L. J. Peak

Darryl Leon "L. J." Peak Jr. (born February 2, 1996) is an American professional basketball for Utsunomiya Brex of the B.League. He played college basketball for the Georgetown Hoyas. In high school, he won two South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) 4A state championships with Gaffney High School (2010 and 2012) as well as a 2013 Chicago Public High School League (CPL) championship with Whitney Young High School and was named South Carolina Mr. Basketball in 2014. At Georgetown, he was a 2015 Big East Conference All-Rookie team selection for the 2014–15 team and won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

L. J. Peak
Peak in 2013 for Whitney Young High School
No. 5 – Utsunomiya Brex
PositionSmall Forward
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1996-02-02) February 2, 1996
Gaffney, South Carolina
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeGeorgetown (2014–2017)
NBA draft2017 / Undrafted
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2018Maine Red Claws
2018Wellington Saints
2018–2019Pistoia Basket 2000
2019–2020Pallacanestro Varese
2020U BT Cluj-Napoca
2020–presentUtsunomiya Brex
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA U19 World Championship
2015 Greece National team

High school career
Peak dunking for Whitney Young

In 2010, Peak was a key member of the Gaffney team that went on to the SCHSL 4A state championship.[1] As a sophomore in 2012, Peak scored 22 points, including 2 free throws with 7 seconds left in regulation, before fouling out to lead Gaffney in the 58–55 overtime victory over Lexington in the SCHSL 4A state championship.[2] In the 2013 CPL playoffs February 15 finals contest Peak tallied 13 points in a 60–56 overtime Public League Championship game victory against Morgan Park High School by a Whitney Young team that also included Jahlil Okafor.[3] He committed to Georgetown on July 2, 2013, choosing the Hoyas over offers from Florida State and South Carolina. At the time of his commitment, he was the 54th and 82nd ranked player in the Class of 2014, according to ESPN.com and Rivals.com, respectively.[4][5] Peak closed out his high school career with a 49-point performance against Irmo High School in the third round of the SCHSL playoffs.[6] Peak was named 2014 South Carolina Mr. Basketball.[7]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
L. J. Peak
F		 Gaffney, SC Gaffney (SC) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 212 lb (96 kg) Jul 2, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 62, 15 (SG)   Rivals: 68  ESPN: 31, 1 (SC), 9 (SF)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2014 Georgetown Signees". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  • "2014 Georgetown Signees". Scout.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  • "2014 Georgetown Signees". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  • "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.

    College career

    On November 15, 2014 against St. Francis, Peak started and established the Georgetown record for most points (23) in a freshman debut when he hit all 9 of his field goals and posted the most points by a Georgetown freshman in a game during the John Thompson III era.[8][9][10] The 9-for-9 shooting performance was the best performance of the season by a Big East Conference player.[11] Peak developed a reputation for his defensive versatility as a freshman.[12] Following the 2014–15 Big East season, he was selected to the Big East Conference All-Rookie Team.[13]

    On January 19, 2016, in an 81–72 upset of the #5-ranked Xavier Musketeers, Peak posted a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench.[14] On March 6, Peak scored a career-high 31 points against #3-ranked (and eventual national champion)[15] Villanova.[16][17]

    Peak entered his junior season as a 2016–17 preseason All-Big East honorable mention selection.[18] He was a leader in many of Georgetown's wins that year. In a November 21 victory over #13/12 Oregon at the Maui Invitational Tournament, Peak scored 17 points including the free throws to seal the win with 2.7 seconds left.[19] On January 25 against the #16/16 Creighton Bluejays, Peak contributed a game-high 20 points, giving him 1,000 in his Hoya career, in an upset.[20] Three days later he posted a game-high 22 points in another upset over #11/11 Butler.[21] Peak followed those performances up by scoring a game-high 26 points, including the final 5 points of the game in a January 31 76–73 win over DePaul.[22]

    Following the season, ESPN's Jeff Goodman reported on March 21, 2017 that Peak would declare himself eligible for the 2017 NBA draft.[23] Peak had almost declared for the 2016 NBA draft and had a family to support at the time of his decision.[24] The Georgetown basketball program was in a state of turmoil, with a top recruit leaving the program and head coach John Thompson III was fired two days later.[25] On April 30, 2017, Jeff Goodman of ESPN reported that he was named as an alternate to the NBA Draft Combine.[26]

    Professional career

    Maine Red Claws (2017–2018)

    On June 23, 2017, Peak was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Rockets to a 2017 NBA Summer League contract.[27] In late August 2017, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that Peak had signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics.[28] The Celtics officially announced their 20-man training camp roster on September 26, which included Peak.[29] Peak was waived by the Celtics in the final week of training camp (on October 12).[30] Later that month, Peak was designated as an affiliate player by the Maine Red Claws.[31]

    Wellington Saints (2018)

    On April 20, 2018, Peak signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2018 New Zealand NBL season.[32]

    Pistoia Basket (2018–2019)

    On July 28, 2018, Peak signed a one-year deal with the Italian club Pistoia Basket 2000 for the 2018–19 LBA season.[33]

    2019-20 season

    On June 7, 2019, he signed with Pallacanestro Varese[34] but transferred in Romania to U BT Cluj-Napoca at the end of January.[35]

    International career

    On June 18, 2015 Peak was announced as a member of the 12-man 2015 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team for the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.[36] The team won the gold medal against Croatia.[37][38]

    Personal life

    Born in Gaffney, South Carolina, he is the son of Lafayette and Lynette Peak and has one brother, Jermaine Adams.[10][39]

    Notes
    1. Hilliard, Larry (March 5, 2010). "Gaffney High School head basketball coach no stranger to big games". The Gaffney Ledger. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    2. "Gaffney beats Lexington in OT to win 4A boys title". WACH. March 2, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    3. Helfgot, Mike (February 15, 2013). "Boys hoops – CPS final: Okafor, Young top Morgan Park in OT". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
    4. Brennan, Eamonn (July 3, 2013). "South Carolina prospect pulls a switcheroo". ESPN. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
    5. Payne, Terrence (July 2, 2013). "Four-star forward L.J. Peak commits to Georgetown (VIDEO)". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
    6. Dearing, Chris (February 25, 2014). "Irmo outscores Peak, Gaffney in 4A hoops playoffs". The State. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    7. Wertz, Jr., Langston (April 19, 2014). "All-Observer basketball: Shelby's Gabe DeVoe named boys player of the year". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    8. "Peak Scores 23, Georgetown Beats St. Francis BKLYN in Opener, 83-62". GUHoyas.com. November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
    9. "Peak lifts Georgetown past St. Francis 83-62". ESPN. November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
    10. "L.J. Peak". USA Basketball. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
    11. "2014-15 Big East Men's Basketball" (PDF). Big East Conference. March 27, 2015. p. 20. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
    12. "Film school: A look at L.J. Peak". FOX Sports. June 16, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    13. "MBB: All-BIG EAST Teams Announced". Big East Conference. March 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    14. "Georgetown 81 (12-7, 5-2 Big East); (5) Xavier 72 (16-2, 4-2 Big East)". ESPN. January 19, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
    15. Matt Norlander (April 4, 2016). "Watch: Miracle 3 gives Villanova 1st NCAA Championship since 1985". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
    16. "No. 3 Villanova romps past Georgetown 84-71 in finale". ESPN. Associated Press. March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
    17. "Peak Scores Game-High 31 Points, Georgetown Falls to No. 3 Villanova, 84-71". GUHoyas.com. March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
    18. "Villanova's Hart Named Preseason Player of the Year". BigEast.com. Big East Conference. October 11, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
    19. "Georgetown holds off No. 13 Oregon 66-61 in Maui". ESPN. Associated Press. November 21, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
    20. "Georgetown's defense stymies No. 16 Creighton for 71-51 win". ESPN. Associated Press. January 25, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
    21. "Georgetown pulls away late to upset No. 11 Butler 85-81". ESPN. Associated Press. January 28, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
    22. "L.J. Peak scores 5 points in final minute to lift Georgetown". ESPN. Associated Press. January 31, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
    23. Goodman, Jeff (March 21, 2017). "Georgetown to lose L.J. Peak to NBA draft, sources say". ESPN. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
    24. Bailey, Ron (March 21, 2017). "Peak apparently is pushing on". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
    25. Goodman, Jeff and Jeff Borzello (March 23, 2017). "Hoyas dismiss coach John Thompson III after 13 seasons". ESPN. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
    26. Goodman, Jeff (April 29, 2017). "Sources: Lonzo Ball won't attend draft combine, might be joined by lottery prospects". ESPN. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
    27. Feigen, Jonathan (June 23, 2017). "Rockets made additions to summer league roster". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
    28. Wojnaroswski, Adrian (August 28, 2017). "@WojESPN status update". Twitter. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
    29. "Celtics Finalize Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
    30. Waters, Mike (October 12, 2017). "Boston Celtics waive former Syracuse basketball player Andrew White". Syracuse.com. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
    31. Jordan, Glenn (October 23, 2017). "There's a lot that's new as Maine Red Claws open training camp". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
    32. NZhoops (April 20, 2018). "The Wellington Saints have signed..." Twitter. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
    33. "L.J. Peak signs with Pistoia Basket". Sportando.basketball. July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
    34. "L.J. Peak New Signing For Varese Basketball". Pallacanestrovarese.it. June 7, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
    35. "Un campion mondial cu naționala de juniori a Statelor Unite a semnat cu U-Banca Transilvania" (in Romanian). u-bt.ro. January 29, 2019.
    36. "USA Basketball 2015 Men's U19 World Championship Team Named". USA Basketball. June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
    37. "USA Men Edge Croatia 79–71 In Overtime To Stake Claim On FIBA U19 World Championship Gold Medal". USA Basketball. July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
    38. "USA fight off valiant effort from Croatia to repeat U19 title". FIBA. July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
    39. "0 L.J. Peak". GUHoyas.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
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