Nearly throughout the 2026 NBA Draft cycle so far, Kansas guard Darin Peterson has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in this year's class. However, Peterson's stock has not remained stable. There have been questions about his health and makeup as his workload at Kansas has not instilled enough confidence that he will be ready to take on superstar roles when he turns professional.
Nonetheless, Pietersen's talent is readily apparent. His shooting ability is pure, and he can handle the rock with the best of them. He is one of the best pure scoring prospects ever seen in the NBA, and he is being compared to off-guards like Donovan Mitchell, Kobe Bryant, and even Brandon Roy who handle the ball a lot.
But for ESPN's Vince Goodwill, the NBA player who comes to mind when he watches Peterson play is Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.
"Talked to some guys earlier today. The name Devin Booker came up to me. Like someone brought up Devin Booker as a pro comp," Goodwill said in an appearance on Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective. "The athleticism doesn't exactly jump off the page, but he's an athletic guard. Like he can get where he needs to get. The shot-making is elite."
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Will Darrin Peterson still be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?
It's unclear exactly why Peterson isn't carrying such a heavy workload for Kansas, but there are concerns about his durability. His scoring has been incredible when he's been there for the Jayhawks, but every team that drafts him first will want more assurances that the problems he's dealing with aren't of the long-term type.
However, the NBA always bets on talent, and there may not be a more talented player in this year's draft than Peterson.
