photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Prolific Prep guard and Kansas commit Darryn Peterson starts to drive toward the rim in a 78-72 win over DME Academy in the Grind Session tournament semifinal at Haskell Indian Nations University on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

Just like everyone else, Darryn Peterson has seen that a lot of Kansas players are entering the transfer portal.

He’s just not that concerned about it, as he said on Monday, recounting a conversation that same day with head coach Bill Self.

“He asked me was I worried about it,” Peterson told reporters at the McDonald’s All-American Game media day in Brooklyn, New York. “I told him, ‘Nah,’ and his response was, ‘You better not be, because you’re coming to hoop.'”

Peterson said that roster turnover is “part of the game now” and added that Self was confident and “didn’t sound pressed at all” about the situation.

He and fellow freshmen Samis Calderon and Bryson Tiller are currently slated for KU’s 2025-26 roster, along with guards Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell, who redshirted last season; as of Monday afternoon, AJ Storr stands as the only scholarship player who saw action for KU during the 2024-25 season who is not yet in the transfer portal.

Zach Clemence, Flory Bidunga, Rakease Passmore, David Coit and Rylan Griffen all entered the portal between Friday and Monday. The Jayhawks have been reportedly linked in recent days to a variety of high-profile transfers, such as Abdi Bashir Jr. (Monmouth), Josh Dix (Iowa), Keyshawn Hall (UCF), Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State), but are still waiting on their first commitment of the cycle.

“For guys out there that are thinking about Kansas, definitely come play with us,” Peterson said. “It’s a great arena, great coach. I’m trying to win, so, whatever it takes.”

Peterson, one of the nation’s top recruits and a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is the 52nd KU signee to participate in the McDonald’s All-American Game, following Bidunga last season and Jackson the year before.

“It’s a great accomplishment for me and my family,” he said. “(I) worked super hard and I think it’s just some of the hard work paying off.”

The game is set for 8 p.m. Central Time Tuesday.

It’s the continuation of a busy stretch for Peterson, who was recently in Lawrence winning the Grind Session title with his high school team Prolific Prep at Haskell Indian Nations University, and who will soon take part in Chipotle Nationals in Fishers, Indiana.

Prolific Prep is a No. 6 seed in Chipotle Nationals and will take on No. 3 Long Island Lutheran at 1 p.m. Central Time on Thursday.