Bill Self labels 5-star's recruitment “one of the best moments” in Kansas in decades

Kansas coach Bill Self labeled the recruitment of five-star guard Darryn Peterson as a huge moment for the program. Peterson, the top-ranked combo guard in the class of 2025, announced he's committing to Kansas on Wednesday, becoming the highest-rated prospect to sign with the Jayhawks since Josh Jackson.

"This is one of the best recruiting moments that Kansas basketball has had in decades," Self said (per KU Athletics).

Self, who guided Kansas to two national titles in 2008 and 2022, described Peterson as an all-around player who can score at all levels, a terrific facilitator and a defender.

"He has been well drilled and has a toughness about him being raised in a family where his brother is a successful football player at Wisconsin," the highest-paid men's basketball coach said.

Peterson, who is playing his senior prep season at Prolific Prep in Napa, California, picked Kansas over finalists Ohio State, Kansas State and USC. The younger brother of Wisconsin outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III will be a freshman for Kansas in the 2025-26 season.

Darryn Peterson played with Phenom United in the Adidas 3Stripes Select league. He averaged 28.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 4.2 steals and 3.0 blocks per game.

In 2023, he helped Team USA win a gold medal at the FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship. He tallied 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals oer game to earn all-tournament honors.

Peterson joined Brazilian forward and Overtime Elite player Samis Calderon as two of KU's signees for the upcoming season.

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Bill Self hails assistant coach Kurtis Townsend for paving the way to sign Darryn Peterson

Kansas coach Bill Self also praised assistant coach Kurtis Townsend for his work of luring Darryn Peterson to the program.

Townsend, who is in his 21st season on KU's coaching staff, served as the lead recruiter for Peterson, who Self feels could be an important piece to draw more highly-rated players to come to the school and play.

Self and the KU staff invested their time in acquiring the No. 3-ranked recruit in the class of 2025. Peterson visited Kansas last summer and the coach attended some of the combo guard's games on the Adidas 3SSB circuit.

Bill Self had several meetings with Darryn Peterson at Prolific Prep in California before the player gave his final commitment to the Jayhawks.

Kansas is off to a good start this season, winning all three games, including victories over former national champions North Carolina and Michigan State. The No. 1-ranked Jayhawks face Oakland on Saturday night.