A Freshman Phenomenon
Minnesota’s high school basketball scene just found a new phenom in Ari Peterson, the daughter of former NFL legend Adrian Peterson. At just 15 years old, Ari is already showing flashes of brilliance on the court, emerging as one of the top prospects in the Class of 2028.
Impressive Stats and College Interest
A freshman at Minnetonka High School, Peterson is already making her presence felt with an impressive 13.2 points per game this season. Her all-around game, which includes scoring from anywhere on the floor, snagging rebounds, and even dunking, has caught the attention of college programs across the country. Minnesota, Purdue, Maryland, and Oklahoma—the same program her father starred for during his college days—are just some of the schools that have extended offers to the young phenom.
Early Success and High School Transition
Peterson’s journey to this point has been anything but typical. A multi-sport athlete, she began playing varsity basketball as a seventh-grader at Providence Academy in Plymouth, Minnesota. By the time she was an eighth-grader, she was already helping lead her team to a state championship, averaging 12.2 points and 7.4 rebounds on a squad that finished the season with a 29-4 record.
Now at Minnetonka, Peterson has found her rhythm, scoring double figures in 12 straight games, a streak that underscores her growing comfort at the high school level. The Skippers, with a current record of 10-6, are poised for a strong finish to the season, and Peterson’s talent is a major reason why.
A Family Legacy of Athletic Excellence
While Peterson is making a name for herself in basketball, her athletic lineage is undeniably impressive. Her father, Adrian Peterson, was a force to be reckoned with on the football field, rushing for over 5,000 yards and 54 touchdowns in his final two years of high school in Palestine, Texas. His storied career at the University of Oklahoma paved the way for his NFL success, where he was drafted No. 7 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2007. Adrian went on to rush for 11,747 yards and 97 touchdowns in the league, earning NFL MVP honors in 2012 after a record-breaking 2,000-yard season.
The Peterson athletic legacy doesn’t stop with Adrian. His mother, Bonita Jackson, was a Texas state champion in the triple jump in 1983, and his father, Norman Peterson, was a college basketball player at Idaho State and played professionally in Puerto Rico.
The Next Chapter for Ari Peterson
As Ari Peterson continues to shine on the court, it’s clear that she’s building her own legacy while carrying the weight of a powerful athletic lineage. Whether she’s leading Minnetonka to victory, showing off her dunking skills, or drawing interest from top college programs, one thing is certain: Ari Peterson is a name to watch in the coming years.
Credit: Thomas Frey | MaxPreps
Please don’t write a story about a basketball player without telling us her height!!!