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A year ago, Ace Bailey made headlines by refusing to work out for the Utah Jazz ahead of the NBA Draft.
His agents explicitly declined workout invitations from Utah and other teams to attempt to steer the former Rutgers star toward other preferred landing spots.
Bailey was ultimately chosen by the Jazz with the No.
5 overall pick in 2025, and ended up being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 13.8 points and 4.2 rebounds.
Now with the NBA Draft set for next week at Barclays Center, Kansas star Darryn Peterson is pulling a similar move.
Peterson refused to work out for the Jazz, who own the No.
2 pick, and only worked out for the Washington Wizards, who own the No.
1 pick.
Remember last year with Ace Bailey, right? Paul Biancardi, ESPNs director of national recruiting," said Wednesday on a conference call in response to a question from NJ.com.
[The Jazz] ended up taking him, he didnt work out for them.
So the NBA [teams are] going to take who they want, but I think [Peterson] is just trying to send a message that he is the No.
1 player.
He doesnt want to go to Utah, and he knows at the very least worst if they pick [Cam] Boozer he wont go lower than 3.
Most mock drafts have the Wizards selecting BYU star AJ Dybantsa at No.
1, the Jazz taking Peterson at No.
2 and the Memphis Grizzlies selecting Dukes Boozer at No.
3 That would leave North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, who may have the highest upside of anyone in the Draft, at No.
4 to the Chicago Bulls.
Kansas entered many of its games this season with Petersons status uncertain, as the star guard battled hamstring, quad and cramping issues all season long.
Petersons cramping got so bad, he was hospitalized with a full-body cramp during the offseason, after taking too much creatine, he later said.
As the Canton, Ohio product spoke with the media during last months NBA Draft Combine, he said hes feeling like himself again and nearing the same physical condition he was in during high school.
I feel like Im back at that level now, Peterson said.
Obviously, I wasnt where I wanted to be, just what I had going on, but I feel like Im back at it now.
When somethings wrong and you dont know what it is, it can be rough.
Peterson played in 24 games for the Jayhawks this season and averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, shooting over 38% from three.
He was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team and was Second-Team All-Big 12 for the Jayhawks this season.
He led the Jayhawks to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they were eliminated by St.
Johns in San Diego, in a game in which he tallied 21 points and four rebounds.
I think the [Peterson] strategy is just about positioning himself to go No.
1, just helping Washington feel comfortable with that option, ESPN Draft analyst Jeremy Woo said of the Draft.
I dont know what the Wizards ultimately decide but by not [working out] anywhere else, you just show that you want to be there, youre confident...I think he wants to go 1.
He believes hes No.
1 and well see what happens, but I just think the strategy is about maximizing that opportunity..