Hoops HQ Ranks 10 Top 2026 Draft Shooting Guards as Peterson Challenges Dybantsa for No. 1
Updated
Updated · hoopshq.com · May 13
Hoops HQ Ranks 10 Top 2026 Draft Shooting Guards as Peterson Challenges Dybantsa for No. 1
6 articles · Updated · hoopshq.com · May 13
Darryn Peterson tops Hoops HQ’s top-10 shooting guard rankings for the 2026 NBA Draft, with the Kansas freshman emerging as a real option for Washington at No. 1 ahead of June 23-24.
Peterson’s case rests on his 6-foot-6 size, shot creation and flashes despite injuries; Hoops HQ said the Wizards will scrutinize his medicals after cramps and a hamstring issue disrupted his season.
Keaton Wagler ranked second after averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists at Illinois, while Brayden Burries, Cameron Carr and Isaiah Evans rounded out the top five.
The list underscores a guard-heavy first round, with combo guards and wings dominating the class and several prospects’ combine performances expected to shape late-lottery and first-round positioning.
AJ Dybantsa remains a projected top overall pick, setting up a draft debate centered on whether Washington prioritizes Peterson’s upside and fit over the BYU star’s broader consensus status.
With his health mystery solved, is Darryn Peterson's immense upside now too great for the Wizards to ignore?
Which surprise lottery pick has the best chance to ultimately become the undisputed star of this entire draft class?
How much will one injury cost Richie Saunders, turning a guaranteed NBA contract into an undrafted dream?