The national rankings for the 2025 class aren’t finalized just yet, but the race for No. 1 is officially over. Darryn Peterson, a Kansas signee, will be the new top-ranked prospect in the 247Sports rankings—and there’s no need to wait until May’s final update to make it official.
Since December, the top spot has been closely contested between three elite players: Peterson, BYU signee AJ Dybantsa, and Duke commit Cameron Boozer.
Dybantsa originally claimed the No. 1 ranking after reclassifying from 2026, while Boozer and Peterson opened the season at Nos. 2 and 3. In the last update, Peterson moved ahead of Boozer, and now he has overtaken Dybantsa as well.
Peterson will finish his high school career as the consensus No. 1 player in the 2025 class.
Peterson’s rise to the top of the 2025 rankings began when Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) faced off against Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah) and Miami Columbus in a high-profile road stretch. These matchups gave him the chance to go head-to-head with both AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer—his biggest competition for the No. 1 spot. With 247Sports staff in attendance, Peterson came out on top in both games, sparking internal conversations about his potential move to the top of the class during an episode of the 247Sports College Basketball Show.
Still, the staff was careful not to make any snap decisions.
With Dybantsa’s elite talent and Boozer’s remarkable resume, the plan was to assess the full body of work rather than overreact to one set of matchups. The final decision would be based on long-term potential, factoring in the remainder of the high school season and performances at key national events like the McDonald’s All American Game, Chipotle Nationals, and Nike Hoop Summit.
Now that the McDonald’s and Chipotle events have wrapped—and with Peterson not participating in the upcoming Hoop Summit—there’s enough data to confidently make the call.
Peterson and Boozer shared MVP honors at the McDonald’s game, and both continued to shine at Chipotle Nationals, where Boozer led Columbus to another title. But this ranking isn’t about who had the best senior year—it’s about who projects as the top long-term talent. And that’s Darryn Peterson.
At the start of the season, the idea of Peterson reaching No. 1 felt like a long shot. But his relentless development and clear commitment to improvement have set him apart. Last summer, his scoring versatility, size, and physicality were already turning heads. Since then, he’s significantly sharpened his shooting, emerged as an elite rebounder on the perimeter, and taken his athleticism to another level. All signs point to him having the brightest future in the 2025 class.
Peterson is in peak physical condition, and it’s showing in his game. He’s playing with unmatched explosiveness—attacking the paint with force, finishing above the rim with authority, and making a major impact defensively with his instincts and positional flexibility.
When you combine all of that, you get a dynamic, multi-dimensional guard who can score, create for others, and influence the game on both ends of the floor. Most importantly, Peterson’s natural talent is backed by a clear drive to keep improving—elevating his game faster than anyone else in his class.
That’s exactly why Darryn Peterson will end the cycle as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class.
Leave a Reply