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Today’s Case

Five star shooting guard Darryn Peterson signs NIL deal with adidas

Last week, adidas announced that it signed Class of 2025 guard Darryn Peterson to an NIL deal, making him the first high school player to sign such a deal with the company.

Peterson, who plays basketball at Huntington Prep in Huntington, WV, has yet to decide where he will play his college basketball, or if he will play in the G League or overseas before attempting to make the leap to the NBA. However, Peterson has no shortage of interest from many of the top schools in the nation; he has scholarship offers from Kentucky, North Carolina and Indiana, among others.

The sportswear giant continues to build out its NIL program, recently signing the Washington quarterback-wide receiver duo of Michael Penix, Jr. and Rome Odunze as its first football athletes.

Peterson: "I'm extremely proud to join an elite group of athletes with Adidas. I look forward to working with the team as I embark on this pivotal moment in my career."

The Verdict

• More high-level high school athletes earning NIL deals

  • Good to see these recruits not only securing NIL partnerships early in their playing days, but deals that can be long-term as well.

    • This allows for brand loyalty of athletes early on. Not to say it will affect Peterson’s college choice, but it may have an influence. (Even if Peterson attends a non-adidas college, he must wear that school’s brand for team activities but can sport adidas products away from the court.)

• Details of the deal not disclosed

  • A common theme I’m seeing in recent NIL deals is the lack of details regarding said partnerships.

    • While brands might be ‘shoot first, ask questions second’ with NIL deals and athletes, it’s important for brands to have a comprehensive strategy when looking to work with athletes vs. signing an athlete to make a splash and figuring things out later.

• West Virginia workaround?

  • Peterson transferred from a high school in Ohio (a state where NIL is not permitted) to Huntington Prep in Huntington, WV (a state where NIL is ALSO not permitted).

    • Perhaps the school follows a rule similar to Cooper Flagg, as his school (Montverde Academy in Florida) does not have to follow the Florida High School Athletic Association’s policy because Montverde plays a national schedule. (As of now, Florida prohibits high schoolers from signing NIL deals and maintaining eligibility.)

Blake Corum uses his NIL money for good

The Michigan running back donated 600 turkeys last week to underserved communities. Check out this video for more!

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