Canton native, Kansas basketball G Darryn Peterson receiving preseason All-American honors

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Canton native, Kansas basketball G Darryn Peterson receiving preseason All-American honors

George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Wed, Oct 29, 2025 ·

3 min read

Who picked Darryn Peterson of Kansas basketball as an All-American?

"When Bill Self — one of just three active coaches with multiple national titles — calls someone 'the most talented incoming freshman we've signed,' it's probably best to listen. Word out of Lawrence this summer backed up Self's claim about Peterson, the No. 2 recruit in the 2025 class and one of the favorites to go No. 1 in next summer's NBA Draft.

"The 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard has drawn lofty comparisons to Donovan Mitchell (and even Kobe Bryant), but for good reason. Peterson is an ideal lead guard for today's game, capable of scoring from anywhere with his athleticism and craftiness. Case in point: He averaged 30.4 points (plus 7.4 assists and 7.2 rebounds) during his senior high school season, winning Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year."

"Only two true freshmen over the last five years have earned Preseason First Team All-American nods from the CBS Sports team: Cooper Flagg and Paolo Banchero," they write. "So the inclusion of Peterson here is an indicator of the elite company we expect Peterson to keep this season while leading the Jayhawks."

Kevin Sweeney SI.com

"Peterson is one of the best freshman guards to hit college basketball in a generation, an elite talent who's currently the leading candidate to go No. 1 in next year's NBA draft," Sweeney writes. "He's a dominant scorer who has continued to make strides as a playmaker, a skill set that will be tested when defenses throw creative coverages at him to force other Jayhawks to beat them. For Kansas to climb back into the sport's elite tier, Peterson will need to have a massive season, but he has the talent to do just that and take Kansas back to the top of the sport."

Here are those who have Darryn Peterson on their All-America second team

Darryn Peterson is introduced with Prolific Prep before a game against St. Vincent-St. Mary in the Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at Canton Memorial Civic Center.

Jay Bilas, ESPN

"Another highly touted recruit with a real case to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Peterson could be the most talented freshman to ever play for Bill Self. He's a dynamic scorer and playmaker and should carry the offense in Lawrence [Kansas]," he writes.

"The reigning Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year has drawn comparison to Kobe Bryant, among others, and Kansas coach Bill Self didn't shy away from that hype by calling Peterson 'the most talented freshman, hands down,' he's ever coached. He will be the Jayhawks' top option from the start and should be a one-and-done superstar," Myerberg writes.

George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.