Particle.news
Download on the App Store

AJ Dybantsa Gains Ground as Questions Linger Over Darryn Peterson’s No. 1 Bid

Teams plan to reserve judgment until they see his medical file at the pre-draft combine.

Overview

  • Three new mock drafts from The Athletic, Bleacher Report and Jeff Goodman now slot BYU’s AJ Dybantsa first, reflecting a contested decision at the top of the 2026 board.
  • Betting markets echo the split, with bet365 listing Dybantsa at +100 and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson narrowly behind at +105 to go No. 1.
  • Evaluators cite Peterson’s elite talent but say a firm read on his durability will wait for official medical reports distributed at the combine, per ESPN’s Jeremy Woo.
  • Peterson has appeared in 19 of 30 games with hamstring and ankle issues, cramps and flu-like symptoms, and has at times asked out of games; he’s averaging 19.5 points on 44.5% shooting and 38.5% from three.
  • Kansas coach Bill Self and former NBA coach Sam Mitchell publicly defended Peterson’s work ethic, while a separate report citing unnamed sources alleged a preseason full‑body cramping episode that has not been independently verified.