Kansas Jayhawks freshman sensation Darryn Peterson has received significant criticism for missing some of his team’s games during the 2025-26 college basketball season.
But Peterson showed up on Monday night, scoring 14 points as the No. 14 Jayhawks scored a 69-56 win over No. 5 Houston in front of a packed house at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Peterson’s play received widespread praise from the college basketball world.
Kansas’ Darryn Peterson Receives Accolades From CBB World
Besides scoring 14 points, Peterson added four rebounds and one assist in helping the Jayhawks come out on the winning side.
Fox Sports Radio host Aaron Torres posted on X after the victory, “People think I’ve been hard on Darryn Peterson – and maybe I have been. But hopefully tonight is the start of us simply talking about his insane talent, and how it fits with the rest of a great squad. Full strength Kansas: Absolutely a title contender”.
Brett James, an NBA content creator, Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic fan, posted a picture of NBA player Killian Hayes, who turned out to be a bust, and wrote on X, “Darryn Peterson when he has to face a ranked team.”
The “Mostly Hoops Show” With Mark Titus & Co. podcast’s X account, hosted by Mark Titus, commented on Peterson’s ability to stay active on the court. The account posted, “This Darryn Peterson guy is pretty fun to watch when he’s actually on the court”. The account showed Peterson playing against Cincinnati.
Evan Miyakawa, who does college basketball analytics, posted on X while watching Peterson play on Monday night, “Kansas might have three first-team all Big 12 players if it weren’t for people being distracted by Darryn Peterson all the time.”
But Sara Blake Cheek, who is an SEC football predictor, wasn’t a fan of what she was seeing from Peterson on Monday night against the Cougars. Cheek posted on X, “Darryn Peterson is garbage bro.”
Darryn Peterson is garbage bro.
— Sara Blake Cheek (@saracheeky1) February 24, 2026
Tre White led Kansas in scoring with 23 points as the Jayhawks proved to be totally dominant on their home court on Monday night. Besides Peterson, Bryson Tiller and Melvin Council Jr. added 11 points apiece for the Jayhawks.
In the 2025-26 regular season, Peterson is averaging 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, and shooting 47.2% from the floor. NBA scouts have been watching Peterson play when he’s been available for Kansas head coach Bill Self this season.
But there’s been a lot of drama around Peterson’s absences. Games like Monday night’s impressive win over Houston, though, might change some NBA scouts’ minds. More attention is being paid to BYU star AJ Dybsanta as a potential top NBA draft pick. Peterson will need more games like the one against the Cougars to keep their focus on him.
