Video: Evan Mahaffey, Jake Diebler and Aaron Bradshaw of Ohio State
Ohio State’s Evan Mahaffey, Jake Diebler and Aaron Bradshaw speak with reporters on July 9, 2024.
When Darryn Peterson arrives on campus this weekend, Ohio State will be home to the state’s highest-rated recruit in over a decade.
Peterson, a five-star guard from Northeast Ohio who will play his final season at Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif., will use his official visit to check out the Buckeyes. Ohio State is one of eight finalists for Peterson, who began his high school career at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and was offered a scholarship by the Buckeyes before he even set foot in high school. After two years at CVCA, Peterson transferred to Huntington (West Virginia) Prep for his third year.
It will be Peterson’s second official visit this month. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound combo guard visited USC on Aug. 2, two days after announcing a list of his top eight schools.
Arizona State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, USC and Washington all appeared on this list.
Before August, Peterson also made official visits to Kentucky in March and Kansas in June. A visit to Kansas State is also scheduled for September 27.
247Sports.com ranks Peterson as the third-best national recruit, the same position held by 2011 Columbus Northland recruit Jared Sullinger, who signed with Ohio State.
Ohio State remained his constant as he updated his list of potential schools. The Buckeyes have hosted him on several unofficial visits and their prioritization of Peterson continued after Jake Diebler took over as full-time coach.
“Ohio State means a lot to us,” Peterson’s father, Darryl, told The Dispatch after a visit in 2023.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Join the Ohio State Sports Insider text group with Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman and Adam Jardy.
Ohio State has a verbal commitment for its class of 2025 with Dorian Jones, guard from Richmond Heights, Ohio. Jones, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound shooting guard, is considered a four-star talent according to 247Sports, the No. 58 player in the nation and the best player in Ohio.
The Buckeyes will likely have a three-man recruiting class, though that number could rise. They will host several players from the class of 2025 in the coming weeks, with four-star combo guard Isaiah Denis slated to sign next weekend. Denis, a 6-foot-5, 175-pound prospect from Davidson (North Carolina) Day, is the No. 1 player in his state and the 41st-ranked recruit nationally, according to 247Sports.
In mid-August, Denis announced a list of finalists that includes Cincinnati, Kansas, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Wake Forest. He will make several visits in the fall.
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