With less than two weeks to go until opening night and just three days until KU's first exhibition game against Louisville, we're due for another player profile. It's time to highlight No. 1 overall prospect in the land (according to 247Sports), Darryn Peterson.
The 6-foot-5 combo guard from Canton, Ohio, is the highest-rated freshman to play at Kansas since Andrew Wiggins back in the 2013-14 season. According to Bill Self, "Darryn's the best player we've recruited since we've been here." Those words alone are enough for many to take heed of what's brewing in Lawrence.
In high school, Peterson spent his first two years at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. As a freshman, he averaged 26.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, leading his school to to the district title game. In his sophomore campaign, Peterson improved to 31 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game, helping his team to the district title game once again.
That summer, he won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Mexico, earning all-tournament honors. For his junior season, he transferred to Huntington Prep in West Virginia (the same high school Andrew Wiggins once attended) before moving on to Prolific Prep for his senior year (then located in Napa, CA). While playing at Prolific Prep, he attended Napa Christian Campus of Education for academics.
As a senior, he averaged 30.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, and was named the 2025 Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year.
This year, Peterson will control the tempo of the offense with a largely new supporting cast. His skill set, along with the help of his teammates and a Hall of Fame coach, could guide this team deep into March and possibly April. If he lives up to the hype and expectations, he will likely see his name at the top of the draft boards and have a real shot to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
When you see him play in person, he displays not only an elite frame but also an equanimity that makes it clear he has a professional career ahead of him. His versatility and natural high motor make the game look way too easy.
During a summer episode of Inside College Basketball Now with CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, Bill Self was asked about his thoughts on the 2025-26 Kansas basketball roster. Self said, "With this particular roster, let’s just call it like it is: Darryn needs to be the guy, and if he’s that guy, then he’ll put up numbers that are as good as anyone we’ve had here.”
He further stated, "As a freshman coming in with the ability to put a team on his back, I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I’ve had that. We didn’t ask Wiggins to do that... Embiid didn’t do that... Josh (Jackson) had Frank Mason and Devonte’ Graham as a freshman (and didn't need to do that).
Given his words here and the many other things Self has proclaimed about him, it's clear Peterson will have the complete and utter green light this season. This team is going to have to play at an extremely high level if they want to bring the Jayhawks back to the top of the sport.
Will we one day see "Bucket Jones" hanging in the Allen Fieldhouse rafters?
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