DHJ Quick Take: Darryn Peterson’s Camp Eyes No. 1 Pick, Prefers Avoiding Utah Jazz
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson does not plan to work out for the Utah Jazz, and his camp believes he has a real chance to go No. 1 to the Washington Wizards while preferring not to land in Utah, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.
- Will Darryn Peterson work out for the Jazz? No, and his camp would prefer he not land in Utah, favoring the Wizards at No. 1 or the Grizzlies at No. 3 over Utah at No. 2.
- Could the Jazz draft someone else at No. 2? Possibly. Sources tell DHJ that Utah likes Duke’s Cameron Boozer, though he would add to a frontcourt that already includes Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. Plus, Utah wants to re-sign Walker Kessler.
- Can the Jazz take Peterson anyway? Yes. Utah drafted Ace Bailey at No. 5 in 2025 despite his camp steering him elsewhere, and the Jazz are comfortable with whichever prospect falls to them.
- When is the NBA Draft? June 23-24 in Brooklyn.
Former Kansas guard Darryn Peterson does not plan to work out for the Utah Jazz ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, and his camp believes he has a real chance to be selected No. 1 by the Washington Wizards and prefers he not land with Utah, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.
The Wizards have centered their pre-draft work on Peterson and former BYU wing AJ Dybantsa, and they are open to trading the No. 1 pick, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal. A final decision has yet to be made about who will be selected first, but both are viewed as viable candidates.
Confidence in Going No. 1 and the Business of Basketball
Peterson has steered his process toward Washington and away from Utah, a contrast with Dybantsa, who has held formal visits with both the Wizards and the Jazz, sources said. Additionally, while Peterson believes he’s the best player in this draft, if he doesn’t go first, his camp would rather he end up with the Memphis Grizzlies, who pick No. 3, than with Utah at No. 2.
The Team, formerly known as Wasserman, has angled top guard prospects toward playing point guard in recent years, including Stephon Castle and VJ Edgecombe, with Peterson being the latest. In Utah, he’d slot in next to fellow client of The Team, Keyonte George, who is already well positioned as a backcourt cornerstone in Utah. George is coming off a season averaging 23.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists across 54 appearances and is eligible for a rookie-scale extension this summer. The desired outcome would naturally be to avoid overlap among guard clients.
In Memphis, Ja Morant is widely expected to be traded, and Peterson would be a clear backcourt cornerstone of the future. With talents like Zach Edey to play pick-and-roll with and Cedric Coward on the wing, Peterson would have an intriguing opportunity to step in as a franchise player with a developing core.
Whether It Matters to the Utah Jazz
It’s up to the Jazz front office to decide if they even care about what a prospect’s representatives prefer. In fact, there already is precedent for Utah ignoring what a prospect’s camp prefers. In the 2025 NBA Draft, the Jazz selected Ace Bailey at No. 5 even though his camp, then led by Omar Cooper, tried steering him toward the Wizards at No. 6, sources said. Bailey reported to Utah without incident and has since changed representation, parting ways with Cooper before his rookie season.
It’s already well documented that Utah has long eyed Dybantsa as a prospect. In the event Peterson goes No. 1, Dybantsa would be on the board for Utah. However, beyond Peterson and Dybantsa, the Jazz are fans of former Duke forward Cameron Boozer‘s game and have brought him on a visit, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal. Taking him would crowd an already deep frontcourt. Utah acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies in a midseason trade, already has Lauri Markkanen, and wants to re-sign restricted free agent Walker Kessler. Whether that logjam deters the Jazz from choosing Boozer remains to be seen.
As Dallas Hoops Journal reported before the 2025-26 season, Walker and Utah have a history of not seeing eye to eye on what his next contract will look like. After undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, Kessler did not have an opportunity to build up his value before restricted free agency, only complicating his outlook. He appeared in five games, averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game.
Darryn Peterson’s Draft Profile
Peterson, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists as a freshman at Kansas, shooting 43.8% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range. He missed 11 games with injuries and has said he was not fully healthy during his lone college season, though he maintains he is at full strength now.
Peterson has garnered positive feedback from teams throughout the NBA Draft process for his dedication to working on his body and his game, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal. Additionally, the intel about him as a teammate and locker room personality has been positive from former Kansas teammates.
Scouts have compared his scoring to Anthony Edwards, citing his shot-making off the dribble and his upside as a defender, and a large segment of evaluators still considers him the most talented player in the class.
The Wizards earned the No. 1 pick after a deliberate tear-down, sitting Trae Young and Anthony Davis down the stretch to protect their lottery position. Peterson’s preference is clear. Whether it shapes where he lands is up to the teams at the top of the 2026 NBA Draft, which runs June 23-24 in Brooklyn.
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