WILD: Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa BOTH Returning to Kansas, BYU via HUGE NIL Payments Now Likely?

The Big 12 is currently at the center of a high-stakes "will-they-or-won't-they" drama involving the two most lethal freshmen in the country: AJ Dybantsa (BYU) and Darryn Peterson (Kansas). As we sit in mid-April 2026, the prospect of both returning to school instead of declaring for the NBA Draft would be a tectonic shift for college basketball.     The Dybantsa Factor At BYU, Dybantsa didn't just meet the hype; he shattered it. Finishing the 2025–26 season as the NCAA scoring champion (averaging over 25 points per game), he has solidified himself as the projected No. 1 overall pick.     The "Return" Reality: While Dybantsa is "most assuredly" heading to the draft, the Big 12 is holding out hope for an NIL miracle. His initial $7 million deal with BYU was record-breaking; to keep him for a sophomore year, the Cougars' "Royal Blue" collective would likely need to enter the $10–12 million range to compete with a top-three NBA rookie contract. The Peterson Equation Kansas’ Darryn Peterson is the wildcard. While his "highs" were arguably the best in the nation—including a 26-point masterclass against Baylor—his season was marred by hamstring and ankle injuries.     The Case for Kansas: Peterson’s durability concerns have some NBA scouts leaning toward Dybantsa for the top pick. If Peterson feels he hasn't fully proven his "availability," a return to Lawrence to play a healthy season under Bill Self could secure his spot as the undisputed No. 1 in 2027. The Big 12 Impact If the conference retains even one of these stars, it cements the Big 12 as the undisputed "NBA Academy" of college sports. With Arizona and Houston already providing elite competition, keeping the two best individual scorers in the game would make the Big 12 a nightly must-watch for every GM in professional basketball. Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub     Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON. Turbo Tax This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.