The Utah Jazz are just hours away from the 2026 NBA Draft to determine who will be their franchise’s next cornerstone piece to add into their exciting core with their second-overall pick on the board.

And in the lead-up to the Jazz’s selection, there’s been tons of buzz surrounding who will be the one landing at that No. 2 slot. Between AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer, each has seen various connections to Utah as being the guy they’ll end up with.

However, as we continue to get closer to when the Jazz are on the clock, we’re starting to get some clearer intel on who their selection ultimately might be. And in reality, it might just be a two-man race, rather than three.

Darryn Peterson Remains in the Driver’s Seat at No. 2

ESPN‘s Jeremy Woo recently released his final 2026 mock sorting out how each of the draft’s 60 picks are going to go. When it came to the Jazz, the pick would be none other than Kansas guard Darryn Peterson; someone that Utah has reportedly shown “strong interest” in leading up to the draft.

If Peterson ends up going first to the Washington Wizards, though, AJ Dybantsa seems like the most likely outcome for the Jazz at two.

“Sources say the Jazz have shown strong interest in Peterson throughout the process, and the expectation from rival teams has been that Utah will pick whichever of Peterson or Dybantsa falls to them,” Woo wrote.

“Peterson’s initial decision to only visit Washington was more reflective of his confidence in his security as a top pick and desire to hear his name called first.”

Despite the noise that had surrounding Peterson, his canceled workout, and any possible disinterest in landing with Utah, that buzz has since been shut down in the days leading up to Tuesday night’s first round.

Not only did Peterson confirm he has met with the Jazz before coming to New York following his canceled draft workout, but he also made it clear at Monday’s media day that he’s not dodging any team that’s willing to select him.

That, of course, would include the Jazz. So no worries on that front.

But even if Peterson does end up going ahead of the Jazz’s slot in what would be a surprise pickup for the Wizards at the first pick, Utah’s decision looks like it could be a relatively simple one. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa would be sitting up for grabs, and would be an ideal fit on the wing to Utah’s two-guard spot for the future.

So if Woo’s intel is a sign of anything, it seems like, even with the appeal that might be had in Duke’s Cameron Boozer as a potential option at number two, he’s looking more and more like the odd man out when it comes to being the guy for Utah.

Both Peterson and Dybantsa have a projected ceiling that tops what Boozer brings to the table, and fits better with this current Jazz core as their future two-guard. In a draft where all three prospects are seen as franchise-changing talents, those factors might just be what’s narrowly separated the top two as the targets to watch for Utah.

All of the chatter that’s ensued before the draft surrounding who the Jazz are going to take with their highest pick on the board in over 40 years will officially come to an end Tuesday night. But with the time quickly approaching before that decision becomes final, the writing might be on the wall for who they’ll be landing on.

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SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Utah law enforcement agencies are increasingly using facial recognition technology to identify criminal suspects, but state law limits its use to specific circumstances and imposes some of the strictest safeguards in the nation.

Under Utah law, facial recognition technology may only be used for certain law enforcement purposes, including felony investigations, violent crimes, threats to human life, and efforts to identify deceased, incapacitated or at-risk individuals.

The technology recently came under scrutiny in the case of Brad Johnston, who faced a felony charge related to the vandalism of an Uber driver’s vehicle after a facial recognition match linked him to the case. Johnston maintained he was not involved.

“The only way I can describe it was just terrifying,” Johnston said.

MORE: Facial recognition AI misidentifies Utah man in felony vandalism case

The match was generated from surveillance video taken from inside the Uber ride, but Johnston insisted investigators had identified the wrong person. After months of court proceedings, the case was ultimately dismissed.

According to the most recently available data, Utah law enforcement agencies submitted 1,191 facial recognition requests between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Of those, 706 resulted in probable matches, a rate of about 59%.

State law requires all facial recognition requests to be processed through the Utah Department of Public Safety.

Tanner Jensen, chief of investigations for the department, said requests from law enforcement have increased over the past five years.

Jensen said the system will analyze biometric data and measurements and two people manually review each image submitted for comparison. The process results in one of two outcomes: a possible match or no result. Once findings are returned to the requesting agency, the department’s involvement ends.

“If they do both feel like the match is viable, they’ll send that to the officer for further investigation with a disclaimer that this is an investigative lead and not necessarily something that’s part of the evidence,” Jensen said.

Most identifications are generated through comparisons with a driver’s license photographs. Jensen said biometric characteristics remain consistent over time, but human review is still critical.

“You may get a percentage below 90%, but that’s not to indicate that that’s not the individual,” Jensen said. “Or you may get a percentage that’s above 90% and we still don’t feel confident that that would be the individual. It really comes down to the human-in-the-loop aspect.”

Retired Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank said law enforcement agencies have adapted quickly to emerging technologies, much as they did when body-worn cameras were introduced.

“The technology is just moving so fast and furious,” Burbank said. “One of the things is the availability of AI to analyze a large database.”

Burbank said strong policies must guide the use of technology in policing.

“We need to ensure, again, is this policy sound for the public or is it just good for policing?” he said.

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SALT LAKE CITY — Although likely not in contention for the Utah Jazz with the No. 2 overall pick, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler is a name to remember in this year’s draft cycle.

As somewhat of a late-bloomer, Wagler dazzled with his offensive game in just one season with the Fighting Illini. But would the combo guard fit well with the Jazz?

Below is a full breakdown of his game, strengths, weaknesses, and potential fit in Utah.

Keaton Wagler: NBA Draft Snapshot

School: Illinois
Position: Guard
Age: 19

2025–26 stats

• 17.9 points
• 5.1 rebounds
• 4.2 assists

Shooting splits

• 44.5% FG
• 39.7% 3PT
• 79.6% FT

Strengths

• Positional size
• Shooting & shot-making
• Creation & pace

Weaknesses

• Defense
• Athleticism
• Strength

What Makes Keaton Wagler A Top Prospect In The NBA Draft?

The projected top ten in the upcoming draft is littered with guards, especially once you get past the first four. Of those guards, Wagler has arguably the best positional size.

Standing at 6-foot-6 with an unconfirmed wingspan of 6-foot-9, the Illinois freshman burst onto the scene with his smooth offensive game.

Maybe most impressively about Wagler is his ability to control the pace and tempo with the ball in his hands, a trait mastered by superstars in the NBA like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

What sticks out to me most with Keaton Wagler is his pace/tempo with the ball in his hands.

His ability to control the game offensively is impressive for a college freshman.

pic.twitter.com/30mPvpumGS

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) April 24, 2026

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Wagler demonstrated plenty of craft and control to get to his spots on offense, and he was just as prolific when it came to finishing the play.

He shot a blistering 39.7 percent on threes with a 59.6 true shooting percentage, both of those marks around or above the 80th percentile in college basketball.

It got to the point where other teams opted to foul Wagler instead of letting him pick apart their defense. He finished the season with 11 free throw attempts a night (89th percentile), and he shot a respectable 79.6 percent from the stripe.

When he wasn’t scoring or getting sent to the line, Wagler showed decent playmaking chops, dishing out 4.2 assists per game with a very solid 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio.

His passing game is at a base level right now. He has the ability to find the open man and make the right play, but there weren’t many eye-popping, “How did he see that?” passes across his 37 games with the Fighting Illini.

Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler on the road at #4 Purdue:

39 MIN
46 PTS (most ever by a visitor at Mackey Arena)
4 AST
13-17 FG
9-11 3PT
11-13 FT

Legitimately one of the single greatest performances in college basketball history…🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/yNbB0LAywX

— MBB Performances (@mbbperformances) January 26, 2026

There is a real argument for Wagler as one of the best shooters in the class. He has a lot to flesh out on both ends, but having the jumpshot as a fallback keystone skill could be very important for his development.

As a best-case scenario, Wagler could be a do-it-all combo guard offensively whose length lends him to be a passable perimeter defender. Think 18-5-5 averages with the ability to pop off for 30 points with five made threes on any given night.

Why Drafting Keaton Wagler Is Somewhat Of A Gamble

Wagler is somewhat of a late bloomer physically. It was reported that he stood at 5-foot-8 as a high school freshman and joined the Illinois program at a measly 168 pounds.

The silver lining is that he put on 14 pounds in just one summer of training on campus. With the assistance of an NBA strength training regimen, it is fair to project growth in that area.

Also, despite being outmatched physically most nights, Wagler showed no hesitation in driving into traffic and throwing his body around. Although he finished the season with zero dunks, and just one attempt.

Often, he struggled when the opposing team had either a daunting rim protector or physical point of attack defenders.

Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler – ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s Top 100 – has declared for the 2026 NBA draft, his agency ProMondo Sports tells me and @JeremyWoo. Wagler led the 28-9 Fighting Illini to the Final Four for the first time since 2005. pic.twitter.com/EPenhAQcz3

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 11, 2026

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As could be expected, his lack of strength and athleticism showed most on the defensive end.

With 1.3 stocks per game and just about average advanced defensive metrics, it’s unclear how much blame can be placed on the fact that he is underdeveloped physically.

He has great feel and basketball IQ on offense. Optimistically, that could eventually extend to the defensive end. But reality could see him evolve into a mostly one-sided player.

How Would Keaton Wagler Fit With The Utah Jazz?

From a positional and skillset view, Wagler could fit in well with the Jazz. As an off-guard, he could slide in as the two alongside Keyonte George, while also not interfering with the loaded frontcourt rotation.

He would likely come off the bench for the first few seasons of his career, with the opportunity to join the first five as he grows and matures.

It is worth noting that two of Utah’s recent first-round picks, Cody Williams and Ace Bailey, also came in needing to put on weight. Williams struggled early, while Bailey had enough offensive talent to negate the clear need for physical progression.

As the Jazz move toward playoff contention, the path for development isn’t as unobstructed as that of other teams in the lottery. Still, Wagler would have ample opportunity to become an effective rotational piece with enough time to make the necessary improvements.

Chandler Holt is a Utah Jazz insider for KSLSports.com and co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast. Follow Chandler on X for Jazz and NBA updates.

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