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Darryn Peterson's homecoming yields updates on college basketball recruitment and Team USA
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- Darryn Peterson's homecoming yields updates on college basketball recruitment and Team USA
CANTON — For the second consecutive winter, Darryn Peterson is using his elite basketball talent to honor the memory of a grandparent .
Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson catches his breath during the first half at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
On Saturday evening, Peterson led Huntington Prep to a 66-54 victory over two-time defending Division IV state champion Richmond Heights in the Canton Play-By-Play Classic showcase at Memorial Field House.
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Peterson said his 26-point performance was a tribute to his maternal grandmother, Christine West, who died on Jan. 21. Peterson explained he also remains inspired to play for his paternal grandmother, Yvette Peterson, who passed away on Jan. 4, 2023.
Family is everything to Peterson .
"They push me more than anybody else," he said.
Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson, top, crosses midcourt against Richmond Heights guard DeErick Barber Jr. during the second half at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
The Canton-born Peterson saw many loved ones in his return to Northeast Ohio.
After spending his first two years of high school at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy , Peterson transferred last summer to Huntington Prep in West Virginia. The junior guard who is one of the top college basketball recruits in the country relished his homecoming.
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"I was just ready to come put on a show for my people who I grew up with," he said.
Peterson is a "Canton City School kid" who attended Hartford Middle School and spent years working out in the Field House, the gymnasium of McKinley High School, his father, Darryl Peterson II, said.
"A lot of people don't understand what this means to us," Darryl Peterson II said, "because he's been training in this gym since third and fourth grade.
"This is really more of his home gym than anywhere. If things were different, we would've been here high school-wise."
Darryl Peterson II, facing, speaks with his son Darryn as he warms up at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Why did Darryn Peterson transfer from CVCA to Huntington Prep in West Virginia?
The Petersons' decisions about where to attend school have been made with an eye to a future NBA career.
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The move to Huntington Prep included a more immediate financial component because it allowed Peterson to profit from his name, image and likeness before reaching college.
In 2022, the member schools of the Ohio High School Athletic Association voted 538-254 against allowing student-athletes to sign endorsement agreements. Then there was no vote on NIL in 2023, when OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said in a news release the issue "had no momentum or requests to return to the referendum ballot."
Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson, a native of Canton, takes the court for the second half against Richmond Heights at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
In November, Peterson became the first high school athlete to sign an NIL deal with Adidas. In December, he signed a trading card deal with Fanatics.
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"Sure, I mean, [NIL] was a part [of the decision to transfer out of Ohio]. It wasn't the biggest part," Darryl Peterson II said. "The main part was really just playing against the national talent, national level, preparation, getting ready to kind of get ready for college and that kind of thing. That was the main thing. But if we can do that and still go access NIL, why not? Going to the prep school did allow us to unlock that, and it's been great."
Daylon Peterson, facing, wears his big brother Darryn's old CVCA jersey as Darryn warms up at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Like at CVCA, Darryl Peterson II serves as an assistant coach at Huntington Prep. He also runs the program's basketball operations.
"It's going great," Darryl Peterson II said. "It's been a great experience just working with Adidas. They've made it awesome for us, making the school an Adidas school. So the transition has been great. One thing about prep school, you go there because you want to get prepared for the next level.
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"We went [to Huntington Prep] for a more competitive, national schedule. We went there for better resources. We train at the Marshall University Recreation Center. We have their trainers, their resources. So it's just been great for us because he wants to play basketball, do that full time and that's what he wants his job to be. And going to a prep school, it prepares us for that kind of lifestyle. So it kind of almost feels like a college environment."
Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson, a native of Canton, takes the court during pregame announcements at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
When will Darryn Peterson make his college basketball commitment?
How does Peterson think the decision to leave his home state has panned out?
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"I feel like I'm getting better and every decision that we make is going to be good because that's just how I think," he said. "Every decision that I make, God made it for me."
One monumental decision has yet to be finalized.
Huntinton Prep guard Darryn Peterson has a quiet moment alone before playing Richmond Heights at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Peterson has not made a college commitment, but he's narrowed his choices down to the following eight schools: Kansas, Ohio State, Kentucky, Baylor, Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina.
Darryl Peterson II said the plan is to cut the list to a final four after the AAU season ends in late July.
Peterson, 17, will begin visiting schools next month, he and his dad said.
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"We were set to take our first official visit to Ohio State here in the next couple of weeks, but with the firing of coach [Chris Holtmann on Wednesday] , we're trying to figure that out," Darryl Peterson II said. "Just us being from Ohio, we're Ohio guys, we want Ohio State to be our first official visit, so we're trying to iron that out. But it's getting close. So we're going to start taking official visits the beginning of March."
Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson shoots a layup against Richmond Heights during the second half at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Darryn Peterson plans to play basketball for Team USA again
Peterson won a gold medal in June when the United States prevailed in the 2023 FIBA Men's U16 Americas Championship in Mexico. Competing with the U.S. Men's U17 National Team is on Peterson's to-do list.
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"Absolutely," Darryl Peterson II said. "He enjoyed it last year, just getting with the top guys in the country and going and winning gold, so we definitely want to run it back. It's something that we're definitely looking forward to doing."
Canton resident Darryn Peterson will finish is high school career back in Ohio when Prolific Prep plays St. Vincent-St. Mary.
Brush High School boys basketball coach Chet Mason was an assistant on the 2023 Men's U16 National Team and was recently named an assistant for the 2024 Men's U17 National Team.
In a phone interview Saturday, Mason said he has talked to most, if not all, NBA teams about Peterson. Mason explained his main message to scouts has been about Peterson's character.
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"Everybody's got the talent [on the national team]," Mason said. "What's your separation piece? Do you got high character? Are you a great teammate? Are you great person? Can I trust you at night? As far as coaches, GMs and owners, can I trust you when I go to sleep I [won't] get a phone call that you did something? And he checks off all those boxes."
Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson shoots over Richmond Heights guard Mike McWilliams during the first half at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
The feedback Mason has received indicates NBA talent evaluators love Peterson's efficiency.
"He's a very low-turnover, high-assist, efficient scorer, where he doesn't have to take the 15 shots to get to 20 [points]," Mason said. "He looks up, and he's got 20 points on six shots and making all his free throws. You can't speed him up. He can play with a great pace. So no matter what you're doing, you can have your best defender on him, you could be trapping him, he'd still play with an unbelievable pace. He's a very high IQ player."
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To perfectly illustrate the point, Peterson scored his 26 points Saturday on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, including 2 of 4 on 3-pointers. He made all eight of his free throws and added five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
Brothers in the NFL and NBA?: Darryl Peterson III, Darryn motivate each other with dreams of playing at the highest levels of football and basketball
Huntington Prep guard Darryn Peterson, left, has a word with his coach Arkell Bruce during the first half at Canton Memorial Field House, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Peterson said his experience with USA Basketball reinforced the importance of the mental aspects of the sport. The nation's best fight for roster spots, and "you can't break" throughout the process, Peterson said.
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Darryl Peterson II said he and Darryn talked to NBA star Damian Lillard last month after the Milwaukee Bucks played the Cavaliers in Cleveland. Lillard told Peterson to work on his game even "when you don't want to" do it.
In Peterson's mind, surrounding himself with top-notch players is necessary to test his limits.
"Where I'm trying to go, everybody's going to be good," he said.
The next Kobe Bryant?: Darryn Peterson compared to Los Angeles Lakers icon by former NBA coach
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Darryn Peterson to begin college basketball visits in March
