Boasting an elite wingspan and freakish vertical, the former Jayhawk star silenced health concerns in Chicago while solidifying his status as a potential top overall selection.
Darryn Peterson Impresses at NBA Combine as Top-Two Draft Buzz Continues
Former Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson continued strengthening his NBA Draft stock this week at the NBA Combine in Chicago, where scouts got another close look at one of the top prospects in the 2026 class.
Peterson measured in at 6-foot-4.5 without shoes with a nearly 6-foot-10 wingspan and recorded an unofficial 37.5-inch max vertical leap. He also weighed 198.8 pounds and posted strong overall athletic testing numbers as teams evaluate him ahead of June’s draft.
Several major mock drafts—including projections from ESPN, Yahoo Sports, and Bleacher Report- currently have Peterson going No. 2 overall to the Utah Jazz behind BYU star AJ Dybantsa, who is widely projected to land with the Washington Wizards at No. 1.
Still, some evaluators remain extremely high on Peterson. Draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman wrote that several scouts still view Peterson as “a No. 1 overall talent,” comparing him stylistically to Anthony Edwards.
Questions about Peterson’s playmaking numbers at Kansas remain part of the evaluation process, but many scouts continue pointing to his high school film and overall shot-creation ability as evidence of his upside as a lead guard.
Peterson averaged 20.2 points per game during his lone season at Kansas despite battling severe cramping issues that limited him to 24 games. He recently revealed to ESPN that the problem stemmed from unsafe creatine levels and says the symptoms have disappeared since stopping the supplement.
With the NBA Draft approaching on June 23, Peterson’s strong combine measurements and improving health outlook appear to be reinforcing his status as one of the premier talents in the class.
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Seattle Seahawks Land Steal with Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
The Seattle Seahawks might have just found a gem. Emmanuel Henderson Jr. is officially off the board, and for where he was taken, this feels like a steal. He was one of the few bright spots for Kansas last season, finishing with 766 receiving yards and five touchdowns while also making an impact in the return game. The upside is easy to see.
Henderson’s speed jumps out immediately. He can stretch the field, create big plays, and flip momentum as a returner. That 214 yard, two touchdown game against Cincinnati showed exactly what he can be when everything clicks.
He is not a finished product, but late in the draft, that is what you are betting on. Traits and ceiling.
Seattle gets a player who can contribute on special teams right away and develop into more in the offense. If he puts it together, this could end up being one of the better value picks from this class. Low risk, high upside. That is a win.