Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Fordham on November 2, 2026
Men's Basketball
vs Fordham
Darryn Peterson Goes No. 2 in 2026 NBA Draft
6/23/2026 7:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson was the No. 2 overall selection by the Utah Jazz in the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Tuesday night. Peterson is the highest KU draft selection since Andrew Wiggins went No. 1 in 2014.
Peterson becomes the 20th lottery selection in Kansas history and the 14th in the Bill Self era, which began in 2003-04. The NBA lottery began in 1985 and recognizes the top 14 players chosen in the NBA Draft.
"Tonight was a great night for Darryn, his family, and all KU supporters," Self said. "I obviously feel that he is the best prospect in the draft, and he'll have an opportunity to prove that in Utah. Darryn has as much upside as anybody we've had here at Kansas. The fans in Salt Lake City will be so excited watching him play on a nightly basis. Our hope now is that Tre (White) and Melvin (Council) can have their name called. But even if not, I feel like they're in good position to pursue their career."
Peterson becomes the fifth Kansas player drafted by the Utah Jazz, and the first since center Udoka Azubuike was taken in the first round at No. 27 overall in 2020. Other Jayhawks selected by the franchise include current KU assistant coach Jacque Vaughn in 1997 (first round, No. 27 overall), Greg Ostertag in 1995 (first round, No. 28) and Kelly Knight in 1984. Peterson joins a Jazz roster which also includes former Jayhawk Svi Mykhailiuk, who has played for the team the past two seasons.
A 2026 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention and All-Big 12 Second Team selection, Peterson led Kansas in scoring at 20.2 points per game, which set the KU freshman scoring average record. The Canton, Ohio, native was named to the 2026 Big 12 All-Freshman Team and NABC Central Region All-District First Team. He also led KU with 63 threes made and posted 12 games of 20 or more points, including three of his last four games. In addition to his KU freshman scoring average record, Peterson also ranked on the KU freshman lists in free throw percentage (3rd, 82.6%), free throws made (4th, 109), three-point field goals attempted (T5th, 165), points (6th, 484), three-point field goals made (6th, 63), field goals attempted (7th, 356), free throws attempted (8th, 132), field goals made (9th, 156), and three-point field goal percentage (10th, 38.2%).
With the selection of Peterson, KU now has 90 all-time NBA Draft selections, including 32 in the Self era. Since the NBA adopted a two-round draft in 1989, Kansas has had 29 first-round selections and 47 total draft picks.
KANSAS NBA DRAFT HISTORY
Year – name (round/overall selection)
1948 – Otto Schnellbacher (Providence region)
1952 – Clyde Lovellette (1/10)
1953 – Dean Kelley (8/56), Gil Reich (11/32)
1954 – B.H. Born (3/22), Alan Kelley (7/56)
1957 – Maurice King (6/48)
1958 – Wilt Chamberlain (Territorial selection)
1959 – Ron Loneski (10/134)
1961 – Wayne Hightower (1/5), Bill Bridges (3/32)
1963 – Nolen Ellison (4/29)
1966 – Walt Wesley (1/6), Al Lopes (13/106)
1967 – Ron Franz (4/33)
1968 – Roger Bohnenstiel (9/120)
1969 – Jo Jo White (1/9), Dave Nash (4/48), Bruce Sloan (11/153)
1971 – Dave Robisch (3/44), Roger Brown (4/64), Pierre Russell (13/207)
1972 – Bud Stallworth (1/7)
1975 – Rick Suttle (7/110), Roger Morningstar (8/144)
1976 – Norm Cook (1/16)
1977 – Herb Nobles (6/124)
1978 – Ken Koenigs (5/99), John Douglas (6/118)
1979 – Paul Mokeski (2/42)
1981 – Darnell Valentine (1/16), Art Housey (3/47), John Crawford (7/160), Randolph Carroll (10/220)
1982 – Tony Guy (2/46), David Magley (2/28)
1984 – Carl Henry (4/80), Brian Martin (9/185)
1986 – Greg Drieling (2/26), Ron Kellogg (2/42), Calvin Thompson (4/71)
1988 – Danny Manning (1/1), Archie Marshall (3/75)
1990 – Kevin Pritchard (2/34)
1991 – Mark Randall (1/26)
1993 – Rex Walters (1/16), Adonis Jordan (2/42)
1994 – Darrin Hancock (2/38)
1995 – Greg Ostertag (1/28)
1997 – Scot Pollard (1/19), Jacque Vaughn (1/27)
1998 – Raef LaFrentz (1/3), Paul Pierce (1/10)
1999 – Ryan Robertson (2/45)
2001 – Eric Chenowith (2/42)
2002 – Drew Gooden (1/4)
2003 – Kirk Hinrich (1/7), Nick Collison (1/12)
2005 – Wayne Simien (1/29)
2007 – Julian Wright (1/13)
2008 – Brandon Rush (1/13), Darrell Arthur (1/27), Mario Chalmers (2/34), Darnell Jackson (2/52), Sasha Kaun (2/56)
2010 – Cole Aldrich (1/11), Xavier Henry (1/12)
2011 – Marcus Morris (1/13), Markieff Morris (1/14), Josh Selby (2/49)
2012 – Thomas Robinson (1/5), Tyshawn Taylor (2/41)
2013 – Ben McLemore (1/7), Jeff Withey (2/39)
2014 – Andrew Wiggins (1/1), Joel Embiid (1/3)
2015 – Kelly Oubre Jr. (1/15)
2016 – Cheick Diallo (2/33)
2017 – Josh Jackson (1/4), Frank Mason III (2/34)
2018 – Devonte' Graham (2/34), Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (2/47)
2020 – Udoka Azubuike (1/27)
2022 – Ochai Agbaji (1/14), Christian Braun (1/21)
2023 – Gradey Dick (1/13), Jalen Wilson (2/51)
2024 – Johnny Furphy (2/35), Kevin McCullar Jr. (2/56)
2026 – Darryn Peterson (1/2)
Peterson becomes the 20th lottery selection in Kansas history and the 14th in the Bill Self era, which began in 2003-04. The NBA lottery began in 1985 and recognizes the top 14 players chosen in the NBA Draft.
"Tonight was a great night for Darryn, his family, and all KU supporters," Self said. "I obviously feel that he is the best prospect in the draft, and he'll have an opportunity to prove that in Utah. Darryn has as much upside as anybody we've had here at Kansas. The fans in Salt Lake City will be so excited watching him play on a nightly basis. Our hope now is that Tre (White) and Melvin (Council) can have their name called. But even if not, I feel like they're in good position to pursue their career."
Peterson becomes the fifth Kansas player drafted by the Utah Jazz, and the first since center Udoka Azubuike was taken in the first round at No. 27 overall in 2020. Other Jayhawks selected by the franchise include current KU assistant coach Jacque Vaughn in 1997 (first round, No. 27 overall), Greg Ostertag in 1995 (first round, No. 28) and Kelly Knight in 1984. Peterson joins a Jazz roster which also includes former Jayhawk Svi Mykhailiuk, who has played for the team the past two seasons.
A 2026 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention and All-Big 12 Second Team selection, Peterson led Kansas in scoring at 20.2 points per game, which set the KU freshman scoring average record. The Canton, Ohio, native was named to the 2026 Big 12 All-Freshman Team and NABC Central Region All-District First Team. He also led KU with 63 threes made and posted 12 games of 20 or more points, including three of his last four games. In addition to his KU freshman scoring average record, Peterson also ranked on the KU freshman lists in free throw percentage (3rd, 82.6%), free throws made (4th, 109), three-point field goals attempted (T5th, 165), points (6th, 484), three-point field goals made (6th, 63), field goals attempted (7th, 356), free throws attempted (8th, 132), field goals made (9th, 156), and three-point field goal percentage (10th, 38.2%).
With the selection of Peterson, KU now has 90 all-time NBA Draft selections, including 32 in the Self era. Since the NBA adopted a two-round draft in 1989, Kansas has had 29 first-round selections and 47 total draft picks.
KANSAS NBA DRAFT HISTORY
Year – name (round/overall selection)
1948 – Otto Schnellbacher (Providence region)
1952 – Clyde Lovellette (1/10)
1953 – Dean Kelley (8/56), Gil Reich (11/32)
1954 – B.H. Born (3/22), Alan Kelley (7/56)
1957 – Maurice King (6/48)
1958 – Wilt Chamberlain (Territorial selection)
1959 – Ron Loneski (10/134)
1961 – Wayne Hightower (1/5), Bill Bridges (3/32)
1963 – Nolen Ellison (4/29)
1966 – Walt Wesley (1/6), Al Lopes (13/106)
1967 – Ron Franz (4/33)
1968 – Roger Bohnenstiel (9/120)
1969 – Jo Jo White (1/9), Dave Nash (4/48), Bruce Sloan (11/153)
1971 – Dave Robisch (3/44), Roger Brown (4/64), Pierre Russell (13/207)
1972 – Bud Stallworth (1/7)
1975 – Rick Suttle (7/110), Roger Morningstar (8/144)
1976 – Norm Cook (1/16)
1977 – Herb Nobles (6/124)
1978 – Ken Koenigs (5/99), John Douglas (6/118)
1979 – Paul Mokeski (2/42)
1981 – Darnell Valentine (1/16), Art Housey (3/47), John Crawford (7/160), Randolph Carroll (10/220)
1982 – Tony Guy (2/46), David Magley (2/28)
1984 – Carl Henry (4/80), Brian Martin (9/185)
1986 – Greg Drieling (2/26), Ron Kellogg (2/42), Calvin Thompson (4/71)
1988 – Danny Manning (1/1), Archie Marshall (3/75)
1990 – Kevin Pritchard (2/34)
1991 – Mark Randall (1/26)
1993 – Rex Walters (1/16), Adonis Jordan (2/42)
1994 – Darrin Hancock (2/38)
1995 – Greg Ostertag (1/28)
1997 – Scot Pollard (1/19), Jacque Vaughn (1/27)
1998 – Raef LaFrentz (1/3), Paul Pierce (1/10)
1999 – Ryan Robertson (2/45)
2001 – Eric Chenowith (2/42)
2002 – Drew Gooden (1/4)
2003 – Kirk Hinrich (1/7), Nick Collison (1/12)
2005 – Wayne Simien (1/29)
2007 – Julian Wright (1/13)
2008 – Brandon Rush (1/13), Darrell Arthur (1/27), Mario Chalmers (2/34), Darnell Jackson (2/52), Sasha Kaun (2/56)
2010 – Cole Aldrich (1/11), Xavier Henry (1/12)
2011 – Marcus Morris (1/13), Markieff Morris (1/14), Josh Selby (2/49)
2012 – Thomas Robinson (1/5), Tyshawn Taylor (2/41)
2013 – Ben McLemore (1/7), Jeff Withey (2/39)
2014 – Andrew Wiggins (1/1), Joel Embiid (1/3)
2015 – Kelly Oubre Jr. (1/15)
2016 – Cheick Diallo (2/33)
2017 – Josh Jackson (1/4), Frank Mason III (2/34)
2018 – Devonte' Graham (2/34), Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (2/47)
2020 – Udoka Azubuike (1/27)
2022 – Ochai Agbaji (1/14), Christian Braun (1/21)
2023 – Gradey Dick (1/13), Jalen Wilson (2/51)
2024 – Johnny Furphy (2/35), Kevin McCullar Jr. (2/56)
2026 – Darryn Peterson (1/2)
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballSaturday, March 21
Saturday, March 21
Friday, March 20
Friday, March 20