LOUISVILLE, Ky. — BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Duke’s Cameron Boozer set a excessive bar to clear, because the No. 2 and No. 3 prospects from the Class of 2025 every dropped greater than 30 factors of their exhibition debuts this week.
But when anybody was questioning why neither of them closed the cycle because the No. 1 participant within the 247Sports recruiting rankings, Darryn Peterson offered the reply on Friday evening. In his first recreation in a Kansas uniform, the 6-foot-6 freshman guard placed on a present because the No. 19 Jayhawks took down No. 11 Louisville 90-82 in an exhibition recreation.
The consequence will not be recorded on both crew’s ledger and Peterson’s 26 factors and 5 steals in 25 minutes will not be counted in official statistics, however what transpired on the KFC Yum! Middle will solely elevate what’s anticipated of Peterson and the Jayhawks within the 2025-26 season.
“He performed about good within the first half offensively,” Kansas coach Invoice Self mentioned.
2025-26 CBS Sports activities Preseason Freshman of the Yr: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson leads All-Freshman Workforce
Gary Parrish
Simply seven instances because the introduction of the 3-point line has a Kansas participant made six or extra 3-pointers in a highway recreation towards a ranked opponent, per Stathead.
Peterson did it in a single half.
No Kansas participant has ever recorded six 3-pointers and 5 steals in a single recreation. Peterson did it in his exhibition debut.
On the highway. Towards a top-15 opponent.
The Canton, Ohio, native dropped seven factors in a span of simply over two minutes earlier than the primary media timeout and reached 24 factors within the first half because the Jayhawks opened up a 46-30 lead. The one factor that might gradual him down was a bout with cramps that started round halftime as Peterson exerted himself in a school recreation for the primary time.
“I’ve acquired to have the ability to put two halves collectively,” Peterson mentioned. “I began off sizzling after which my physique type of began shutting down on me. So I’ve acquired to return to the drafting board on that. However I am simply comfortable we gained.”
Peterson mentioned his first style of high-major faculty basketball was “undoubtedly far more intense than something I have been by to this point.”
A lot of that depth was dictated by the Jayhawks, who entered with a chip on their shoulder.
Kansas’ No. 19 rating within the AP High 25 ballot is its worst preseason place because the 2008-09 season and marks the primary time because the 2011-12 marketing campaign that the Jayhawks are usually not a preseason top-10 crew. On the heels of three consecutive first weekend exits from the NCAA Match, greatness is now not assumed for Kansas.
This system hasn’t been its typical, elite self since profitable the 2022 nationwide championship. At a time when the Huge 12 has change into more durable on the prime, the Jayhawks have performed into the fingers of the league’s defensively rugged competitors with rudderless offense.
Peterson confirmed Friday why he could possibly be the reply.
“We have been going towards one another in observe for months now,” Peterson mentioned. “We had been simply able to go towards another person. We had been tremendous overestimated for this recreation. They’d them ranked forward of us, so we got here in as underdogs and acquired the win. That was the large factor for us.”
Ultimately, although, Self seen the sport for what it was: an exhibition. Although the result was not but determined, Peterson exited for good with 4:53 remaining after logging simply 25 minutes. There will not be an actual recreation this season when he logs much less time on the ground.
However even in a comparatively restricted pattern dimension, Peterson confirmed greater than sufficient to wow the quite a few NBA scouts in attendance. He was 9 of 15 from the ground and the diploma of problem on a number of the makes was hanging.
What Self considered Peterson’s efficiency
As nice as Peterson was, Self prompt the sport did not showcase his full repertoire of talents. Peterson had two assists and 5 turnovers, belying the truth that he’ll be a major distributor (and off-ball distraction) for the Jayhawks as nicely — not simply an on-ball scorer.
“He can play, and he can play with out the ball,” Self mentioned. “He can play to create offense for others. He did not within the first half tonight as a result of we would have liked him to go rating and that is what he did. He was on a bit of little bit of a heater there. He is a guard that may see, he can power assist and get any individual a shot most each possession.”
Peterson’s 6-of-10 mark from 3-point vary in a hostile highway setting was significantly spectacular given compared to fellow five-star guard Mikel Brown Jr. Louisville’s prized freshman struggled, failing to hit a shot from the ground till the 13:12 mark of the second half.
Brown’s 2-of-15 efficiency, although disappointing, was comprehensible. Because it seems, taking part in in entrance of 15,885 followers towards a top-20 opponent in your first faculty basketball recreation motion is difficult. That apparent reality made Peterson’s efficiency all of the extra spectacular.
Freshman of the Yr race shall be intense
Boozer’s 33 factors and 12 rebounds had been spectacular in Duke’s exhibition debut. However they got here in 31 minutes at house towards a UCF crew that’s projected to complete on the backside of the Huge 12. Dybantsa’s 30 factors and 7 rebounds had been spectacular, however they got here in 32 minutes towards a Nebraska crew that’s anticipated to complete within the backside half of the Huge Ten.
First impressions for incredible freshmen
How the highest three recruits within the Class of 2025 carried out of their first exhibition video games this week.
No. 1 Darryn Peterson, Kansas: Friday at Louisville (W 90-82)
| FG | 3PT FG | REB | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-15 | 6-10 | 4 | 26 |
No. 2 AJ Dybantsa, BYU: Oct. 18 vs. Nebraska (L 90-89)
| FG | 3PT FG | REB | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | 2-4 | 7 | 30 |
No. 3 Cameron Boozer, Duke: Tue. vs. UCF (W 96-71)
| FG | 3PT FG | REB | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-19 | 4-7 | 12 | 33 |
Peterson’s outburst got here on the highway got here in much less time towards a crew anticipated to contend for the ACC title. He was the No. 1 total prospect for a motive, and he backed it up in his first showcase alternative.
The final Kansas participant to make six 3-pointers in a highway recreation towards a ranked opponent was Ochai Agbaji in 2022 through the season he was named the Ultimate 4’s Most Excellent Participant after main KU to the NCAA Match title. It is solely October, however all of the indicators had been there towards Louisville of Peterson being a power able to getting the Jayhawks again to that realm.
“He is a particular expertise,” Louisville coach Pat Kelsey mentioned. “He is acquired nice dimension and size and athleticism. Fast burst with the ball, terrific shot-maker. He performs with lots of bravado. He is actually good.”
Burning scheme questions for Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and each five-star freshman in faculty basketball
Isaac Trotter
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