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Prolific Prep (Calif.) defeats DME Academy (Fla.) behind 39 points from Kansas signee Darryn Peterson

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•01/11/25•

HunterShelton_

5-star-25-sg-darryn-peterson-reportedly-locks-kentucky-visit
Photo by Jeff Lange | USA TODAY NETWORK

Paducah, Ky. hosted the latest Grind Session event this week and Friday night’s matchups included a cross-country tilt between Prolific Prep (Calif.) and DME Academy (Fla.).

In a battle between two elite senior prospects, Five-Star Plus+ shooting guard Darryn Peterson dropped 39 points to lead Prolific to an 89-81 win over five-star point guard Mikel Brown Jr., who finished with 29 of his own.

Peterson was named player of the game, as the Kansas signee also had nine rebounds, five assists and a pair of blocks. Brown, who recently committed to Louisville, was brilliant in his own right, collecting eight assists and four rebounds to go with his big shooting night.

The win for Prolific Prep improved its record to 17-3. The Crew is the No. 16 team in the nation, according to the On3 Composite Rankings. They’ve picked up wins over the likes of Columbus (Fla.), Utah Prep and Winston Salem Christian (N.C.) this year.

DME Academy now sits at 14-6 and checks in as a top-500 program nationally and the No. 24 team in Florida. The Lakers have also played a stout schedule and will look to conquer top in-state competition heading into the spring.

The On3 Composite Rankings is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings listed in the public domain by respected High School media and data companies. It includes Massey, Max Preps, HSRatings (formerly Cal Preps), ESPN and SI, creating the industry’s most comprehensive and geographically balanced High School Team Ranking.

Peterson and Brown are two of the nation’s best

Peterson, the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle, committed to Kansas on Nov. 1, headlining another big class for Jayhawks head coach Bill Self.

“Darryn Peterson has a basketball player’s frame; long arms with broad shoulders. He is a smooth player with the ball in his hands. Comfortable handling in the half and the full court. Peterson can get downhill and touch the paint where he is a crafty finisher at the rim. He also has the explosion to dunk, in traffic,” On3’s Jamie Shaw writes of the elite guard.

Brown has carried the load for DME all season. He recently came off the board, committing to Pat Kelsey and Louisville on New Year’s Day. He’s the nation’s No. 9 recruit and top-ranked point guard.

“Mikel Brown, Jr. is a smallish point guard with a huge heart and basketball IQ. Brown has a developed skill set, one that allows him to play with the utmost confidence. He has a slick handle with great footwork, putting the ball in the right spots during a game. Brown is also a smooth shooter with deep and consistent range,” Shaw wrote.