NBA Scouts Favor Darryn Peterson Over AJ Dybantsa in 2026 Draft Poll

The 2026 NBA Draft is expected to bring generational talents to the league. There is a lot of curiosity about who will be the top pick in the draft, unlike last year, when Cooper Flag of the Duke Blue Devils was a unanimous No. 1 draft selection among scouts.

There is a debate over whether BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa or Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson will be the top selection in this year’s NBA draft. ESPN found out what some NBA scouts and executives are thinking about the subject.

A Draft Race for the Ages

ESPN asked 20 scouts and NBA executives about the first selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. As per the poll, Peterson received 12 votes while Dybantsa received eight votes.

This slim difference indicates that we are heading for a thrilling draft. One of the scouts compared Peterson to Kobe Bryant due to his shot creation as a shooting guard.

“It’s Darryn Peterson for me. He makes things look so effortless, it’s unbelievable. His shotmaking is unmatched. He’s the closest thing to Kobe Bryant I’ve seen since Kobe in terms of shotmaking and ability to create his own shot,” the scout told ESPN.

On the other hand, a veteran executive summed up how difficult it is to choose between the two athletes.

“It’s so close. I’m saying 51% to 49%, just barely. I just feel like there’s a little bit more potential with AJ Dybantsa as a player who makes others better. But if you call me on March 1, I could tell you that I changed my mind,” said another executive.

Both players have put on a show this season, so the confusion is understandable.

Dybantsa and Peterson Have Lived Up to the Hype

BYU’s 6-foot, 9-inch forward Dybantsa has put up an impressive 23.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He has shot 53% from the floor and has converted 1.1 3-pointers per game at a 31.8% clip.

The Cougars forward has appeared in all 20 games and has helped BYU to a 17-3 record (13th in AP Top 25).

On the other hand, Kansas’ 6-6 guard Peterson has played in only 10 games for the 15-5 Jayhawks (14th in AP Top 25). He missed seven games due to a hamstring issue and three because of an ankle sprain.

Peterson has been impressive when he has played, tallying 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He is shooting 49.3% from the floor and has been brilliant from the 3-point line, converting 2.9 shots per game on 42% shooting.

These shooting splits will interest many NBA teams in the current pace-and-space era. Peterson is arguably a better defender than Dybantsa, but the 6-9 forward can be imposing once he learns how to keep up with his rotations.

On the other hand, Dybantsa is a better player in transition, while Peterson’s shooting chops are better. Overall, the 12-8 vote in favor of Peterson comes largely out of his ability to thrive as a shooter while playing elite defense.

Interestingly, BYU will clash with Kansas at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN and the ESPN app. Peterson is off the injury list for now, so we can expect a box-office matchup that will further spice up the race to the top of the 2026 NBA Draft.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

NBA Scouts Favor Darryn Peterson Over AJ Dybantsa in 2026 Draft Poll

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