After considering offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Ohio State, and USC, combo guard Darryn Peterson has committed to play for the Jayhawks, per ESPN insider Shams Charania.
Five-star Darryn Peterson – the top-ranked guard in the 2025 class – has committed to play for the University of Kansas, sources tell ESPN. Peterson is projected to be a candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft. pic.twitter.com/VLYOvb5kHn
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 2, 2024
Peterson, a five-star high school recruit, is ranked third in the Class of 2025 behind Utah Prep phenom AJ Dybantsa and Duke commit Cameron Boozer. A native of Canton, Peterson is the highest-ranked recruit out of Ohio since Jarred Sullinger in 2012. He’s just the third top-three recruit out of Ohio since 2000, a list that includes LeBron James.
After announcing his decision, Peterson praised Jayhawks head coach Bill Self.
“Bill Self is a legendary coach, and he believes in me,” he says, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi. “He told me he will hold me accountable every day and make practices hard so the games will be easy. As a person, he is a high-energy guy who gives positive vibes. A guy you want to be around. He is relatable.”
“I will have the opportunity to play right away as a freshman, prepare for the draft and be dialed into winning,” Peterson adds. “I won’t look back or ahead…”
Darryn Peterson, Ohio’s 2nd Top-3 Recruit Since LeBron James, Commits To Kansas
Dybantsa, projected to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, looks the part of a superstar scorer. With his blend of passing and post skills, Boozer could be a fulcrum or a featured player. Yet, Peterson could challenge both prospects for No. 1.
At 6-foot-5 and 195, Peterson is a wiry and athletic shot-maker who has a penchant for dishing out dimes. With that being said, the NBA is what many consider to be a guard’s league. As a result, Peterson is a potential game-changer for a franchise.
On the one hand, the proliferation of three-point attempts certainly calls for guards to be capable of shooting from outside. On the other, teams have regained an appreciation for downhill guards. With players like Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, and De’Aaron Fox ripping up the runway, there clearly isn’t just one model for an ideal guard. Even craftier scorers, such as Kyrie Irving and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, like to attack.
With Peterson’s mentality, shot-creation, and ability to draw fouls, he’s the type of guard who will put a lot of pressure on the teeth of a defense. He’s also incredibly efficient from beyond the arc though.
During the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship, he averaged 16.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 steals per game while shooting 42.9 percent from three. In the 2024 adidas EUROCAMP, he averaged 21.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 62.5 percent from deep.
Peterson’s job’s is not even close to finished. Quite a few promising high school recruits have struggled in college or beyond. However, if he keeps playing this way, the NBA looks like they’ll definitely have another star on their hands.
