When Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson was healthy and on the floor, he looked like a legitimate candidate to go first overall in the NBA draft. The trouble was staying on the court.
The 6-foot-5, 199-pound combo guard put up 20.2 points per game but sat out 11 contests due to various injuries and health issues. He stands as the marquee name at a position loaded with freshman talent, joining top-10 prospects such as Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., and Houston’s Kingston Flemings ahead of Tuesday’s first round.
Here’s a closer look at the top guards entering the draft:
DARRYN PETERSON, Kansas
What he brings: Peterson is a dynamic scoring playmaker capable of creating off the dribble, operating in the halfcourt, and running in transition. He connected on 38.2% of his three-point attempts, including a six-three performance in a victory at Oklahoma State. He was also a reliable free throw shooter, converting 82.6% of his attempts and drawing contact frequently — logging six games with at least eight foul shot attempts, including one game with 16 against TCU in the Big 12 Tournament and another with 15 while pouring in a season-best 32 points in an overtime comeback against TCU. He also chipped in 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
Questions to answer: His availability was a constant concern throughout the season. He was hospitalized before the year even started due to full-body cramping. Beyond the games he missed entirely, he sometimes played limited minutes and was abruptly pulled from games — a pattern that will give NBA front offices pause. On a positive note, he played 37 minutes against Cal Baptist and 36 minutes against St. John’s in his two NCAA Tournament appearances.
DARIUS ACUFF JR., Arkansas
What he brings: The 6-2, 186-pound freshman earned first-team Associated Press All-American honors and his offensive game is the centerpiece of his draft profile. He ranked third in the country in scoring at 23.5 points per game and 14th in assists at 6.4. He helped lead Arkansas to its first Southeastern Conference Tournament championship in 26 years and a Sweet 16 appearance. Acuff thrived as a pick-and-roll ball handler, rated “Excellent” in the 89th percentile by Synergy, and also graded “Very Good” in isolation situations at the 74th percentile. His standout moment came when he set a program freshman record with 49 points in a double-overtime loss at Alabama. He also put up 91 points and 12 three-pointers across three SEC Tournament victories.
Questions to answer: Defense is a notable concern, particularly his ability to guard bigger guards at the next level.
KEATON WAGLER, Illinois
What he brings: Wagler arrived as a four-star recruit and left as a second-team AP All-American after helping Illinois reach the Final Four for the first time in 21 years. The 6-5, 188-pound freshman demonstrated a well-rounded game with the size to play on or off the ball. He averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.7% from three-point range, including a nine-three explosion for 46 points against Purdue. Synergy graded him “Excellent” as a pick-and-roll ball handler and with his shot off the dribble, on catch-and-shoot opportunities, and in contested situations.
Questions to answer: His slender build could be a liability against stronger defenders, and he doesn’t possess elite athleticism.
MIKEL BROWN JR., Louisville
What he brings: The Louisville freshman is a high-upside scorer measuring in at 6-5 and 180 pounds. He averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists per game. His signature performance was a 45-point, 10-three-pointer effort in a blowout win over N.C. State, which broke the Atlantic Coast Conference freshman scoring record previously held by 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.
Questions to answer: He’ll need to add physical strength and fill out his frame over time. He also dealt with back problems that kept him out of eight games at midseason, and those issues returned to sideline him for the final six games of the year, including two NCAA Tournament contests.
KINGSTON FLEMINGS, Houston
What he brings: The 6-3, 183-pound freshman earned third-team AP All-American recognition as a lead guard with defensive upside. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field, 38.7% from three, and 84.5% from the foul line. He set a Houston freshman scoring record with 42 points in a loss to Texas Tech and finished the season with a nearly 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. At the NBA combine, Flemings ranked in the top six among tested players in lane-agility time, shuttle run, and three-quarter-court sprint.
Questions to answer: He’ll need to bulk up to handle physical play at the next level, and his shooting mechanics have been identified as an area that needs work.
Others worth watching:
— BRAYDEN BURRIES: The 6-4, 215-pound Arizona freshman is a sturdy two-way combo guard and top-10 prospect who shot 39.1% from three and finished fourth at the combine in standing vertical leap at 35 inches.
— LABARON PHILON JR.: The 6-3, 176-pound Alabama sophomore was a third-team AP All-American after averaging 22.0 points and 5.0 assists. The potential late-lottery pick improved his shooting efficiency to 50.1% overall and 39.9% from three while excelling as a pick-and-roll ball handler, ranking in the 94th percentile by Synergy.
— CAMERON CARR: The 6-5, 184-pound sophomore transferred from Tennessee to Baylor, putting up 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. The first-round prospect ranked second at the combine in standing vertical leap at 38 inches and third in max vertical at 42.5 inches.
— BENNETT STIRTZ: The 6-3, 186-pound point guard made the jump from Division II to Drake to Iowa, where he led the Hawkeyes to their first Elite Eight appearance since 1987. He averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals. Synergy rated him “Excellent” as a pick-and-roll ball handler in the 91st percentile and as a finisher at the rim in the 90th.
— DAILYN SWAIN: The 6-7, 211-pound wing transferred from Xavier to Texas, averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. The first-round prospect averaged 1.6 steals but connected on just 29.3% of his three-point attempts across three seasons.
— CHRISTIAN ANDERSON: The 6-1, 180-pound Texas Tech sophomore was a third-team AP All-American who averaged 18.5 points while ranking fifth nationally in assists at 7.4 per game. He projects as a scoring playmaker and shot 40% from three over two seasons, though his size is a concern.
— EBUKA OKORIE: The four-star prospect emerged as a surprise freshman standout at Stanford, ranking seventh nationally in scoring at 23.2 points per game with a high of 40 against Georgia Tech. The first-round prospect is undersized at 6-1 and 186 pounds but showed the burst to score in both transition and the halfcourt.
— ISAIAH EVANS: The Duke sophomore is a late first-round candidate who can get hot from outside, shooting 38% on threes over two seasons, including a clutch game-winner to defeat reigning national champion Florida. He needs to add strength to his 6-6, 186-pound frame.
— MELEEK THOMAS: The 6-3, 190-pound Arkansas freshman is a late first-round prospect who averaged 15.6 points. He shot 47.9% from three-point range over a 25-game stretch after Christmas that included the SEC Tournament title run and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16.
