Terry played basketball for DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a freshman, he helped his team win the Class 3A state championship and become the first team in Minnesota history to capture five straight titles. Terry also led DeLaSalle to 3A state titles as a sophomore and senior. As a junior, Columbia Heights High School ended DeLaSalle's streak of state titles in the semifinals. In his senior season, he was named a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Basketball award. He scored 22 points in the 2019 title game.
College career
On November 6, 2019, Terry made his debut for Stanford, recording 14 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 73–62 win over Montana. On November 21, he registered his first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in an 81–50 victory over William & Mary. In his next game, Terry had another double-double, posting 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 73–54 win over Oklahoma. On January 13, 2020, he was named Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Week after averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in wins over Washington and Washington State. On February 26, Terry scored a career-high 27 points with seven three-pointers to lead his team past Utah, 70–62. This performance, along with a 12-point effort to upset 21st-ranked Colorado, helped him earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors on March 2. At the end of the regular season, Terry was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and All-Pac-12 honorable mention. As a freshman, he averaged 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. His shooting accuracy, with a 40.8 three-point percentage and team-high 89.1 free throw percentage, helped him gain attention as a National Basketball Association prospect. Following the season, Terry declared for the 2020 NBA draft. On July 31, Terry announced he was remaining in the draft.
In 2018, Terry played for the United States at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, a U18 tournament in Mannheim, Germany. In five games, he averaged 6.6 points, 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game and helped his team finish in seventh place in the tournament.
NBA career
It was reported that Terry “broke a record” for a basketball IQ test administered by several NBA front offices in the 2020 offseason.
