Syracuse Basketball: 5-star recruit is excellent as U.S. captures gold medal

Darryn Peterson, a 2025 five-star shooting guard who received a Syracuse basketball scholarship offer in late April, was among the top performers in recent days as the 2023 USA U16 national team claimed the gold medal at the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship.

According to announcements following the tournament’s conclusion, the 6-foot-5 Peterson from Ohio was named to the All-Tournament team. He was a top-five scorer at this year’s FIBA U16 Americas Championship, which transpired from June 5 to June 11 in Merida, Mexico.

The USA U16 national team went 6-0 in Merida, moving its all-time mark at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship to 43-0, including eight gold medals in a row. In this year’s title game, the United States soundly defeated Canada, 118-36.

Six American players scored in double-digits versus Canada, including Peterson, who had 13 points, per a press release on the USA Basketball Web site, which added that the United States has already qualified for the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey.

Syracuse basketball 2025 five-star recruit Darryn Peterson just won a FIBA gold medal.

Throughout the recently held 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship, according to the event’s Web site, Peterson averaged 17.7 minutes, 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals per game over the half-dozen contests in Mexico.

He finished in a tie for fifth place in points per encounter, and Peterson connected on a highly efficient 66.7 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line.

Peterson was one of 12 high-school prospects who were chosen for the 2023 USA U16 national team to compete in the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship. USA Basketball had invited 39 high-school players to a recent training camp before whittling things down to a dozen roster selections.

All of the primary recruiting services rank Peterson as a top-10 national prospect in the rising-junior cycle. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite, when I penned this column, had him as the No. 1 shooting guard in this class.

Peterson, a significant contender for the No. 1 overall rating in the 2025 cycle, was a 2022-23 first-team All-American in the sophomore class, according to MaxPreps, as he averaged 31 points, nine rebounds and three steals per game for the Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

This spring, Peterson has suited up on the AAU circuit for the 16U squad of the Ohio-based Team Phenom United in the Adidas 3SSB league. He has put forth some excellent performances in grassroots basketball in recent months, including one game where he generated a massive 46 points.

Besides the ‘Cuse, Peterson’s offer sheet includes, among others, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Indiana, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, St. John’s, Texas, West Virginia, Xavier, Alabama, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kansas State, Michigan, TCU, Texas A&M and Washington State.

In a couple of days, college coaches will be able to communicate directly with 2025 prospects, at which time I’m sure Peterson’s list of offers is going to further grow.

Let’s see if Syracuse basketball coaches can get him to the Hill for an official visit at some point in the future.