Chosen One II?
Cuyahoga Valley Christian’s Peterson drawing comparisons to Lebron James
The kid from Canton knew the comparisons to the kid from Akron would come.
It started small but has picked up in social media circles as Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy sensation Darryn Peterson is starting to be linked to Lebron James.
Wait. What?
Relax. They're not comparing the 6foot-5 guard to the 38,888-plus point scorer. They're comparing the 16-yearold sophomore Peterson to “The Chosen One” when he was just able to drive.
“I think the similarity comes to where he is 16 years old, he is 6-5, he's playing with a group of guys that some people will look at and say, those guys are not that good," CVCA coach Matt Futch said. "And then he has the ability not only to play at a high level individually, but also make others around him.
“I think when you looked at Bron's early teams as a freshman and sophomore, those guys supporting him didn't pop out at you? I mean, we can be honest. I played against that group and I said, ‘Hey, if we just stop this guy we're good. But he has the ability to make others around him that much better.”
Numbers don't lie
Futch wasn't discounting anyone on his Royals team by saying that. What he was saying was with Peterson in the mix, an already good group is that much better.
The Buchtel and Akron alumnus knows what he's talking about, as he's coached and seen the game played at a very high level.
Consider this: As a sophomore, James averaged 26.5 points on the way to the first of three Mr. Basketball titles as well as a state title.
Peterson entered the postseason averaging 31.7 points, 9 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 1.9 assists and 1.9 blocks. He's shooting 56% from the field and 77% from the free-throw line.
STVM coach sees some Lebron in Peterson's game
“For one, he can score it from all three levels,” St. Vincent-st. Mary coach Dru Joyce II said of Peterson. “He can shoot it from outside, he has a good mid-range and he can finish at the basket. Not everyone can do that and do it at a high level.
“Now, the other thing is I think he seems to want to inspire the guys around him to be better, and that's big. That's what made Bron special. It's that willingness to share: 'I have a big shadow. My person creates a big shadow.' But now it's, 'Can I bring someone in that shadow and help them along?' I saw that a little bit just watching off the court how he interacts with some of his current teammates.”
If you don't believe Joyce, who has been around James almost his entire life, maybe you'll believe James himself.
James was watching his son Bronny play at a summer event two years ago when Peterson caught his eye, according to a story in The Athletic.
“Lebron makes this face like, ‘Oh, boy, we're in trouble,' ” recalled Cory Coleman, Peterson's grassroots coach. “My friend was sitting near Lebron, and he goes, ‘That kid is only 14?' Lebron just kept asking, ‘That kid is 14?' ”
That was 14-year-old Peterson playing against sophomores and juniors.
“With Darryn, he has a pass-first mentality,” Futch said. “When he first came over he was a little bit more aggressive and assertive. Now, he finds his spots with these guys, so when Lebron had it naturally, Darryn is now picking that up and being better with that at this stage.”
Peterson was a well-known youth player on the AAU circuit, as he attended Hartford Middle School in Canton. The Petersons recently moved to North Canton. But when it came time to attend high school, the family opted for CVCA in northern Summit County instead of Canton Mckinley.
Team-first attitude
Peterson can go off at anytime but is just as happy getting everyone involved.
In a 67-30 win over Manchester, Peterson scored 31 points but added seven rebounds, seven steals, four assists and four blocks in just over three quarters of work.
“I'm working hard, but we're trying to get me to be the best me,” Peterson said. “I'm not really paying attention to the comparisons. Just work that much harder, and I know it's a target on my back.
“I'm just me, really. I want to be one of the best players, too, so I'm going to continue to get better. I'm never satisfied. I owe that to my parents. They work hard for me, so I'm going to work hard for them. I don't really pay attention to it. I'm still a kid. I still go home every night, do my homework, play video games, hang with friends and do the same things. I just hoop, too.”
Blue-chip colleges have already come calling, which is why Peterson will continue to work to stay in the conversation as Akron's most famous high school player.
“He's always in the gym,” Futch said. “We leave practice, he's either on the court shooting or he's down the road getting shots at our local gym. That's always happening. It's not just 500 shots, it's 500 makes. With that level of work and that work ethic, that's going to get him a long way.”