Self speaks highly of BF Zach Peters

Power forward Zach Peters has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Kansas, head coach Bill Self announced Tuesday.

Peters signed his papers at a ceremony with family and friends at his home in Plano, Texas, Monday night, Nov. 14. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Peters verbally committed to KU in April 2010, following his sophomore year at Prestonwood Christian Academy.

"Zach's big. He's a legit 6-9, 240-pound high school senior that can really shoot the basketball," Self said. "He's big and rugged. We can play him to where he's big enough to defend the five (post) or skilled enough to play in at the four (power forward)."

Peters averaged 15.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in 2010-11 in guiding Prestonwood to a state runner-up finish in TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools). An all-state first team TAPPS selection, Peters was rated the No. 97 player by Rivals.com following his junior season at Prestonwood.

"Guys that can really shoot are usually great passers. I think he will be that," Self said of Peters. "He's going to be a guy that can do a lot of things. We know he's a big guy that can stretch it but he likes to hit you and certainly contact and physical play will not be an issue with him early in his career."

Peters is also an outstanding wide receiver on the Prestonwood football team. He enters this weekend's playoffs with 13 touchdowns and 968 receiving yards for the Lions.

"He (Zach) didn't play summer basketball the past two years so his stock has fallen from the national rankings," Self said of Peters, who is currently ranked No. 144 by Rivals.com. "All that did was motivate this kid. Zach is a potential top-20 player in the country. I think he'll come in and have a great impact right off the bat."

"Zach is going to play for a new coach (this season), Chris Mayberry, that Zach is very high on. He is looking forward to having a big senior year," Self said. "Zach is prepared for the transition to college basketball in large part because his coach throughout his youth has been Jeff Webster, who does a great job with the kids and was a standout player at the University of Oklahoma."

"We're so excited to get (Peters' parents) Tim, Christy, Zach and his brothers as part of our KU family," Self said of Peters' family. "Their entire family has been extremely loyal to us throughout this recruiting process. I can't wait to have them on board."

Peters joins standout forward Perry Ellis, a Kansas native, who signed an NLI with Kansas on Nov. 9 as the second member of Kansas men's basketball 2012 signing class

2011 Kansas Men's Basketball Fall Signees

Perry Ellis, F, 6-8, 220, Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Heights)

Zach Peters, F, 6-9, 240, Plano, Texas (Prestonwood Christian Academy)