LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson declared for the NBA draft on Friday, just as nearly everyone had expected he would ever since his arrival on campus, and the high-scoring guard figures to be among the first three players selected in June.
The 6-foot-6 Peterson showed flashes of brilliance with the Jayhawks, but he also caused a lot of headaches for the team. He dealt with a severe full-body cramping issue that required hospitalization before the season, and additional injuries and illnesses caused him to miss 11 games, hurting his ability to build any continuity with the rest of his teammates.
Peterson wound up averaging 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc in 24 games.
He started to hit his rhythm in the postseason, scoring 24 points against TCU and 14 against Houston in the Big 12 Tournament. He had 28 points in a first-round NCAA tourney win over Cal Baptist and 21 in a last-second loss to St. John's in the second round.
“To my teammates, friends and everyone at the University of Kansas, a heartfelt thank you!” Peterson posted to social media Friday. “Your belief in me, your encouragement and your constant support have been invaluable every step of the way. This journey has been everything to me, and none of it would have been possible without your love, support and sacrifices.”
Most mock drafts have Peterson or BYU's A.J. Dybantsa going first overall, though Duke's Cameron Boozer also could be in the mix.
The closest comp to Peterson has generally been 6-foot-5 Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns' five-time All-Star. Both have the ability to score at all three levels, and their athleticism allows them to play much bigger than their size.
Peterson's announcement came one day after Dybantsa declared for the draft in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts.
Dybantsa led the nation with 25.5 points per game, while also pulling down 6.8 rebounds with 3.7 assists. He’s the first player to post those averaged in a season and be a consensus All-American since Larry Bird did it in 1978-79 for Indiana State.
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Arizona freshman Koa Peat, another projected first-round pick, declared for the draft on his Instagram account on Friday.
“Playing for the University of Arizona has been an incredible blessing and something I'll always be grateful for,” he posted. “Wearing this name and where I come from means everything to me. It's been an honor to compete at this level while still being rooted in the place that raised me.”
The 6-8 Peat, an Arizona native, averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 36 games while helping the Wildcats reach the Final Four for the first time since 2001.
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament also declared for the draft Thursday after starting all 35 games he played and averaging 16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds. His announcement came in an Instagram post in which he thanked the Volunteers for the opportunity.
“I promise to always represent the Vols with the upmost pride,” Ament wrote. “This University means more to me than just basketball — to me it’s a place I call home. I might’ve only been here a year but I’ll remember this year for the rest of my life.”
Another top draft prospect, Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas, declared for the draft on Wednesday. He joined LSU legend Pete Maravich as the only SEC players to have led the league in scoring (23.5 points per game) and assists (6.4 per game) in the same season.
Ament and Acuff also are widely considered to be top-10 draft picks.
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