Darryn Peterson cuts list to eight, includes Kentucky

We already knew Kentucky was getting an official visit from 2025 five-star guard Darryn Peterson — “I’m going to start taking them in the new year,” he told On3, the Cats joining Arkansas, Kansas, Ohio State and North Carolina as likely trips.

So it should come as no surprise that the nation’s No. 3 overall recruit and No. 1 shooting guard has included Kentucky in his final eight. The Wildcats join Arkansas, Baylor, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio State as remaining finalists for Peterson.

He announced his final eight on Monday, cutting the likes of Auburn, South Carolina, Oregon, Louisville, Michigan State, Texas, UCLA and Kansas from contention.

NEWS: Five-Star Plus+ SG Darryn Peterson, the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2025 class, has cut his list to 8 schools, he tells @On3Recruits.

The 6-5 junior will remain open to the professional route.

Story: https://t.co/wGKAFSuB99 pic.twitter.com/NyShk4xndj

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) January 1, 2024

“They’re ‘One-and-Done U'”

What does he like about Kentucky, who extended an offer back in August of 2022 — the first sophomore to ever receive a scholarship under John Calipari?

“They’re ‘One-and-Done U.’ Coach Cal is a legend, and he gets his guys ready for the league. And now, most of his guys in the league are max-contract guys,” Peterson said. “The NBA is the end goal of mine.”

Another thing to keep a close eye on: “I watch a lot of Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,” he added. “Their pace and how they get to their shots. Both of them use the mid-range a lot, and I use the mid-range a lot too.”

Peterson recently became the first high school athlete to ever sign with adidas — “(They were) willing to take a chance on me,” he said — making Kansas a trendy pick for the five-star guard.

“Their system sticks out to me, I like how they play their guards,” he said of the Jayhawks. “They have a lot of ball screen play with their guards and let them get downhill to make a play. They play with shooters and feed the big.”

But those are just two of eight total schools left in contention for the dynamic scoring guard out of Ohio.

What will he be looking for when it comes time to make a decision?

“I want to play for a coach that I know will push me,” Peterson said. “Put the ball in my hands to play the guard position and help me grow and prepare myself for the NBA. Having guys around me who can play will be big. I like to ring up assists too.”

John Calipari hopes he gets buckets and rings up dimes in Lexington.