he is proud to declare for the draft, which represents his lifelong dream. He is widely projected to be a top-3 pick in the June draft.
2026 NBA Draft Lottery scheduled for May 10
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled to take place on May 10. The draft itself is set for June 2026. Top prospects including Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer of Duke are expected to be among the first picks.
Peterson performed well in NCAA tournament games before elimination
Darryn Peterson showed strong performances in Kansas's NCAA tournament games. He scored 28 points in a first-round win over Cal Baptist and 21 points in a second-round loss to St. John's. In the Big 12 Tournament, Peterson scored 24 points against TCU and 14 points against Houston. The St. John's loss on March 22 eliminated Kansas from the tournament.
Tennessee's Nate Ament declared for 2026 NBA draft Thursday
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament announced his declaration for the 2026 NBA draft on Thursday via Instagram. Ament started all 35 games he played and averaged 16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds. He is widely considered a top-10 draft pick.
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Kansas Freshman Peterson Declares for 2026 NBA Draft
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson declares for 2026 NBA draft, projected as top-3 pick.