With the NBA Draft set for June 23-24, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson—projected as a top-three pick—has reportedly visited only the Washington Wizards, who own the No. 1 pick. The decision has put other lottery teams on alert, especially as BYU’s AJ Dybantsa has
The NBA Draft is only a few days away, but for Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, the countdown doesn’t sound calm at all.
Peterson—widely projected to be selected in the top three alongside BYU forward AJ Dybantsa and Duke forward Cameron Boozer—has drawn attention for one simple. high-profile choice. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Peterson has stiffed every team except the Washington Wizards, who hold the No. 1 pick.
Charania wrote on X: “Developments ahead of the June 23-24 NBA Draft: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa has conducted formal visits with both the Washington Wizards (No. 1) and Utah Jazz (No. 2). while Kansas’ Darryn Peterson only visited the Wizards and does not plan to grant anyone else a meeting. sources tell me and @JeremyWoo.”.
Around lottery circles, that kind of access gap doesn’t fade quietly. “Both have believed in going No. 1, and now, teams in the lottery are taking note of Peterson’s decision to only give access to Washington,” Charania added.
Peterson still has every reason to control his process. Athlete empowerment is now part of the pre-draft reality. and a prospect isn’t obligated to treat every team like it’s guaranteed a conversation. But cutting the field down to one—especially in a draft class expected to be loaded from the top—can be read in harsher ways.
It can be taken as arrogance. It can be treated like entitlement. Or it can be viewed as a warning sign that Peterson doesn’t want to play anywhere but Washington. For teams staring at the same board. those interpretations start to matter fast. because a lottery selection isn’t just a pick—it’s a relationship you can’t take back.
The concern isn’t hypothetical. Last year, Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey was slammed for refusing pre-draft workouts and canceling interviews. Even after the backlash, the Jazz still selected him at No. 5.
Peterson’s profile makes the scrutiny feel sharper, too. During his one-and-done stint at Kansas, he averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
In the latest edition of a mock draft, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel still pegged Peterson going to the Jazz at No. 2—an outcome that now looks more complicated given the reported Wizards-only meeting plan.
Washington, for its part, is already stacked in the backcourt. The Wizards have veteran guards Trae Young and D’Angelo Russell, along with up-and-comers Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, and Sharife Cooper.
That’s what makes the reported decision land with extra weight. If Peterson is letting the league know he only wants Washington. it reshapes how everyone else around him has to think—about how the top of the draft might be played. and about what happens if other teams are left without the access they believed they’d earn.
With the June 23-24 NBA Draft approaching, the prospect who is projected to be one of the class’s biggest prizes is also becoming one of its biggest variables—through a choice that, to the rest of the league, can’t be ignored.
NBA Draft Darryn Peterson Washington Wizards AJ Dybantsa Utah Jazz Cameron Boozer Trae Young D'Angelo Russell Bub Carrington Tre Johnson Sharife Cooper pre-draft visits