The NBA 2026 Draft class is loaded with talent from top to bottom, and Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa headline the group. Both players are projected to be top-five selections in the Draft and have a competitive history.
They have faced off in the past and will take the court against each other for the first time on the college stage. Peterson and No. 14 Kansas face Dybantsa and No. 13 BYU on Saturday. Last time the two faced off, Peterson had 58 points, and Dybantsa had 49.
Peterson got the best of the matchup as he hit the game-winner for Prolific Prep. Fans can catch these college stars and NBA prospects when College Gameday is in Lawrence for the matchup. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. CST, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
JAYHAWKS COACH EXCITED ABOUT MATCHUP
Jayhawks coach Bill Self is just like everyone else.
He is anxious to see freshman stars Darryn Peterson of Kansas go against BYU's AJ Dybantsa Saturday in their first Big 12 matchup. They are the top two players in the 2025 recruiting class. Both are expected to be picked among at least the top five in the June NBA Draft.
"First of all, that storyline is, everybody will run with it," Self said during an interview with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. "And they should. It's two great, great prospects. I mean, two of the better prospects we've had in recent memory. They're really great prospects but it's still Kansas versus BYU."
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Bill Self knows that there's already a palpable buzz about Saturday's showdown in Lawrence between Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa. bit.ly/4lmjETP (Apple) bit.ly/443aDt9 (Spotify) bit.ly/4t0Ur6h (YouTube)
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This marks the first time the players have met since they faced each other in high school. In that game, Peterson outplayed Dybantsa. It caused many recruiting analyst to place Peterson higher on the NBA draft board.
Neither has disappointed this season. Peterson is averaging 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists despite dealing with injuries most of the year. The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa is at 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game
"The players that understand that and can play to that will give the team the best chance to win," Self said. "This isn't a one-one-deal. This is a team versus team deal. It'll be a storyline within the game. It'll be fun. Whoever handles it most maturely will have the best chance to have some success."