Bill Self Shares Bold Praise for Incoming Freshman Darryn Peterson
Kansas head coach Bill Self has had the privilege of coaching some of the best basketball prospects in the country during his legendary career, and now, he’s setting the bar high for his latest recruit, Darryn Peterson.
Self has recruited eight top-ten players throughout his tenure at Kansas, including the nation’s No. 1 prospect three times. The latest addition to that list is Peterson, who is ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the country by 247 Sports.
Having coached stars like Andrew Wiggins, Josh Jackson, and Joel Embiid—each of whom went on to have standout careers—Self is no stranger to top-tier talent. But Peterson, according to Self, stands out even among the greats.
“I’m probably as excited about coaching him [Peterson] as I am about anybody I’ve ever recruited,” Self said, per Henry Greenstein of KU Sports.
Self on Darryn Peterson: "I'm probably as excited about coaching him as I am about anybody I've ever recruited"
— Henry Greenstein (@HenryGreenstein) May 28, 2025
What sets Peterson apart isn’t just his elite talent, but his maturity and poise on the court. The 6-foot-5 combo guard is known for playing with remarkable control, always operating at his own pace and dissecting defenses whether he’s scoring or setting up teammates.
What makes Peterson even more special is his ability to read the game—knowing when to attack and how to exploit defensive weaknesses. He’s rarely rattled with the ball in his hands, consistently making the right decisions and showing the kind of instincts that can’t be taught.
With his complete skill set and unique basketball IQ, Peterson is the kind of player that any coach dreams of—and for Self and Kansas, that dream is about to become a reality.
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