Darryn Peterson has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first high school player to secure a name, image, and likeness (NIL) contract with Adidas. At just 16 years old, this junior shooting guard attends Huntington Prep in West Virginia, where he is making waves not only for his skills on the court but also for breaking new ground in NIL agreements.
Expressing his pride, Peterson states, “I’m extremely proud to join an elite group of athletes with Adidas. I look forward to working with the team as I embark on this pivotal moment in my career,” as reported by On3.
Currently, Peterson’s NIL value is an impressive $269,000, with expectations for further growth following this groundbreaking partnership with Adidas. His decision to transfer from Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Canton, Ohio, to Huntington was motivated by the pursuit of expanded NIL opportunities. Hailing from a sports-centric family, Peterson’s father played college basketball, and his brother is a football player.
Peterson’s impressive track record includes scoring over 1,000 points in just two seasons at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy. Despite missing some early games due to a foot injury, he emerged as the only freshman named to the All-Ohio Division II first team. As a sophomore, he maintained stellar stats, averaging 31 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 assists for the Division II district runners-up Royals.
The young athlete further distinguished himself as a member of the US Under 16 boys basketball team, contributing to their gold win at the FIBA Americas championship in Mexico earlier this year. In the tournament, Peterson averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, earning him a notable 22nd rank in the high school basketball NIL rankings.
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Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Peterson remarked in Boardroom, “It means a lot. For Adidas to choose me out of all the high school basketball players in the world? For them to take a chance on me is a big deal. It’s an honor and a blessing.”
While Peterson is still two years away from starting his collegiate or professional career, he has already received over 30 Division 1 scholarship offers. Renowned colleges such as Akron, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, and Cleveland State have extended offers, providing him with a plethora of options as he remains focused on his dreams.