Bill Self raves over Darryn Peterson's potential in latest interview

No, by most accounts, Darryn Peterson and the Kansas Jayhawks did not reach the heights either had hoped. Yes, there were moments where Peterson, as the nation’s No. 1 player from the class of 2025, took over several games, showcasing his elite shotmaking that includes a 38.2% mark from beyond the arc and an average of 20.2 points per game. 

But with Peterson often sidelined due to several health issues, when he was fit towards the end of the season, KU lacked the cohesion necessary to push past some of the nation’s strongest sides. 

However, don’t let that sway you from the belief that Peterson can become a bona fide star in the NBA, as, despite his health concerns, he still landed No. 2 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Utah Jazz, in a marriage that is bound to bring the Jazz back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 NBA campaign. 

Bill Self sets high ceiling for Peterson following selection

“Well, his ceiling is in 10 years; he's an eight-time All-Star,” quoted the legendary head coach in a video posted on X by Andrew Lind of WIBW. 

Peterson produced groundbreaking performances in several games last season, namely taking games by the scruff of the neck in comeback wins over TCU, where he notched a season-high of 32 in the 16-point comeback, and in Kansas’ 64-61 win over No. 13 Texas Tech, where Peterson knocked down the game-tying and eventual game-winning shots.

Despite tailing off during the end of the Jayhawks’ season, Peterson still put together several outstanding shooting rates, including seven games where the former five-star shot at least 50% from the field. 

“I mean, I think he could be a perennial All-Star every year. It may take him a year or two to get his legs under him,” smiled Self. 

“But I think he'll be one of the best guards in the league. He'll be one of the most talked about. He'll be a guy that averages 20, 25 a game, I think, over the course of his career.”

At KU, Self mostly used Peterson as a scorer. Some of Peterson’s most impressive highlights come from him running off screens or bumps to open up an inch of space to receive a quick pass and pull a contested shot that found the bottom of the net. 

Peterson has also drawn comparisons to NBA All-Star Devin Booker, with Booker becoming one of the league’s most efficient scorers in the last decade while also having a decent hand in playmaking, notching an average of 5.3 assists per game over his 11-year career in the Association.

What’s next for Peterson after the NBA Draft?

Up next is the wild west of the NBA offseason, where each organization is set to engage in free agency, which will then lead up to the California Classic Summer League and the Salt Lake City Summer League in early July, before the official 2026 NBA Summer League gets going on July 9th.

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