The eyes of the basketball world will be upon Lawrence, Kansas, this Saturday.
Within No. 13 BYU’s crucial Big 12 battle at No. 14 Kansas lies one of the most highly-anticipated individual matchups in recent memory: the first college meeting between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.
The five-star freshmen were the top two recruits in the class of 2025 — 247 Sports had Peterson at No. 1 in its rankings, while Dybantsa came in at No. 1 based on 247’s composite score.
But since arriving at BYU and Kansas, respectively, Dybantsa and Peterson have made the leap from the top of their recruiting class to the top of NBA draft boards.
Dybantsa currently leads the nation in scoring at 23.6 points per game on 53% shooting, adding 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists to the table as well.
The 6-foot-9, game-changing wing has posted 14 20-point nights already, including a 43-point outburst against Utah, a historic 33-point triple double, and memorable second-half takeovers in Boston and at Madison Square Garden.
Peterson, the 6-foot-6, do-it-all combo guard, has been limited to just 10 games this year due to hamstring and ankle injuries.
But when he’s been on the court, he’s been outstanding.
In six Big 12 outings, Peterson is averaging 23.2 points per game while shooting 47.4% from the field, 42% from 3-point range and 84% from the foul line.
Peterson’s latest ankle injury, sustained on Jan. 20 against Colorado, sidelined him for Kansas’ most recent contest, but Jayhawks coach Bill Self shared Wednesday that Peterson is “expected” to be available Saturday against the Cougars.
AJ vs. DP. It’s on.
While the majority of NBA mock drafts have Dybantsa and Peterson projected as the first two selections, pundits are divided regarding who should be picked first.
Perhaps Saturday’s matchup will help determine the race for No. 1.
Dybantsa and Peterson, once Team USA teammates in the 2023 FIBA U16 World Cup, last faced off a year ago as high schoolers.
Despite 49 points, nine rebounds and three assists from Dybantsa, his Utah Prep squad fell by a narrow 88-86 margin to Prolific Prep, largely thanks to Peterson’s eye-popping 58 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals, along with the game-winning 3-pointer.
Even if Dybantsa and Peterson only do half as much damage Saturday as they did in their high school matchup, it would still be pure electricity from the young phenoms.
Thus, the hype for Saturday continues to build, with ESPN’s “College GameDay” pregame show set to broadcast live from Allen Fieldhouse beforehand and Kansas students camping outside the arena all week to get the best possible seats for the game.
And for as much anticipation as there is leading up to BYU-Kansas, it could definitely turn into the kind of hoops event that gets talked about for years to come.
Should Dybantsa and Peterson indeed be taken with the first two picks in this summer’s NBA draft, Saturday would go down as the ninth college meeting between future No. 1 and 2 selections in the past 30 years.
Here’s a look back at each of those star-studded matchups.
Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren, 2021
No. 9 Duke defeated No. 1 Gonzaga, 84-81, in Las Vegas
Banchero (No. 1 to Orlando Magic): 21 points, five rebounds, two assists.
Holmgren (No. 2 to Oklahoma City Thunder): 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, three turnovers.
Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, 2017
No. 11 UCLA defeated Washington, 107-66, in Seattle
Fultz (No. 1 to Philadelphia 76ers): 25 points, five made 3-pointers, six rebounds, five assists, three steals, five turnovers.
Ball (No. 2 to Los Angeles Lakers): 22 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals, three turnovers.
Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, 2013
No. 5 Kansas defeated No. 4 Duke, 94-83, in Chicago
Wiggins (No. 1 to Cleveland Cavaliers and immediately traded to Minnesota Timberwolves): 22 points, eight rebounds.
Parker (No. 2 to Milwaukee Bucks): 27 points, nine rebounds, four made 3-pointers, two steals, one block.
Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams, 2011
5 seed Arizona defeated 1 seed Duke, 93-77, in Sweet 16
Irving (No. 1 to Cleveland Cavaliers): 28 points, three assists.
Williams (No. 2 to Minnesota Timberwolves): 32 points, 13 rebounds, five made 3-pointers.
Elton Brand and Steve Francis, 1999 (twice)
First meeting: No. 2 Duke defeated No. 4 Maryland, 82-64, at Cole Field House
Brand (No. 1 to Chicago Bulls): 19 points, 13 rebounds.
Francis (No. 2 to Vancouver Grizzlies and immediately traded to Houston Rockets): 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting, seven assists.
Second meeting: No. 2 Duke defeated No. 7 Maryland, 95-77, at Cameron Indoor Stadium
Brand: 14 points, 12 rebounds.
Francis: 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists.
Tim Duncan and Keith Van Horn, 1997
No. 2 Wake Forest defeated No. 7 Utah, 70-59, at the Huntsman Center
Duncan (No. 1 to San Antonio Spurs): 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 16 rebounds.
Van Horn (No. 2 to Philadelphia 76ers and immediately traded to New Jersey Nets): 24 points on 10-of-25 shooting, four rebounds.
Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby, 1996
No. 1 seed UMass defeated No. 2 seed Georgetown, 86-62, in Elite Eight
Iverson (No. 1 to Philadelphia 76ers): 23 points on 6-of-21 shooting, five turnovers.
Camby (No. 2 to Toronto Raptors): 22 points, seven rebounds, three blocks.