Mock drafts might not carry much weight, but it's still notable Northeast Ohio native Darryn Peterson is projected to go No. 1 overall next year.

It’ll be some time still before Darryn Peterson steps onto the court for Kansas basketball. But his potential is already being noticed.

ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony recently released his early 2026 NBA mock draft, and he has the future Jayhawk going No. 1 overall. Peterson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Prolific Prep, has been dominant this season, proving why he’s one of the best high school players in the country.

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We have yet to hit the 2025 NBA Draft, but already, there are signs of who will go No. 1 in 2026. That’s because ESPN experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have published their first ’26 mock draft.