A Star Is Born: A Potential College Hoops Star Being Recruited

All of us want to find that one perfect basketball star.

We spend our nights dreaming to see the next big thing in the world of the hardwood, and wake up hoping to hear about that star.

Today, perhaps I have found that great star. He's nothing like the kids in the photo for this article, although I believe he is their age. You see, the two boys doing a jump-ball to start a game are middle school age students, but their level of play is nowhere near that of the subject of this article.

The next big college star is here, and I'm more than excited to tell you about him. And someday, in the cold state of South Dakota, you'll love hearing about him, too.

Patrick Henry Middle School is a school of just 1,000 students in my hometown of Sioux Falls. Many of the kids go on to attend Washington High School or Lincoln...some even attend Sioux Falls Roosevelt, or decide to pay four years tuition and take private school at O'Gorman or Sioux Falls Christian.

The middle school has an impressive basketball repertoire, although we are talking about something insignificant. Nonetheless, their school has produced many basketball starters for Washington High. Within these walls, a basketball season ended with an undefeated record of 14-0 (We have no tournament due to a lack of a good opt-out plan), and the subject of my article is the reason.

Ryan Peterson is an eighth grade student at Patrick Henry. He's a once-in-a-while prodigy who is likely better than some high school hoops stars. He's seldom been featured beyond regional newspapers due to South Dakota's scarcity in significant sports figures.

To this date, only Eric Piatikowski, current NBA player Mike Miller, and Wisconsin basketball player Joe Krabbenhoft can say that they have notability in the sport. Mike Miller could become a future Hall of Fame player if he could up his game. Piatikowski's contribution to basketball was minimal, but still notable to a point. Joe Krabbenhoft is awaiting an invitation to the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Florida, but nonetheless will try to climb the ladder in the pros.

All of these men have raised eyebrows back home for their fellow South Dakotans, but Ryan Peterson is different.

In one year, Patrick Henry went from a mediocre sixth place finish to a first place finish in the Sioux Falls Regional Championship, all thanks to Peterson's performance. Peterson averaged 25.4 PPG, and 6.5 RPG. He also averages two blocks a game, and broke the record for most blocks in a game by a player in the Greater Dakota Conference (which is a high school-level conference!).

With 11 blocks against my alma mater, Axtell Park, Ryan Peterson turned heads for many. He wasn't just a kid who happened to be 6'4" with a vertical of 25"; Peterson was the ideal basketball prospect, and no one can deny that.

Like any other player who starts shining early, Ryan Peterson's play garnered the attention of various schools. He is set to dress for the Washington Warriors next year, and may even break into the starting five. Washington Coach Jim Trett is already impressed with the young star.

"Ryan sort of reminds me of Cody Larson [A local basketball player at my high school, Roosevelt], except he's playing at the same level as this kid. He's surprised a lot of people, I can tell you that."

Frequently, he has also had a plethora of college letters. Along with offers from every school in the state of SouthDakota with a basketball program, Peterson is getting attention from the University of Minnesota, the University of Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Kansas State, and most significantly, the University of Kentucky. None of the coaches were able to be contacted by the Argus Leader, our local newspaper, but the local form of print media confirmed these offers through an interview with the family yesterday.

Of course, the pressure would seem to be too great for one young eighth grader. He's garnering attention that hasn't been brought since O.J. Mayo's days of youth in middle school. His shocking height of 6'4" keeps him from trying to hide out in public, but in truth, he's alright with the attention.

Ryan Peterson is one of the most unique individuals I've personally met, and I'm glad that I ran into him while shopping at Hy-Veea a week ago. He agreed to an interview, and I drove seven miles across town to see his family. He has two wonderful, courteous parents, and three sisters, all younger than him and who aspire to follow in his basketball-playing footsteps. Actually, his 12-year-old sister, Whitney, is 5'6" and growing. She has some skills herself, and was practicing while I interviewed his parents.

Oscar and Martha Peterson show a great amount of pride in Ryan.

"He's so gifted and talented," Martha said. "I couldn't believe that 12 to 13 years ago, I was able to still hold the boy."

Oscar is taken aback by his son's talents. In fact, Ryan is a second generation basketball player in the family. His dad played basketball for Miller High School, and helped them to the state championship in 1980, alongside the father of Roosevelt basketball star, Cody Larson, a University of Iowa recruit.

Oscar Peterson went on to play basketball at South Dakota State University, and holds the record for highest free throw shooting percentage. The difference is, he did all this while he was a guard; Ryan is likely to be a center for all four years at Washington.

Leslie Susan, a representativeve for the University of Kentucky, stopped by the home of the Petersons yesterday. Although a new basketball coach has been named at UK, Billy Gillespie didn't hesitate to show interest in the 14-year-old prodigy.

"I think the boy's going to be someone great someday," said Susan. "I was actually on the phone with John Calipari just a few minutes ago on my way here. I told him about Ryan Peterson, and he said he was already looking at a tape of him sent by his father. Calipari already has plans for Ryan, and I hope they're used greatly."

So, what will this discovery by Division I schools mean for South Dakota? Will it spell prosperity for the next four years of South Dakota High School sports? Will it mean national titles galore for Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats? Will we all win in the end?

Who knows?

All I can tell you about Ryan Peterson is one thing: Take the first letter of these words in the article to find out:

All

Patrick

Ryan

In

Like

Frequently

Of

Oscar

Leslie

So