‘The young man is special’: McDonald’s All American Darryn Peterson has an NBA mentor in CJ McCollum

NAPA, Calif. – Gen Zer’s who love the game of basketball are known to be ardent fans of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George, to name a few. As for prep basketball phenom Darryn Peterson, his favorite NBA player would likely appear to be a surprise unless you knew his family ties.

“It’s CJ McCollum. He’s from where I’m from, too. I talk to him [frequently]. I know some [NBA] guys — Malachi Flynn is also from Akron, Ohio — but not like CJ,” Peterson told Andscape before Prolific Prep practiced March 26.

And McCollum, a 12-year NBA veteran who is a starting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans, is equally a fan of Peterson, who he believes is destined to become an NBA star.

The Prolific Prep High (Calif.) senior combo-guard is ranked by ESPN as the second-best high school basketball player in the Class of 2025 behind Utah Prep forward A.J. Dybantsa. Peterson, who has signed with the University of Kansas, has averaged 30.4 points, 7.1 assists, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game for Prolific Prep this season. Tonight, Peterson will be playing in the Boys’ McDonald’s All American Game on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

“Darryn has an aura about him that only the greats possess and has the love of the game to match it,” McCollum told Andscape via text. “His ceiling is whatever he wants it to be. And I’m so happy for him and his family. He deserves everything coming his way and more.”

Peterson was born on Jan. 17, 2007, in Canton, Ohio. His father, Darryl Peterson II, played basketball at the University of Akron from 2001-06. Darryn’s older brother, Darryl III, was a linebacker from the University of Wisconsin’s football program from 2021-24.

But it was actually through his uncle and former NAIA Goshen College (Ind.) men’s basketball forward Nate West that Darryn connected to McCollum and his older brother, Errick, as a youngster.

“I’ve known Darryn since he was a baby,” CJ McCollum said. “His uncle and my brother are best friends. His uncle and my brother went to kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school and college together. They were in each other’s weddings. His grandma, may she rest in peace, and my mom were best friends. So, we’ve know each other’s families forever.”

The McCollum brothers are basketball legends in Canton and Peterson has followed in their footsteps. Errick McCollum has been a notable basketball star in Europe since 2010 and currently plays for Fenerbahce in Turkey. CJ McCollum, the 2016 NBA Most Improved Player, has averaged 20.8 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 assists this season for New Orleans.

CJ McCollum offered Peterson an NBA player from Canton from whom he could receive words of wisdom.

“I remember him getting ‘Most Improved Player,’” Peterson said. “He is dominating sometimes. I don’t think he’d get enough respect for what he does. He nasty…

“He always told me to, ‘Keep God first. A lot of stuff is going my way right now, but just obviously it won’t always be rainbows. Just keep God first.’ ”

Peterson attended CJ McCollum’s basketball camps during his youth. Errick McCollum began tutoring Peterson in basketball when he was about 12 years old. Shortly after, the McCollum brothers believed that Peterson could be the next NBA player out of Canton. Peterson also believed he had NBA potential back then.

“The young man is special,” CJ McCollum said. “After the first workout, my brother called me and said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this CJ. He’s just like you but bigger, stronger and more athletic.’ He’s the truth. We worked out and afterwards my brother told [Peterson’s] uncle, ‘As long as he doesn’t burn out or start to hate hooping, he is going to the league. Lottery pick.’ Now he is going to go No. 1 [in the 2026 NBA draft].”

Said Peterson: “In probably like seventh, eighth grade, I felt like I could be pretty good at this if I keep working.”

Peterson showed he was pretty good from the moment he stepped into high school, averaging 26.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game as a freshman at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (Ohio). He played a season at Huntington Prep (W.Va.) as a junior before transferring to Prolific Prep for his senior season. While Peterson played for Prolific Prep, he is going to school at Napa Christian Campus of Education (Calif.)

Peterson has missed lots of notable teen moments with his family, friends and classmates back home chasing his basketball dream all over the country. His father is living with him in Napa while his mother and other siblings are back in Ohio. Darryn says he plans on going to the prom back home at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and is taking part in high school graduation at Napa Christian.

The self-described “home body” believes his unique trek was worth the personal sacrifice.

“My trainer, Phil Beckner, says all the time, ‘Give up what you want now for what you want most,’ ” Peterson said. “The goal of mine is to play the NBA, so I know I got to give up probably family time, being with my friends at home and stuff. But I feel like this is the lifestyle that I really want to live for the rest of my life. Just being on the road, not being able be with my family, it is just preparing me for that lifestyle I want to have.

“I get to go to prom back at home, but I’m really just a lame really. I’d just be at home anyways if I was at home.”

On March 26, Peterson and his teammates watched film with Prolific Prep head coach Ryan Bernardi and the coaching staff to prepare for an upcoming game against Long Island Lutheran (N.Y) starring Kiyan Anthony, the son of former NBA star Carmelo Anthony. Sitting in the front row of the film session dressed in Prolific Prep gear, per usual, Peterson answered a scouting question from Bernardi about Kiyan Anthony in detail.

Bernardi sees Peterson as elite off the court as well, and taking all the success seamlessly.

“He’s handling [the attention] about as good as you can,” Bernardi told Andscape. “He handles success and failure really well. He’s been the same guy every day this year. He’s a normal kid. He always sits in the front in film session. He doesn’t have any missed assignment in class. He hasn’t had one missed tardy or absence. He shows up every day. He’s in team gear every day…

“He has been a joy to coach. He has a super-high character. [He’s] A very hard worker. He was impeccably raised by his family. He is just a normal kid who happens to be a really good basketball player.”

Kansas head coach Bill Self is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer who has coached such NBA players at Kansas as 2024 NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, 2022 NBA All-Star Andrew Wiggins, Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris, Kelly Oubre Jr., Mario Chalmers and Christian Braun. Self, however, believes Peterson has the talent to eclipse the aforementioned standouts.

“Darryn’s the best player we’ve recruited since we’ve been here,” Self has said. “When you talk about a player, and a combination of a player and a prospect, that is without question. He’s a special talent.”

When asked about Self’s proclamation, Peterson said: “I got to answer the call now. Put that on me now. I got to go get it.”

The only prospect in the Class of 2026 with a higher ranking than Peterson is Utah Prep senior forward AJ Dybantsa. The Brigham Young University signee is listed as ESPN 100’s No. 1 player in the Class of 2025 followed by Peterson. Dybantsa and Peterson are also currently projected as the top two prospects in a 2026 NBA draft class that the latter described as “one of the best classes in a while.” Two longtime NBA scouts told Andscape they view Dybantsa as the top overall draft pick in 2026 and Peterson second.

Peterson says he has a solid relationship with Dybantsa and is enjoying their healthy rivalry, but he has his eyes on being the No. 1 pick in 2026.

“We’re just two ball players that are trying to get to the league,” Peterson said. “That’s what we say. We just put on a show for everybody. But being compared is probably how it’s going to be for probably the rest of our careers now…

“Being the No. 1 pick is definitely important to me. Who wouldn’t want to go No. 1? So that’s a goal of mine. But if I get it, good. If not, I’m going to prove I should have been.”

CJ McCollum is 33 years old and will likely be playing in the NBA during the 2026-27 season. Peterson could be a rookie during that season, which is mind-blowing for McCollum.

“It will be wild to play against him seeing his growth and knowing his journey,” CJ McCollum said. “It’s going to be so dope to see him in the league getting to it. It’s going to happen sooner than later. In the meantime, he’s going to finish high school strong and have a great time at Kansas…

“Darryn has an aura about him that only the greats possess and the love of the game to match it. [The] Ceiling is whatever he wants it to be and I’m so happy for him and his family. He deserves everything coming his way and more.”