Reporter's interpretation: Peterson is expected to be elected as the top scorer of the 26th edition: he scored 61 points in front of Dibancha

Today, ESPN's draft experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo jointly released the 2026 NBA mock draft rankings.
Among them, dual energy defender Darren Peterson, who is 1.98 meters tall, ranks ahead of the top scorers AJ DiBancha and Cameron Boozer, and is expected to be selected as the 2026 top scorer.
Jonathan Givony explained the reason for choosing Darren Peterson as the top pick:
Although AJ DiBancha has long been widely regarded as a favorite for the first overall pick of the 2026 draft, Darren Peterson has performed well in the past few months, making the competition for this position open and there is still enough time to decide who will ultimately be selected as the first overall pick.
Darren Peterson played for Prolific Prep in Napa, California this season, leading the team to a terrifying record of 22 wins and 2 losses, averaging 30.4 points and 7.1 assists per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 44%. In the Grind Session league matches against Utah Prep led by DiBancha in December and February, he led the team to both victories, providing compelling evidence for him as the most promising player in high school competitions. In the second showdown, he scored 61 points in 36 minutes and hit the winning three pointer, which could become his legendary performance as a committed player for the University of Kansas.
NBA scouts compared Darren Peterson to the taller Lillard (Lillard measured 6 feet 3 inches tall, 189 pounds, and 6 feet 8 inches in arms before the joint trial of the 2012 NBA draft), and Darren Peterson was the best shooting creator of the season. He is able to reach any position on the field with explosive first steps, can effectively change speed, and has superb ball control, rhythm, and body control abilities. He can easily break through the inside line, skillfully complete the attack with both hands and from difficult angles in and around the line, and often stand on the free throw line.
He has also developed into an excellent outside shooter, whether it's shooting from a fixed position or making quick stop jump shots after dribbling. He has an ultra long range and excellent footwork, able to use cover for side and back three pointers - which makes it difficult for him to defend when combined with his shooting creativity.
This season, the difference between Darren Peterson and Dijonca is that he rarely barely attacks and can easily reach his attacking position, selflessly seeking opportunities for his moving teammates. He has made significant progress in organizing attacks this season and still has room for growth.
Despite being 6 feet 6 inches tall, with arms 6 feet 11 inches wide, and weighing 200 pounds - a remarkable figure for a guard - he also had a significant impact on defense and rebounding.

Darren Peterson's top spot reflects more about himself than AJ DiBancha, who is also an outstanding player and potential rising star. Due to his physique - over 6 feet 9 inches tall, with arms spread close to 7 feet 1 inch, and a very strong physique - he will be more attractive to certain NBA teams.
AJ DiBancha also frequently holds the ball, taking on the responsibility of creating shots for Utah Prep, and has long proven that he can score mercilessly from any position on the court. He is a force on an open field, difficult to block at medium or low distances, and possesses a wide range of offensive techniques in singles and pick and roll, including powerful breakthroughs, destructive hesitation steps, and long strides. He is good at actively seeking physical contact in the penalty area, thus frequently standing on the free throw line.
When focused, AJ DiBancha is also one of the best ball holding defenders of the season, which makes Darren Peterson's scoring performance against him (including his 61 point outburst) even more impressive. AJ Debancha spent a lot of time trying to slow down his pace, but was unsuccessful.
This season, AJ DiBancha's three-point shooting percentage is 36%, making him less efficient compared to Peterson. But when he controls the game and trusts his teammates, he also demonstrates the potential for passing and diverse shooting, although this is not always the case. AJ DiBancha's narrow vision, inconsistent decision-making and shooting choices sometimes make scouts question whether his playing style can drive victory like Darren Peterson.
This debate will continue for some time in the future. Fortunately, we will see several matchups between the University of Kansas and Brigham Young University in the Big 12 league next season.