Chipotle Nationals: Thursday Quarterfinal Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chipotle Nationals came to Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana where 10 of the top prep basketball teams in the country compete to be crowned national champions. In this article I'll break down the standout performers from Thursday's quarterfinal action where Prolific Prep, Dynamic Prep, Brewster Academy and Columbus (FL) all advanced to the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2701822,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Darryn Peterson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Prolific Prep","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Phenom United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f037fb1b146"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Peterson is now appearing at number 1 overall for 2026 mock drafts as he has truly evolved his game to the next level. The athletic jump that Peterson has made is remarkable to watch because the polish and skill level he's shown since his freshman year was off the charts. Peterson's only 3-pointer of the game came in crunch time with Prolific down one point, an excellent isolation possession. With Peterson now having the explosiveness to dunk on defenders in the lane and use his build to wall up defensively and block shots, Peterson looks like a two-way monster at the NBA level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1729824"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f037fb1b1b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the highest rated guards in the 2026 class nationally, I really liked what I saw from Mingo on Thursday. The twitchiness he showed combined with a unique off the dribble game allowed Mingo to be productive as a slasher. Efficient from the floor, Mingo was 7/13 from the field and 6/8 from the foul line on Thursday. I also thought both Dylan and Kayden did an excellent job of handling pressure that Prolific Prep sent, Long Island Lutheran only had six total turnovers and this duo did a majority of the offensive creation. Expect major college programs to fight for Mingo's commitment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1223822"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f037fb1b1f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A tremendous defensive effort by Dynamic Prep allowed them to run away from the second seeded Link Academy and O'Neal Jr had an offensive spurt in the third quarter that extended a small halftime lead into a 20+ point margin for Dynamic Prep. O'Neal Jr can play above the rim and knock down shots off the catch and Dynamic Prep quickly turned defense into offense on numerous occasions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341271"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f037fb1b239"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brewster Academy won a tight contest over CIA Bella Vista and Wilkins was very productive in the win. A slashing forward who has the wiggle and shiftiness to get to the rim and finish, Wilkins did a nice job of getting to the rim consistently either as a driver or cutter. Wilkins also got to the foul line at will as he provided a bunch of rim pressure. Overall, I was impressed with Brewster Academy's ball movement and their forward's skill with the ball in their hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1301714"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f037fb1b279"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The most dominant player in high school basketball continues to produce regardless of the environment and once again Boozer was the best player on the floor against another top team in the country. Boozer's efficiency from the 3-point line on Thursday was very impressive and his seven assists showed his ability to punish the defense for loading up to stop him. Columbus does such an excellent job defensively with their strength and size which allows them to push the ball in transition and Boozer had a sweet alley-oop dunk that his twin brother Cayden threw to him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->