NBA Draft 2026: Darryn Peterson ahead of AJ Dybantsa to be the #1 pick

The debate for the number one pick in the NBA Draft 2026 is still open, although Darryn Peterson remains the top candidate for many evaluators to be the first choice. Despite his debut season in the NCAA with the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball being marked by various injuries, numerous experts still see him as the most influential prospect of the generation.

Meanwhile, A.J. Dybantsa has gained momentum in recent weeks thanks to a spectacular end to the season with the BYU Cougars men's basketball. His offensive production in the decisive stretch of the season has reignited the debate within the NBA about who should occupy the top position in the upcoming draft.

Physical discomforts have affected Darryn Peterson's college year, as he has missed 11 games and has had limited minutes in other games due to various physical issues.

Nevertheless, every time he has been on the court, he has made it clear why he started the season as the top favorite to be chosen first. In the last game of the regular season against the Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball, he scored 27 points on 10 of 15 field goals.

Furthermore, his offensive impact is significant: Peterson records the highest usage percentage in all of Division I (33.6%), according to CBB Analytics data.

"He's a scorer as talented as few," explained a general manager from a major conference. "His agility and aggressiveness allow him to enter games and dominate them. In the NBA, they analyze the injuries, but the headache is worth it."

Dybantsa accelerates at the crucial moment

If Peterson has been consistent throughout the season, A.J. Dybantsa has had a spectacular breakthrough in the final stretch of the calendar.

The 2.06 meters forward shined in the Big 12 Conference tournament by breaking the rookie scoring record in two consecutive games, previously held by Kevin Durant.

He first scored 40 points (15 of 21 shooting) against Kansas State and then raised his total in the tournament to 93 points, surpassing Durant's historic mark before BYU was eliminated by the Houston Cougars men's basketball.

Moreover, Dybantsa has become the first rookie to lead the nation in scoring since 2018, a feat previously achieved by Trae Young.

A duel that never materialized

The college tournament was on the verge of offering a direct showdown between both talents. Peterson and Dybantsa would have faced off on Friday if BYU had beaten Houston in their previous game.

Nevertheless, the recent impact of the BYU player has strengthened his candidacy for the number one spot.

"He has all the qualities. A dynamic scorer who will add points in the NBA from day one," stated a veteran executive from the Eastern Conference.

A debate still without consensus

Within the league, there is no unanimous opinion on who deserves to lead the generation.

"I think Dybantsa is the undisputed number one," said an executive from the East. "He's special and still has a lot of room for growth."

However, other evaluators continue to place Peterson at the top when projecting pure talent.

"In terms of talent, he is clearly number one," said a scout from the East. "He has it all. When he has played, he has shown he possesses something special."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, NBA Draft 2026: Darryn Peterson adelanta a AJ Dybantsa por ser el pick n.º 1