April 24, 2007
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Jeff Peterson, a senior point guard at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD, has signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Iowa and join the Hawkeye basketball program.
The announcement of Iowa’s first recruit during the spring signing period was made Monday by Coach Todd Lickliter.
“Jeff is a solid basketball player and an outstanding student,” said Lickliter, of his first Iowa recruit. “He’s excited about joining the Iowa program and we’re excited to have him. He will be a good fit for Iowa basketball and will represent our program in a very positive manner.”
Peterson (6-0, 190) averaged 13.5 points and 8.7 assists per game as a senior at DeMatha, one of the most successful and highly recognized prep programs in the nation. Peterson shot 43% from three-point range and 79% from the free throw line. He led DeMatha to a 28-6 record in his senior season as DeMatha won its third straight Washington, DC city championship. DeMatha was ranked as high as second in the nation before being ranked 16th at the end of the season. Peterson earned first team all-conference honors and was honorable mention all-Metro.
As a junior Peterson averaged 10.1 points and was third team all-conference for a DeMatha team that posted a 34-1 overall record and was ranked third in the nation at the end of the season. He served as the sixth man as a sophomore, averaging seven points for a team that held a 29-2 record and was ranked ninth in the nation.
Peterson was a team captain as a junior and senior and is a candidate for DeMatha’s U.S. Army Reserve Student-Athlete of the Year award.
“Jeff was our team leader all year long,” said DeMatha Coach Mike Jones. “His backup was hurt for most of the season and he really had to shoulder a big load for us.”
Jones was also impressed with Iowa’s new head basketball coach. “He came in and was low key,” said Jones of Coach Lickliter. “He didn’t make promises; he came in with just the facts. I’ve never been more impressed with a coach the first time I met him.”
Peterson is one of three preps who will join the Hawkeye program in the fall. Guard Jake Kelly (Carmel HS, Carmel, IN) and forward Jarryd Cole (Winnetonka HS, Gladstone, MO) signed with the Iowa program during the fall signing period.
Cole averaged 19.1 points, 13.7 rebounds and 5.8 blocked shots as a senior, helping his prep team post a 17-10 overall record. Kelly scored 13.7 points a game as a senior in leading Carmel HS to a 14-7 overall record.
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