How 5-star Kansas guard Darryn Peterson is fitting in — and his official KU nickname
Known as “Bucket Jones” on the high school, prep school and AAU circuit, prize freshman Darryn Peterson has been receptive in answering to three separate names since reporting to Kansas’ campus for summer school classes/basketball workouts on May 28.
There’s “Darryn,” of course.
There’s the longstanding “Bucket Jones,” of course.
And there’s what appears to be a new moniker favored by his KU teammates and coaches.
That would be “DP,” which is how two KU players and an assistant coach referred to Peterson at a recent interview session between media and KU’s newcomers at the Bill Self camp in Allen Fieldhouse.
Asked about KU’s outside shooting entering the 2025-26 season, newcomer guard Jayden Dawson, formerly of Loyola-Chicago, said: “I mean, we’ve got ‘DP’ obviously. He can shoot it.”
“I think Tre White (former Illinois guard) can stroke it a little bit. I know I can shoot,” Dawson continued. “I know Melvin (Council Jr., former St. Bonaventure guard) can shoot it a little bit. His numbers didn’t show it last year (29.9% from 3), but just watching the work he puts in … I know he will knock it down. I know we’re going to be insane.”
Back to the DP references … “Coach (Bill Self) gave me his recruiting pitch, who I’m going to be playing with, and then he talked about DP,” Dawson said of discussions with Self during the portal recruiting process. “Obviously, I’m trying to play, to be a professional athlete, and DP bringing in NBA GMs every day, that just helps me. And I think coach Self being the lead recruiter for me, that was just super big for me.”
Then there’s Council, who was asked about the defense of former (California) Prolific Prep standout Peterson, a 6-5, 195-pound McDonald’s All-American originally from Canton, Ohio.
“DP … He’s been talking on defense and saying stuff. Five stars can come in (to a college) and be quiet. He’s going to stand out and talk. That shows a lot,” Council said.
New KU assistant coach Jacque Vaughn, who played point guard four years at KU and 12 in the NBA, and also has been a head coach and assistant in the pros, also referred to DP when speaking about Peterson.
Vaughn was asked if he envisioned working with Peterson a lot during what is expected to be the player’s one-and-done season at KU. Vaughn also started from day one at KU (1994-97).
“Coach has given me the freedom, which is great, not to pigeonhole myself into only working with DP, but I’ve had the ability, which is great, to have a young guy, I’ll say, for example, a Nic Claxton that I coached, and now he just made $100 million last year,” Vaughn said of the 6-foot-11, 26-year-old member of the Brooklyn Nets who recently signed a lucrative contract extension.
“And so there are different approaches. I think I pride myself on being able to coach bigs and smalls across the board, so I’m looking forward to working with all the guys. But we do have a special individual in DP and you see with my voice already, I’m not in prime form yet,” Vaughn added smiling, his voice weakened a bit after participating in the Jayhawks’ first high intensity summer workout.
Peterson explained his Bucket Jones nickname to media who cover the Jayhawks last week.
“My pop came up with that a while ago,” Peterson said. “Something that he just came up with and it kind of stuck as I got older.”
At the 2025 McDonald’s All-America game, back on April 1 in Brooklyn, New York, Peterson told media members of the origin of Bucket Jones: “My pops came up with it in sixth, seventh grade. He said when I was younger all I cared about was buckets, not the wins or losses, nothing else, just getting buckets. He gave me the nickname Bucket Jones. Jonesing … it’s like an addiction to something. I think it defined me a little bit. Now I care about winning. I love getting buckets.”
Self has referred to Peterson as a “generational type talent.”
KU’s 23rd-year coach also said: “I’m probably as excited about coaching him as I have anybody that I’ve ever recruited. I think that he is probably the most prepared, equipped 18-year-old that I’ve had a chance to recruit.”
“I try not to pay attention to it, really,” Peterson said of accolades. “I just go out and hoop. People say a lot of stuff, so I’m just going to try to live up to what he said. Coach has said a lot of good stuff about me, so I’m going to try to go out and prove that to everybody.”
He’s looking forward to working with former Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets head coach Vaughn.
“He’s an NBA person, will be great for us. He knows a lot of stuff, how to get to the NBA and play pro ball,” Peterson said.
Asked what he thinks of the team roster and the upcoming season, Peterson said: “About to win a championship that’s what I think. There’s definitely a lot of pride just putting that jersey on. It’s going to be a great feeling. I know a lot of people came before me and will come after me and I want to represent for them. I know it’s going to be great having this fan base behind me.”
No matter which name they choose to call him.
