SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 20: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks in action during the second half of the game against the California Baptist Lancers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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After initially refusing to meet with the Utah Jazz, Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson met with the franchise over the weekend ahead of Tuesday’s NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
Peterson initially just met with the Washington Wizards, who own the No. 1 pick, but has now met with the team holding the No. 2 pick.
“Yeah, we met,” he said Monday at NBA Draft media day in response to question from Jake Fischer, adding that the meeting was not in Salt Lake City. “[It went] good, just another Chicago kind of meeting,” he added, referring to the site of the NBA Draft Combine, where meetings are held.
Rutgers star Ace Bailey refused to work out for the Jazz last year amid similar gamesmanship, but Utah ended up drafting him at No. 5 and he made the All-NBA Rookie Second Team.
Peterson said he spoke with Utah’s Keyonte George, his potential future backcourt mate, after the Draft Lottery.
Multiple mock drafts, including ESPN.com, have Peterson going No. 2 to the Jazz behind BYU wing AJ Dybantsa, with Duke forward Cameron Boozer going No. 3 to the Memphis Grizzlies in what could be a historic draft because of it’s depth and star potential.
Still, all three players said Monday the believe they deserve consideration for the top pick.
“For sure,” Peterson said when asked if he’s the best player in the draft.
Why?
“I’m supposed to, I think I prove it all the time,” he said.
Peterson said he felt a special connection when he met with Washington.
“I went out there and met with the staff and GM and connected, which is something huge for me,” he said. “I want to have a connection with those guys on the court.”
Asked if he feels he’s in competition with Dybantsa and Boozer for the top spot, Peterson said: “I’m in competition with everybody in the draft. I guess it’s the top three, but I feel like I’m in competition with everybody.”
ESPN’s Jay Bilas called Peterson “the most talented prospect in the draft.”
“Darryn Peterson is the most talented prospect in this draft,” he said. “AJ Dybantsa looks like he was made in a lab to play in the NBA. Cam Boozer is the best pure basketball player. Caleb Wilson is the most explosive athlete.”
Still, Peterson has questions hanging over him, namely how will he react to an 82-game season after he battled hamstring, quad and cramping issues all season long at Kansas.
Peterson’s cramping got so bad, he was hospitalized with a full-body cramp during the offseason, after taking too much creatine, he later said.
Now he says he’s back to peak physical condition.
“I’m back,” he said Monday. “I’m feeling great. Never felt better, actually. I’m super excited.”
Asked what he learned during his year at Kansas, he said. “I learned stuff is going to happen to you in your career that you can’t control. I feel like I controlled everything I could control, I got through it.”
Now Peterson is waiting to get through this historic draft and see where he stacks up with Dybantsa, Boozer and the rest.
Wherever he lands, Peterson said, “I want to win championships. I kind of with that mindset already.”
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