College Basketball Recruiting: Cayden Boozer, Darryn Peterson Top List of Chipotle Nationals Standouts

This year’s Chipotle Nationals tournament ended with a familiar scene, as Columbus took the crown behind Cameron and Cayden Boozer. We saw plenty of the best players and most intriguing long-term prospects showcase their skillsets throughout the tournament, though. Let’s discuss some of my brightest standouts from this year’s Chipotle Nationals field.

Cayden Boozer — Columbus, Guard, 2025 (Duke)

Cayden Boozer starred for Columbus in the most important moments of the season, upstaging his higher-ranked brother Cameron. Boozer hit a game-winner to beat Brewster Academy in the semifinals and dropped 27 points on just 13 shots in their championship game win over Dynamic Prep. Across their three Chipotle Nationals games, Cayden Boozer averaged 20 points and 4.3 assists on an elite 71.2% true shooting clip. 

Boozer often takes a back seat as a scorer, acting more as connective tissue. His scoring aggression and 3-point shooting confidence looked strong in the tournament, especially as a driver. Boozer wedged out space with his strength to draw fouls, get to the hoop and open up his floater.

His brilliant off-ball moving, passing and off-ball defense shined through as always. A more aggressive, creative version of Boozer looked like a future lottery pick. He drove his team to important wins as he’s done throughout his entire high school career.

Jaden Toombs — Dynamic Prep, Big, 2025 (SMU)

Toombs propelled his runner-up Dynamic Prep squad’s impressive tournament run, anchoring their gameplan on both ends. The 6’9 center averaged 17.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on a strong 60.6% true shooting percentage. He looked the part of a future offensive star at the college level at the very least.

He’s as versatile as high school centers come, floating in touch shots most bigs can’t access. Across his four tournament games, Toombs scored with incredible efficiency on touch shots, making 18-23 (78.3%) layups and 6-16 (37.5%) on hooks and runners. His touch could project 3-point shooting growth, especially given his willingness to shoot off of the catch.

jaden toombs (’25, SMU) impressed on offense at chipotle nationals. impressive touch, willing shooting with real passing feel. love his game on that end

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— Ben Pfeifer (@bjpf.bsky.social) April 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM

Defense will be Toombs’s main area of improvement, as his poor movement skills and lack of height cast some doubt on his projection at center. His excellent feel for the game should offer a floor there, though. We shouldn’t rule him out as a possible one-and-done if he’s as potent on offense next year at SMU as he can be.

Darryn Peterson — Prolific Prep, Guard, 2025 (Kansas)

Dynamic Prep sold out to limit Peterson in their semifinal win over prolific. They constantly doubled and hedged Peterson and pinched in to shrink the floor and force kickouts to less threatening shooters. Peterson still dropped 24 points and 4 assists, but Dynamic Prep held him to a frigid 43% true shooting percentage.

The attention they paid Peterson exemplifies how dominant an offensive player he’s been and how many resources a team must devote to slowing him down. Even Peterson’s off nights are better than most prospects’ best games, though. He’s a special two-way talent who will benefit greatly from improved teammate play at the college and NBA levels.

Chris Nwuli — Dynamic Prep, Wing/Forward, 2025 (Rutgers)

Nwuli embodied Dynamic Prep’s suffocating defense with his energy, athleticism and versatility. The 6’7 wing defended the rim with his excellent vertical bounce and ground coverage and shut down players of all sizes defending the ball. 

Offense has been Nwuli’s main sticking point; he functions as more of a big power forward than a wing despite his height. He looked confident in the Chipotle Nationals games, taking and making open threes and driving to the hoop athletically. He’ll thrive on defense at the college level, but his offensive growth will determine his ceiling.

Jaxon Richardson — Columbus, Wing, 2026 

It’s rare to watch athletes as eye-popping as Richardson, constantly flashing his familial bounce. Richardson’s motor and instincts help his athleticism add value on the court more than many elite high school athletes. He grabbed 10 offensive boards across those three games, tipping in missed shots with constant glass crashing.

Richardson has plenty of room to grow on offense, given his lack of a consistent handle or jumper as a 6’6 wing. His ability to disrupt gameplans as an offensive rebounder, transition scorer and weak side shot-blocker all help him add tons of two-way value. There’s plenty of upside to tap into as Richardson grows and matures.