University of Kansas guard Darryn Peterson’s freshman season has already placed him at the center of national attention. The #1 National recruit in 247Sports’ rankings is averaging 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, three assists, one block, and two steals a game. Kansas has leaned on Peterson to contribute immediately, and he’s responded with an impact on both ends of the floor.
Peterson’s season isn’t just being discussed in terms of numbers and film. As his game his taken shape in front of the national audience, there has been a broader conversation around him, comparing him to former NBA players. The way he scores and the style he plays with have sparked comparisons to players who have defined generations of basketball.
Darryn Peterson on Being Compared to NBA Greats
Those comparisons have only grown louder this week as Week 1 of college basketball kicked off. NBA evaluators are fawning over the chance of drafting a player such as Peterson. His ability to score and defend is reminiscent of some of the most skilled guards to have ever played the game. Bill Simmons said this about Peterson:
“The Kansas kid might be the best guard prospect since Vince Carter, or even go back to Kobe Bryant. That’s potentially how good he is, Peterson.”
Simmons is placing Peterson in a historical context by referencing Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter; all three were highly coveted prospects.
Carter attended the University of North Carolina and was the fifth overall pick of the 1998 Draft by the Golden State Warriors, before being traded to the Toronto Raptors the same night.
Unlike Peterson and Carter, Bryant was drafted right out of high school. The 13th overall pick was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 Draft before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night.
Both Bryant and Carter are hall-of-famers; that’s how high the praise is for Peterson.
However, Peterson does not agree with the comparisons to NBA legends and said in an interview the following:
“The expectations, the Kobe one is crazy because he’s one of my G.O.A.T’s and I don’t even like being in that conversation. But I appreciate people showing love like that.”
Peterson humbly accepts the praise, but admits that he isn’t ready for those comparisons yet. Bryant is an accomplished NBA great, meanwhile, Peterson has only played in two college basketball games.
While the Bryant comparisons are premature, Peterson described himself the following way:
“I’d describe myself as a player that’s a winner, and I’m willing to do anything I have to do to win. Whether that be defend, rebound, score, make plays for my teammate, whatever it is to win.”
