Darryn Peterson Officially Enrolls at Kansas: Grind Session Champion and Future NBA Star Joins Bill Self’s Jayhawks
LAWRENCE, KANSAS — One of the most decorated high school players in the nation and a Grind Session legend has officially touched down in Jayhawk country.
Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 ranked player in the ESPN Class of 2025 and fresh off a Grind Session World Championship with Prolific Prep, enrolled this week at the University of Kansas, joining head coach Bill Self and a loaded Jayhawk roster with championship aspirations. The move solidifies Kansas as a favorite not just in the Big 12, but nationally—especially with Peterson considered a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“Darryn’s the best player we’ve recruited since we’ve been here,” said Self. “He’s a special talent.”
From Canton to Kansas: A Path of Excellence
Peterson’s rise to national prominence began in Canton, Ohio, where he dominated the OHSAA circuit at CVCA. As a freshman, he averaged 26.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, despite missing the start of the season with a foot injury. He was the only freshman named to the All-Ohio Division II first team.
His sophomore season was even more explosive—31.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game—as he earned Division II Northeast Inland District Player of the Year honors and a finalist nod for Ohio Mr. Basketball.
After short stints at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Huntington Prep, Peterson made his senior year one to remember.
Grind Session Greatness
Peterson transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California in August 2024 and immediately became the centerpiece of the team’s title run.
Under head coach Ryan Bernardi, Prolific Prep won their third consecutive Grind Session World Championship, with Peterson playing the role of unstoppable floor general and leader.
“Darryn was the engine. He made everything go for us, not just with his scoring but his leadership and maturity.” — Ryan Bernardi, Head Coach, Prolific Prep
Peterson averaged 30.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game on the Grind Session circuit and capped his senior campaign by being named a McDonald's All-American—where he also earned MVP honors in the All-Star Game.
A Rivalry in the Rankings
While ESPN ranked Peterson as the No. 2 player in the nation behind another former Prolific Prep standout, AJ Dybantsa of Utah Prep, 247 Sports flipped the order, naming Peterson the top player in the Class of 2025.
Both players are now poised for high-impact freshman seasons—Peterson at Kansas and Dybantsa at Brigham Young University. The debate is already underway: who will go No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft?
Built for the Moment
Peterson comes from an elite athletic family. His father, Darryl Peterson II, played college basketball at the University of Akron. His brother, Darryl III, starred in football at Archbishop Hoban and now plays linebacker for the University of Wisconsin.
The lineage and the work ethic are real—and now, the stage only gets bigger.
Jayhawk Future
With Peterson now on campus, Kansas adds a versatile, pro-ready combo guard who can take over games from all three levels. His scoring instincts, rebounding tenacity, and court vision make him a rare blend of poise and power at the guard position.
For fans of the Grind Session, Darryn Peterson’s journey is one to celebrate. From high school gyms in Canton to MVP performances on the Grind Session stage, and now to the bright lights of Allen Fieldhouse—Peterson’s story is still being written, and all signs point to a historic chapter ahead.
Stay tuned.
