There were some circles of the Kansas basketball fanbase who wondered, hoped and maybe even believed that there was a chance that star freshman Darryn Peterson would shock the world and decide to return to KU for his sophomore season.
We can now put that idea to bed.
On Friday morning, through posts on his social media channels, Peterson announced that he was declaring for the 2026 NBA draft and sang the praises of the people and moments that shaped his time at Kansas.
“After much reflection and prayer, I am proud to announce my decision to declare for the NBA draft,” Peterson wrote in the graphic announcing his plans on the final day of the early entry application period. “This has been my lifelong dream and I am excited for the future. Rock Chalk Forever!”
The Ohio native’s lone season as a Jayhawk was, of course, a bit rocky at times, with Peterson missing 11 games as questions about various injuries lingered. But he pledged throughout the season that he would be out there if he could and he backed that up by playing 14 of the KU’s final 15 games last season.
He finished as a second-team all-Big 12 selection and member of the conference’s all-freshman squad and averaged 20.2 points per game while averaging 29 minutes per night in the games he played.
Dubbed a generational talent and called by Kansas coach Bill Self the best player they had ever recruited even before he arrived, Peterson arrived in Lawrence with all kinds of hype and a ton of eyeballs on him.
Most of that was tied to his professional status and whether he would go on to be the No. 1 pick in this summer’s draft, joining former Jayhawks Danny Manning and Andrew Wiggins. Now, we’ll get to answer that question.
Some analysts still think he will. Others favor BYU’s AJ Dybantsa or even North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, Arkansas guard Darius Acuff and Duke forward Cameron Boozer.
There’s still a lot that will happen between today and draft night, so things likely will become clearer in the weeks ahead. And maybe Peterson will reestablish himself as the clear No. 1 option. If not, he’s going to be drafted high and he’s going to get a chance to put his short college career in the rearview mirror by delivering as a pro.
No matter how far from Kansas he gets, the message that accompanied him declaring for the draft talked plenty about his appreciation for Lawrence, KU and being a part of the historic college hoops program.
“To my teammates, friends and everyone at the University of Kansas, a heartfelt thank you! Your belief in me, your encouragement and your constant support have been invaluable every step of the way. This journey has been everything to me and none of it would have been possible without your love, support and sacrifices. … Thank you for embracing me and making this experience truly unforgettable.”
Peterson’s departure, which should never have been in question, leaves KU with a bunch of unknowns on the roster for 2026-27.
Self and company have started to fill some of those spots, but there are still at least six or seven spots open and only a pair of returners from last year’s team — sophomore-to-be reserves Kohl Rosario and Paul Mbiya.
KU has signed two players in the portal — forward Keanu Dawes and guard Leroy Blyden Jr. — and has four incoming freshman signed, while also still battling for No. 1 overall prospect Tyran Stokes.
Peterson was never going to be a part of the equation and now we know he definitely is not.
The transfer portal window is currently closed but there are still hundreds and hundreds of available players searching for new homes who can sign and commit at any time.
As for Peterson, the NBA draft is slated for June 23 and 24 in Brooklyn, with the next most important date before that coming next month at the pre-draft combine May 10-17 in Chicago.
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