Watch: Incoming KU basketball guard Darryn Peterson drills go-ahead shot at Nationals
Prolific Prep guard Darryn Peterson (24) shoots a free throw during the second half of the Grind Session High School Basketball World Championships against DME Academy at Coffin Sports Complex Kansas, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Lawrence.
Future Kansas basketball guard Darryn Peterson, the co-MVP of Tuesday night's McDonald's All-America game in Brooklyn, New York, two days later was instrumental in leading Prolific Prep (California) to a victory in the quarterfinals of the 16th-annual Chipotle Nationals in Fishers, Indiana.
The 6-foot-5 native of Canton, Ohio, scored 28 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists in No. 6 seed Prolific Prep's 81-80 overtime victory over No. 3 seed Long Island (New York) Lutheran at Hamilton Southeastern High School.
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'It's almost normal. That stuff all comes with it,' Peterson told Jason Jordan of ESPN in referring to a hectic travel schedule.
Peterson is ranked No. 2 in the recruiting Class of 2025 according to ESPN.
'It's been pretty crazy over the last couple of days. McDonald's was nonstop just with intense practices and a lot of different things they had us doing, then I came straight here and had practice,' Peterson added, speaking after the victory. 'I tried to sleep the rest of the day to be ready for today. I usually have at least some time to rest in between, but it's just been nonstop.'
Peterson, the first high school athlete to sign an NIL deal with Adidas, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter of a close game.
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'I just love the game, everything about it,' Peterson told ESPN. 'I just focus on the task at hand. I don't think about anything but what I'm doing right now. I don't think about next year or the future or anything like that. I was only focused on this game today. This game requires extreme focus. I feel I've got to do that every night to be in my zone and get wins.'
After missing his first six 3s, he drilled a deep 3 with 6.5 seconds left in regulation and his team down by one. The New York team was able to hit two late free throws and force overtime. Prolific Prep won the OT 13-7.
'My coaches joked to me that that was the only 3 I made all game,' said Peterson, who scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter. He has averaged 32.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game this season.
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'I wouldn't even know that because I shot it like I've been making them all night. That's the thing for me. This game requires extreme focus. It's been a crazy week and crazy couple of days. But I don't want to lose so I'm putting everything into winning Chipotle Nationals,' he added.
Of Peterson's performance, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report and NBA TV/Turner wrote: 'The creativity, pacing, counters, shotmaking, athletic finishes, demeanor — just off the charts sharp and advanced. Best prospect in high school basketball.'
Prolific Prep (35-5) advanced to meet Dynamic Prep (Texas) in Friday's semifinals (1:30 p.m. Central, ESPN2). Dynamic Prep defeated Link Academy (Missouri) 74-55 in the quarterfinals.
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Prolific Prep (California) (34-5) is making its fifth appearance at Chipotle Nationals and is seeking its first national title in school history.
According to the Chipotle Nationals website: 'The National High School Invitational (NHSI) was created in 2009 by Paragon Marketing Group to provide a platform for the top, nationally ranked high school basketball teams in the country to compete against one another in a season-ending tournament.
'Over the course of 15 years, this event (previously titled DICK'S Nationals and GEICO Nationals, taking place in Washington D.C., New York, Florida) has crowned the best high school basketball teams in the country. In 2024, the event moved to Indiana and became the Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals.'
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