Darryn Peterson
{{short description|American basketball player (born 2007)}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Darryn Peterson
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| team = Prolific Prep
| number = 22
| position = Point guard / shooting guard
| league =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 195
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|1|17}}
| birth_place = Canton, Ohio, U.S.
| high_school =
- Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
(Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) - Huntington Prep
(Huntington, West Virginia) - Prolific Prep
(Napa, California)
| college = Kansas (commit)
| highlights =
| medal_templates =
{{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Mérida|Team}}
}}
Darryn Peterson (born January 17, 2007) is an American high school basketball player for Prolific Prep. He is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2025 recruiting class.
Early life and high school career
Peterson was born and raised in Canton, Ohio.{{cite news|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/03/02/darryn-peterson-cvca-district-semifinal-padua-seth-bagwell-brennan-darr-matt-futch-canton/6962673001/|title=Darryn Peterson, Seth Bagwell lead CVCA to Division II district semifinal win over Padua|work=Akron Beacon Journal|first=Michael|last=Beaven|date=March 2, 2022|access-date=October 7, 2023}} His father, Darryl Peterson II, played basketball at Western Hills High School in Cincinnati from 1997 to 2001 and at the University of Akron from 2001 to 2006.{{cite news|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2023/08/02/darryn-peterson-leaves-cuyahoga-valley-christian-academy-transfers-huntington-prep-usa-basketball/70517497007/|title=Former CVCA star Darryn Peterson announces transfer to Huntington Prep|work=Akron Beacon Journal|first=Michael|last=Beaven|date=August 2, 2023|access-date=October 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803130445/https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2023/08/02/darryn-peterson-leaves-cuyahoga-valley-christian-academy-transfers-huntington-prep-usa-basketball/70517497007/|archive-date=August 3, 2023|url-status=live}} His older brother, Darryl Peterson III, won multiple state football titles at Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron before playing at the University of Wisconsin.{{cite news|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2022/07/20/darryn-peterson-2025-top-college-basketball-recruit-ohio-high-school-cvca-nj-scholars-elite-aau/10084436002/|title=College basketball recruiting: Darryn Peterson stays grounded as elite programs watch him|work=Akron Beacon Journal|first=Michael|last=Beaven|date=July 20, 2022|access-date=October 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121110753/https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2022/07/20/darryn-peterson-2025-top-college-basketball-recruit-ohio-high-school-cvca-nj-scholars-elite-aau/10084436002/|archive-date=November 21, 2023|url-status=live}}
Peterson attended Hartford Middle School in Canton. He enrolled at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (CVCA) over nearby Canton McKinley High School due to academic reasons. Additionally, CVCA head basketball coach Matt Futch was teammates with his father at Akron.
As a freshman, Peterson averaged 26.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game,{{cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/highschoolsports/2022/06/darryn-peterson-dazzling-colleges-while-staying-at-cvca-midwest-live-basketball-takeaways.html|title=Darryn Peterson dazzling colleges while staying at CVCA: 'Midwest Live' basketball takeaways|work=Cleveland.com|first=Matt|last=Goul|date=June 26, 2022|access-date=October 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120231533/https://www.cleveland.com/highschoolsports/2022/06/darryn-peterson-dazzling-colleges-while-staying-at-cvca-midwest-live-basketball-takeaways.html|archive-date=November 20, 2023|url-status=live}} leading his team to a 16–8 record and an appearance in the OHSAA Division II district title game.{{cite news|url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2022/03/17/pac-7-boys-girls-basketball-all-conference-pratt-bottomley-lower-northwest-tuslaw-fairless-peterson/7053199001/|title=Ty Pratt, Lily Bottomley, Lower brothers lead PAC-7 boys and girls basketball honors|work=The Repository|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=October 7, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2022/03/05/darryn-peterson-cvca-glenville-score-ohsaa-district-boys-basketball-ohio-state-offer-matt-futch/9368859002/|title=What might be star freshman Darryn Peterson's lone year at CVCA ends in loss to Glenville|work=Akron Beacon Journal|first=Steve|last=Doerschuk|date=March 5, 2022|access-date=October 7, 2023}} He was the only freshman named to the All-Ohio Division II first team despite missing the start of the season due to a foot injury. As a sophomore, Peterson averaged 31 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 assists per game, leading CVCA to an 18–7 record and their second straight appearance in the OHSAA Division II district title game. Aside from earning first-team All-Ohio Division II honors for the second year in a row, he was named the Division II Northeast Inland District Player of the Year and a finalist for the Ohio Mr. Basketball award.
On August 2, 2023, Peterson announced he was transferring to Huntington Prep School in Huntington, West Virginia.{{cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/highschoolsports/2023/08/darryn-peterson-announces-he-is-leaving-cvca-for-huntington-prep.html|title=Darryn Peterson announces he is leaving CVCA for Huntington Prep|work=Cleveland.com|first=Matt|last=Goul|date=August 3, 2023|access-date=October 7, 2023}}
On August 12, 2024, Peterson announced he was transferring to Prolific Prep in Napa, California for his senior season.{{cite news|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2024/08/12/darryn-peterson-transfer-prolific-prep-huntington-prep-basketball-canton-akron-cvca/74770068007/|title=Canton native, former CVCA basketball star Darryn Peterson transferring to Prolific Prep|work=Akron Beacon Journal|first=Nate|last=Ulrich|date=August 12, 2024|access-date=November 2, 2024}} Peterson was named a McDonald's All-American after averaging 23.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-27 |title=Darryn Peterson Named McDonald’s All-American |url=https://kuathletics.com/news/2025/1/27/mens-basketball-darryn-peterson-named-mcdonalds-all-american |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=University of Kansas |language=en}}
=Recruiting=
Peterson is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2025 class, according to major recruiting services. He received his first offers from St. John's and Xavier when he was still in the eighth grade.{{cite news|url=https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2021/04/12/pitt-offers-6-foot-4-ohio-8th-grader-darryn-peterson/|title=Pitt Offers 6-foot-4 Ohio 8th Grader Darryn Peterson|work=Pittsburgh Sports Now|first=George|last=Michalowski|date=April 12, 2021|access-date=October 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412231926/https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2021/04/12/pitt-offers-6-foot-4-ohio-8th-grader-darryn-peterson/|archive-date=April 12, 2021}}
In September 2024, Peterson narrowed a previous list of eight choices down to Kansas, Kansas State, Ohio State, and USC.{{cite news|url=https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/article/inside-five-star-cg-darryn-petersons-eight-finalists-234313118/|title=Inside 5-star Darryn Peterson's 8 finalists|work=247Sports|first=Eric|last=Bossi|date=July 31, 2024|access-date=November 2, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.on3.com/news/five-star-plus-sg-darryn-peterson-narrows-list-to-four-schools/|title=Five-Star Plus+ SG Darryn Peterson narrows list to four schools|work=On3.com|first=Keegan|last=Pope|date=September 3, 2024|access-date=November 2, 2024}} On November 1, 2024, he committed to playing college basketball at Kansas.{{cite news|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2024/11/01/darryn-peterson-commits-kansas-jayhawks-college-basketball-recruiting-canton-akron-ohio/74832920007/|title=Canton native Darryn Peterson commits to play college basketball for Kansas Jayhawks|work=Akron Beacon Journal|first=Nate|last=Ulrich|date=November 1, 2024|access-date=November 2, 2024}} Kansas coach Bill Self said "Darryn's the best player we've recruited since we've been here. He's a special talent."{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=Bill Self says five-star signee Darryn Peterson is best player he's recruited at Kansas -- is he right? |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/bill-self-says-five-star-signee-darryn-peterson-is-best-player-hes-recruited-at-kansas-is-he-right/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2025}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Darryn Peterson
| position = SG
| hometown = Huntington, WV
| highschool = Huntington Prep (WV)
| feet = 6
| inches = 5
| weight = 195
| 40 =
| commitdate =
| rivals stars = 5
| 247 stars = 5
| espn stars = 5
| espn grade = 96
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| year = 2025
| 247 overall = 1
| rivals overall = 3
| espn overall = 2
| access-date = October 7, 2023
| bball = yes
}}
National team career
Peterson represented the United States at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Mexico. He averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 steals in under 18 minutes per game, leading his team to a gold medal and earning all-tournament honors.{{cite news|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/americas/u16/2023/news/cameron-boozer-named-mvp-quinones-peterson-osaruyi-and-pratto-round-out-all-tournament-team|title=Cameron Boozer named MVP; Quiñones, Peterson, Osaruyi and Prato round out All-Tournament team|publisher=FIBA|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=July 4, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2023/06/14/team-usa-basketball-fiba-americas-darryn-peterson-cvca-no-9-lebron-james-michael-jordan-vince-carter/70307095007/|title=CVCA sensation Darryn Peterson wins gold medal for Team USA basketball in Mexico|work=Akron Beacon Journal|first=Brad|last=Bournival|date=June 14, 2023|access-date=October 7, 2023}} Peterson recorded 13 points and seven assists in their 118–36 win against Canada in the final.{{cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/highschoolsports/2023/06/darryn-peterson-makes-splash-with-jayden-quaintance-as-team-usa-takes-gold-at-fiba-16u-americas-championship.html|title='Darryn Peterson is the best player to come out of Ohio since LeBron James at that age': CVCA guard impresses with USA Basketball|work=Cleveland.com|first=Matt|last=Goul|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=October 7, 2023}}
Personal life
In November 2023, after transferring to Huntington Prep, Peterson became the first high school athlete to sign a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with Adidas.{{cite news|url=https://www.on3.com/nil/news/darryn-peterson-adidas-basketball-nil-deal-2025-five-star-guard/|title=Five-Star Plus+ shooting guard Darryn Peterson signs NIL deal with adidas|work=On3.com|first=Pete|last=Nakos|date=November 24, 2023|access-date=November 2, 2024}} A few weeks later, he signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Fanatics, Inc., becoming the youngest athlete to sign a deal with a trading card company.{{cite news|url=https://andscape.com/features/no-3-high-school-recruit-darryn-peterson-makes-history-with-fanatics/|title=No. 3 high school recruit Darryn Peterson makes history with Fanatics|work=Andscape|first=Brandon|last=Wright|date=December 4, 2023|access-date=November 2, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.usab.com/players/darryn-peterson USA Basketball bio]
{{Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterson, Darryn}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Canton, Ohio
Category:Huntington Prep School alumni