Darryn Peterson gets the best of Kansas basketball recruiting target in HS duel

Kansas basketball assembled one of the best recruiting classes in program history last month. The Jayhawks brought in a trio of talented freshmen who should make a significant impact on the program. While the class is likely complete, Bill Self is still making an effort to lure one of the best recruits in recent history to Lawrence.

AJ Dybantsa and Utah Prep took on Jayhawk signee Darryn Peterson and Prolific Prep in a high school matchup Saturday night. It was one of the most thrilling duels of the season, and both players were outstanding. In the end, Peterson got the best of his fellow top recruit.:This is the scouting report director of scouting Adam Finkelstein gave Peterson:

Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa go back-and-forth in head-to-head matchup

Peterson was unstoppable all night, posting an absurd 32-point, 10-rebound, 8-assist stat line, nearly securing a triple-double. Dybantsa was not far behind, totaling 28 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

After transferring from Huntington Prep in the offseason, Peterson has excelled at his new high school in Napa, California. He is the No. 3 prospect in the 2025 class, the highest-rated of the other Kansas basketball commits (Bryson Tiller, No. 20, Samis Calderon, No. 67).

Dybantsa is the nation’s top-ranked prospect and recently trimmed his final list to four schools. BYU, North Carolina, and Alabama are in the mix along with the Jayhawks. However, the overwhelming consensus is that he will take his talents to Provo to play in the Big 12 with the Cougars.

With guards Dajuan Harris, Diggy Coit, Shakeel Moore, and potentially more departing next year, Peterson will be given the keys to the offense. He is one of the most dynamic prospects to ever come into Lawrence, rivaling the anticipation of former freshmen Andrew Wiggins and Josh Jackson.

This is the scouting report director of scouting Adam Finkelstein gave Peterson:

"Peterson is extremely versatile. He's a true combo guard who is equally effective playing on or off the ball. He has natural poise as a handler with now only rare moments when he can be rattled by pressure from smaller guards. He's also a true multi-level scorer who can simultaneously see the floor, make reads, and pass well. He has a very smooth pull-up game, can overpower most opposing guards off the dribble, take smaller defenders into the post, and also thrive in ball-screens. His understanding of how to get to his spots is second to none and that's why he's such an efficient scorer, even in high volume, especially inside the arc (24 points per game in 3SSB play on 50% shooting from the floor and 57% on two-point field goals). He also has good natural instincts and has already developed an NBA caliber intellect when it comes to drawing fouls and getting easy points at the free-throw line."