The 2025/26 Kansas basketball offseason has come to an untimely close. Now comes the yearly slog of bringing in transfers, letting go of cult heroes, and planning out next season as best as possible. Add in a strong sense of uncertainty over the future of head coach Bill Self, and there is so much to dive into.
One of the biggest talking points will inevitably revolve around Darryn Peterson as he likely moves on to the NBA. Earlier today, ESPN’s Jeremy Woo compiled a piece listing out the top prospects, and it should be no surprise to see Peterson still listed as the NBA’s most desirable prospect
Peterson –nor Kansas– obviously did not have the strongest ending to a season, but his talent has been on show long enough to establish him as the country’s best offensive player.
Peterson finished the season averaging 20.2 points per game, on a strong 43.8% field goal rate, to go along with 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals. Peterson’s season-high came in a 32-point barrage in Kansas’ 104-100 comeback overtime win against TCU in early January.
All of Peterson’s season, of course, was clouded over by his several health issues, most notably his struggles with cramping, which allowed the former five-star to play in just 24 games this season.
Peterson gets compared to an NBA fan-favorite
Thanks to his special shotmaking skills, Peterson's offensive upside remains best in class,” quotes Woo.
While Peterson’s shooting rate plummeted after Kansas’ 84-61 loss to No. 2 Arizona, until that point, Peterson managed not to shoot below 30% for the first 18 games of the season.
“Which will keep him a strong candidate for the No. 1 spot as teams envision him in an Anthony Edwards-like role with continued development.”
At the University of Georgia, Edwards marked a strong 19.1 points per game along with 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals on a 40.2% field goal rate.
In the Association, it took little time for Edwards to get accustomed to the league, as by his third season, he started a four-year streak as an All-Star, along with two nominations to the All-NBA Second Team.
Earlier in the piece, Woo noted that in high school, Peterson exuded a much more dominant ability to get to the rim, and how in the NBA, he could be asked to get back to that, something that Edwards excels at.
For now, Peterson has to decide if it is time for him to give it another year at KU or move on to the NBA, where his name is bound to be called towards the very top.
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