Plano Native and Former Kansas, Arizona Basketball Star Zachary Russell Peters Dies at 31, Leaving Behind Family and a Legacy in Real Estate

Zachary Russell Peters, a former college basketball player who went on to build a career in data analytics and real estate development, passed away on October 29, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.

He was 31 years old. Peters was born on March 2, 1993, in Plano, Texas, to Timothy and Christy Peters, and those who knew him described a young man who approached everything in life with rare energy and an unshakable loyalty to the people around him.

From the Basketball Court to the Classroom

Peters came up through Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, where he quickly established himself as one of the more gifted athletes in the state. He was a force on both the basketball court and the football field, earning all-state recognition in both sports.

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On the hardwood, he helped lead Prestonwood to back-to-back TAPPS state championships in 2010 and 2012, and the team reached the state final in two other seasons as well. As a senior, he averaged 15.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, finishing his high school career as a first-team all-state selection four times over. He was ranked among the top 100 prospects in his class heading into his final season.

Peters enrolled at Kansas for the 2012-13 season before transferring to the University of Arizona, where he wore number 33 and played as a redshirt freshman for the Wildcats during the 2013-14 season.

That Arizona squad made a memorable run in the NCAA Tournament, and Peters was part of the roster that knocked off Gonzaga in the third round. Injuries eventually brought his playing days to an end, but Peters did not let that define him. He went on to earn his degree from Southern Methodist University in 2017 and redirected his drive into the professional world.

A Career Built on Intelligence and Purpose

After SMU, Peters found his footing in the data industry, working with clients that included high-profile gubernatorial and presidential campaigns. His analytical mind, which had once helped him read defenses on the court, translated well into the world of political strategy and data consulting.

Friends and family described him as someone who genuinely loved what he was building and whose work ethic was evident in everything he touched.

In 2023, Peters took on perhaps his most ambitious venture yet, beginning to develop land and homes in the Cabo San Lucas area of Mexico. It was a project rooted in his lifelong passion for real estate and architecture, something those close to him said he had loved since childhood.

Peters is survived by his parents, Tim and Christy, his brothers Evan and Garrett, his nephew Russell, his grandmother Mary Weber, his significant other Caroline Griffith, and extended family members across the country.

In his honor, the family has asked that donations be directed to the Koolen-de Vries Syndrome Foundation at www.KDVSfoundation.org, in recognition of his nephew Russell.