Who is Ari Peterson? All we know about Adrian Peterson’s daughter who is set to attend Minnetonka High School

By Aman Sharma

Modified Jun 29, 2024 19:01 GMT

Ari Peterson, daughter of NFL icon Adrian Peterson, is quickly becoming one of the top female high school basketball players in Minnesota. After helping Providence Academy clinch the Class 2A state championship last season, Peterson will be transferring to Minnetonka High School. She will join the Skippers basketball team.

In her eighth-grade season, Peterson made a significant impact by averaging 11.8 points per game for Providence Academy, a private Catholic school in Plymouth, Minnesota.

Her performance earned her scholarship offers from the University of Minnesota and Ohio State. Peterson will team up with Aaliyah Crump at Minnetonka, a five-star recruit ranked No. 4 nationally in the Class of 2025 by ESPN.

Her father Adrian Peterson, a former star running back for the Minnesota Vikings, has not played in the NFL since 2021.

Peterson's move to Minnetonka comes as she continues to build her reputation in high school basketball. Last season, she played alongside Maddyn Greenway, daughter of former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, at Providence Academy.

Minnetonka High School eagerly anticipates Peterson's arrival and the potential she brings. In addition to her new team, Peterson's potential had also caught the attention of the University of Minnesota Gophers.

Under the head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, the Gophers recently extended an offer to her in February, highlighting her growing reputation in the basketball community.

“After a nice talk with Coach Plitzuweit, I am so blessed and excited to receive my first offer from the University of Minnesota! Go Gophers!” she wrote.

The Gophers, currently 14-6 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play, are navigating their season with top scorer Mara Braun sidelined due to a foot injury requiring surgery.

Adrian Peterson eyes NFL return despite long absence

The 38-year-old former NFL running back still doesn’t intend to retire despite not playing since 2021. MVP of 2012, he has been away from the game since his short time with the Seattle Seahawks. There, he just made the appearance in one game and got 16 yards from his 11 carries.

With many believing that he had already wrapped up his 17-year career, it surprised many as Peterson came out to declare the opposite.

“I had to let my body recover,” Peterson told CBS Sports. “I had some injuries and stuff. My last injury with Seattle involved a pinched nerve, and I didn’t want to undergo surgery. It took about a year to heal, but I’m always open to playing again. We’ll see what happens.”

Adrian Peterson's yearning to comeback raises the issue of a 38-year-old running back being in demand. The truth is that his incredible career, featuring four All-Pro choices, 7 times Pro Bowl selection, and an MVP win, would make him a valuable asset.

Drafted 7th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2007, Peterson made an immediate impact, setting a rookie rushing record with 296 yards in a single game.

He led the league in rushing yards in 2008 and 2012, overcoming a severe knee injury in 2011 to nearly break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record the following year. With 14,918 rushing yards and 118 rushing touchdowns, Peterson is one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.