Darryn Peterson Blew Off Every Team But One, and the Washington Wizards' No. 1 Pick Is Already a Mystery

Alright, so we're deep into June and the 2026 NBA Draft is creeping closer, but man, the top of these big boards is just wild! The Athletic's Sam Vecenie just dropped his latest Top 100 rankings, and while AJ Dybantsa is sitting pretty at No. 1 there, a bombshell about Darryn Peterson and the Washington Wizards could totally flip this whole thing on its head. Are the Wizards playing 4D chess, or what?

Who's Really King of the Hill?

So, let's break down these rankings from Vecenie, B/R, and ESPN's Jeremy Woo. Vecenie has Dybantsa at the top, followed by Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson. B/R, though, is the lone wolf, putting Boozer at No. 1, with Peterson and then Dybantsa. ESPN lines up with Vecenie on Dybantsa at No. 1, then Peterson and Boozer. It's a total head-scratcher at the very top, but there's one thing everyone agrees on: Caleb Wilson is locked in at the fourth spot. Pretty wild that three different scouting reports have him there. Vecenie actually grouped Dybantsa, Boozer, and Peterson into their own elite tier, calling them "potential franchise cornerstones and All-NBA upside." Talk about high praise! Vecenie raves about Dybantsa having "elite tools" as a wing and the potential to become a "top-10 player in the NBA." But B/R is all in on Boozer, saying he has an "unteachable knack for making the right reads, with the skill set to handle the ball, use strength and rise into jumpers." You can feel the tension, right? This isn't just about who's number one, it's about building a future, and these top three guys, Dybantsa, Boozer, and Peterson, are clearly separated from everyone else in this class.

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The Wizards' Silent Game for No. 1

But here's where it gets absolutely bonkers. Word came out from Woo and Shams Charania that Darryn Peterson's *only* pre-draft visit was with the Washington Wizards. Yeah, the team holding the No. 1 overall pick. And get this: he's not meeting with any other clubs! What?! That's a massive statement, right? It "could suggest Peterson has received some indication from Washington that he will be selected with the top pick." You don't just blow off every other team unless you're feeling pretty confident. Contrast that with B/R's Jonathan Wasserman, whose newest mock draft still has Dybantsa going to the Wizards. Wasserman did mention Peterson as a "potential surprise" for that top spot, but he also noted the Wizards' front office is "very tight-lipped" about their plans. So, are they bluffing? Are they sending smoke signals? Are they just genuinely playing it cool? The draft is all about surprises, but this level of secrecy and one-on-one attention for Peterson has everyone guessing. It feels like the biggest poker game of the year, and we're all just watching to see who blinks first.

So, the question remains: does Darryn Peterson's bold move mean he's the guy for Washington, or is this just another layer in the pre-draft mind games? We'll finally find out who the Wizards have atop their board when the 2026 draft kicks off its first round on June 23. You know I'll be glued to the screen!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.