Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks have secured their first commitment for the 2012 class with Zach Peters (PF, 6’9″, 2012), a physical player who mixes it up in the paint and will bring solid rebounding to KU.

Peters, a strong player who slightly resembles a surfer as much as a basketball player, also has a mid range game that can make him an effective scorer, with range out to about eighteen feet. His style of play will make him effective at the college level. He’s been compared to former North Carolina big man and All American Tyler Hansbrough, which tells a lot about his physical play.

While I don’t see an exact relation to Tyler Hansbrough’s game and tenacity, one thing is for certain, Peters already has the body to bang in college and while some big men can play ‘with’ contact, Zach Peters is a big man for whom contact is part of his game. He’s not the kind of player who can be fouled out of the lane and will steamroll weak defenders at the hoop. He’s got the kind of solid strength and presence that big men at the Division I level really need to be true post players, so with his range and physical play he’s a solid recruit who will see minutes for the Jayhawks.

The only knock on Peters at this point is that his physical play makes him a solid D1 center, and his range makes him a solid D1 PF. But his size, at 6’9″, means he will need to play the PF spot a lot if he makes it to the pros, so that’s the only question. He definitely has the skills to become deadly at the high post for the Jayhawks and with a few years to develop, is one to watch.

Zach Peters was also considering UNC, Kentucky and Texas.

Brandon Knight
Image: Miami Herald

The future is very bright for Brandon Knight (PG/SG, 6’3″, 2010) , who is still weighing his college basketball options between Kentucky, Syracuse, Connecticut, Florida and Kansas. Knight is one of the top players in the 2010 class and has just repeated as the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year , his home state:

Already named to the McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic All-American teams, Knight’s stellar senior season has put him in position to repeat as the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Although a late season injury prevented Knight from a three-peat of the state title, top programs around the nation are eagerly awaiting where he’s going to commit. He’s recently stated that he will announce after the McDonald’s All American game is out of the way later this month.

McDonald's All American

Here are the rosters for the McDonald’s All American 2010 high school basketball game:

East

Reggie Bullock (SG/SF, 6’6″, 2010) – Committed to North Carolina
Tobias Harris (PF, 6’9″, 2010) – Committed to Tennessee
Kyrie Irving (PG, 6’3″, 2010) – Committed to Duke
Joe Jackson (PG, 6’0″, 2010) – Committed to Memphis
Perry Jones III (C, 6’11”, 2010) – Committed to Baylor
Jelan Kendrick (SG, 6’7″, 2010) – Committed to Memphis
C.J. Leslie (SF, 6’9″, 2010) – Undecided (NC State, Kentucky)
Jayvaughn Pinkston (PF, 6’7″, 2010) – Committed to Villanova
Josh Selby (PG/SG, 6’3″, 2010) – Undecided (Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, Connecticut)
Kendall Marshall (PG, 6’4″, 2010) – Committed to North Carolina
Jared Sullinger (C, 6’9″, 2010) – Committed to Ohio State
Deshaun Thomas (PF, 6’7″, 2010) – Committed to Ohio State

West

Keith Appling (PG/SG, 6’3″, 2010) – Committed to Michigan State
Harrison Barnes (SF, 6’8″, 2010) – Committed to North Carolina
Terrence Jones (SF/PF,6’9″, 2010) – Undecided (Kentucky, Washington, Oregon, UCLA, Oklahoma)
Cory Joseph (PG/SG, 6’3″, 2010) – Undecided (UNLV, Connecticut, Texas, Minnesota, Villanova)
Brandon Knight (SG, 6’4″, 2010) – Undecided (Miami, Kentucky, Florida, Connecticut, Kansas, Syracuse)
Doron Lamb (SG, 6’4″, 2010) – Undecided (Kentucky, West Virginia, Kansas, Arizona)
Ray McCallum (PG, 6’1″, 2010) – Undecided (Detroit, Florida, UCLA, Arizona)
Fab Melo (C, 7’0″, 2010) – Committed to Syracuse
Jereme Richmond (SF, 6’8″, 2010) – Committed to Illinois
Joshua Thomas (C, 6’10”, 2010) – Committed to UCLA
Tristan Thompson (PF, 6’10”, 2010) – Committed to Texas
Patric Young (PF, 6’9″, 2010) – Committed to Florida