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NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Kansas's Darryn Peterson is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Darryn Peterson 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 3 overall, Brooklyn Nets
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets have the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.
See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here
Darryn Peterson player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Guard
- Current Team: Kansas
- 19.8 points per game
- 4.4 rebounds per game
- 1.7 assists per game
- 44.2 field goal percentage
- 38.4 three-point field goal percentage
Brooklyn Nets 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 4, No. 34 and No. 44 (via LAC)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darryn Peterson NBA mock draft projection: Where Kansas star is expected to land after March Madness
