Darryn Peterson, Koa Peat among Duke, UNC basketball recruits to shine on Adidas circuit

Several Duke and North Carolina basketball recruits were among the top high school basketball prospects in the nation at the Adidas 3SSB Circuit event in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Third-year Duke coach Jon Scheyer and fourth-year UNC coach Hubert Davis were among the power conference coaches on location at the Rock Hill Sports Center to scout potential Blue Devils and Tar Heels for the 2025-26 season.

Here’s a look at some of those Class of 2025 targets and how they fared on the Adidas circuit, including the four-day showcase in the Palmetto State.

Darryn Peterson

The third-ranked player nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite, Peterson was the star among stars in South Carolina. The 6-foot-5 combo guard is being courted by several big-time programs, including UNC. Peterson averaged 28.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in Rock Hill. He dropped 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his best performance of the weekend. He has a chance to become the top player in his class.

Koa Peat

A 6-foot-8 forward and the fifth-ranked player nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite, Peat averaged 23.3 points and 7.3 rebounds over a three-game stretch in Rock Hill. A Duke and UNC target, Peat arrived in South Carolina after helping Team USA win the FIBA U17 gold medal. In the title game, Peat had 26 points and eight rebounds. The Arizona native, who visited Chapel Hill in November 2023, has all the tools to be an instant star on the interior.

Nate Ament

Ament was a double-double machine in Rock Hill, averaging 16.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. The Virginia native also flashed his defensive prowess with an average of 3.3 blocks. In June at DMV Live, the 6-foot-9 forward had an eye-popping performance with 41 points and 27 rebounds. Duke and UNC are among the schools recruiting Ament, the 13th-ranked prospect nationally in the 247Sports Composite. His stock continues to rise.

Malachi Moreno

The top prospect in Kentucky and the No. 26 recruit nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite, Moreno is a 6-foot-11, 230-pound center. UNC offered him a scholarship in May and Moreno nearly averaged a double-double on the Adidas circuit (12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds). He’s reportedly set to visit Chapel Hill in September.

Braylon Mullins

A fast-rising shooting guard as the 13th-ranked player at his position, according to the 247Sports Composite, Mullins has offers from Duke and UNC. Reportedly set to visit the Tar Heels in September, the Indiana native announced Sunday on social media that he received a scholarship offer from the Blue Devils. Mullins scored 22 points, including six 3-pointers, in Indiana Elite’s championship loss to the Utah Prospects.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached atrbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.