The Kansas basketball program assembled its best high school recruiting class in recent history over the past week. Ballyhooed prospect Darryn Peterson signed his letter of intent to play at the university, while the Jayhawks added commitments from Samis Calderon and Bryson Tiller.
Bill Self was thrilled to add the trio of freshmen, and he recently spoke with The Topeka Capital-Journal about which former KU players they remind him of. The Hall of Fame head coach drew comparisons to some Jayhawk superstars.
Bill Self compares KU's recruiting class to former Jayhawks
What should Kansas fans expect from these three high school standouts? Here's what Coach Self thinks:
"[Darryn Peterson's] probably as complete a guy at his age as I’ve ever recruited. From an impact standpoint, Andrew, B-Rush, Josh... [Samis Calderon's] a tall wing, could he be a Kelly? Could he be somebody like that? Could he be a bigger Ochai type... he can shoot, and he can put his elbows above the rim. Bryson provides a versatility for us that he can play some five, but he can also play the four, very similar to the way KJ (Adams) has in his KU career."Bill Self
Peterson’s impact will be felt the second he steps foot onto campus. Self compared him among the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Brandon Rush, and Josh Jackson, all of whom are considered the best one-and-done players in program history. However, he believes the Wiggins comparison is the best because of his potential. Peterson will also likely head to the NBA following his first year in Lawrence.
Calderon, a 6-foot-8 forward from Brazil, currently plays in the Overtime Elite league. He is an intriguing prospect and has yet to tap into his physical tools, but his potential at the collegiate level is off the charts. Self couldn't exactly pinpoint a player whose game resembles Calderon's, though he did mention Kelly Oubre and Ochai Agbaji as possibilities.
Finally, Tiller drew comparisons to current Kansas forward KJ Adams. Self believes his upside and versatility could allow him to play a similar role. He is not nearly as athletic around the rim. Tiller is more of a face-up scorer and is much more physical down low. While he won't be a four-year player, he could certainly start at some point in his KU career.