NBA Draft Basketball Wiretap

Darryn Peterson has retaken the top spot in ESPN's final 2026 NBA draft rankings, pushing AJ Dybantsa down to No. 2 just days before Tuesday's draft, according to ESPN's Jeremy Woo.

Woo's update reverses a shift that occurred earlier this year, when Dybantsa had overtaken Peterson on the board following a strong stretch of play in February and March. Peterson, who entered the season as the presumptive favorite to go first overall, battled a difficult health situation at Kansas that limited his availability and conditioning down the stretch.

Despite those struggles, Woo wrote that NBA teams have not expressed concern over Peterson's long-term health outlook. Scouts continue to view the 19-year-old guard as a future star, with some comparing his game stylistically to Devin Booker.

"The more I've learned from various league sources about Peterson -- most importantly, hearing about NBA teams' current comfort level with his medicals -- the more comfortable I feel viewing his season as a one-off," wrote Woo. "I'm focusing on his special traits that point to stardom and are worth whatever the perceived risk might be."

Dybantsa, a 19-year-old forward, led all of Division I in scoring at BYU while shooting 51 percent from the field and developing into a more willing passer as the year progressed. His trajectory has drawn comparisons to wings such as Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown.

Duke forward Cameron Boozer rounds out the top three in ESPN's rankings. Analysts have likened Boozer's all-around skill set to veterans Kevin Love, Al Horford and Domantas Sabonis.

DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony joins Woo in ranking Peterson first over Dybantsa, while The Athletic's Sam Vecenie has Peterson third, behind Dybantsa at No. 1 and Boozer at No. 2.

Both the Washington Wizards at No. 1 and the Utah Jazz at No. 2 appear to be genuinely undecided on their own internal rankings despite the draft quickly approaching on Tuesday.

Darryn Peterson's pre-draft medical evaluations have not raised significant concerns among NBA teams, clearing the way for the Kansas guard to be selected among the top two picks, according to ESPN's Jeremy Woo.

The Washington Wizards have narrowed their focus at No. 1 to Peterson and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, sources told ESPN. Peterson has informed the Utah Jazz that he plans to take no further team visits, signaling his preference to be selected first by Washington.

Peterson has met with the Wizards previously in Los Angeles and has completed multiple on-court workouts in front of Washington's decision-makers. He has expressed a desire to play point guard at the next level, though the presence of Trae Young in Washington is not viewed as an obstacle to that fit.

Peterson began the season as ESPN's No. 1 overall prospect and is regarded as the most talented offensive player in the draft class. His season at Kansas was impacted by cramping issues, which he has said were linked to high doses of creatine.

Despite the injury setbacks, Peterson has remained a strong candidate for the top pick throughout the process. Rival teams do not view his decision to skip a workout with Utah as a significant factor in the Jazz's evaluation, citing precedent from last year when general manager Austin Ainge selected Ace Bailey fifth overall without a pre-draft visit.

If Peterson remains available to Utah, he would represent a strong fit alongside guard Keyonte George as the Jazz look to bolster their offense and push for playoff contention.