Darryn Peterson chose the biggest stage to deliver a loud statement. In a Friday March Madness showdown, the No. 4 seed Kansas Jayhawks registered a gritty 68-60 win over the No. 13 California Baptist Lancers, who were making their historic tournament debut.
This was the first meeting between the schools, and the Kansas guard overcame a cold start to lead them to victory, finishing with 28 points on 11-of-24 shooting.
While the volume of shots raised some eyebrows, Peterson’s performance on the hardwood told the story of a pure scorer capable of holding his ground, a trait that will get NBA scouts rolling in.
NBA World Reacts to Darryn Peterson’s Dominant Scoring
March Madness is where draft picks either skyrocket or stall, and for the Jayhawks’ Darryn Peterson, the arrow is pointing straight up. Peterson’s performance wasn’t just about the final box score but about his determination to find a variety of ways to land a shot. After missing his first six attempts, he understood the pattern and settled into a rhythm that sent him 11-of-18 for the rest of the game.
Despite a 38-18 lead in the first half, KU nearly blew it in the second half when CBU answered with 42 points to KU’s 30. But the star guard’s 28-point outburst ensured the Jayhawks survived the scare.
Peterson’s performance amazed social media and NBA analysts, who were quick to weigh in on the freshman’s debut, elevating his status in projected top-tier pick lists for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Yahoo Sports podcaster and host of “The Kevin O’Connor Show,” Kevin O’Connor, summed up what everyone was feeling after watching Peterson: “Darryn Peterson dropped a dominant 28 points on 11/18 last night following a shaky 0/6 start (11/24 total). Looked like a #1 pick with these shots off the dribble. It looks so effortless. Bigger test on Sunday: Kansas vs St. John’s 11th ranked defense.”
B/R Hoops, which goes by the X handle @brhoops, tweeted: “Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson showed out in his March Madness debut. DP finished with 28 points to lead the Jayhawks to a win.”
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson showed out in his March Madness debut 🔥
DP finished with 28 points to lead the Jayhawks to a win pic.twitter.com/YOLY6OOOoB
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 21, 2026
Billy Reinhardt, Attorney and Sports Talk, posted: “Darryn Peterson just has a really rare blend of shooting, athleticism, and defense for a guard. You’re seeing it tonight.”
Sports Director KSNT Sports, Kole Emplit, shared a clip of Peterson sharing his thoughts after his first NCAA game: “Darryn Peterson said he let his game do the talking tonight. 28 points in his first NCAA Tournament game. ‘I feel like that’s all I do. I ain’t never say much, I just hoop, and that’s been me my whole life, so I’m going to keep doing that.’ #kubball”
Dalton Johnson, Reporter and Warriors Insider for NBC Sports Bay Area & California, called Peterson’s talent “outrageous” and tweeted: “When Darryn Peterson is right and healthy, my god the talent is outrageous.”
Former LSU National Champ and Retired NFL Veteran, Breiden Fehoko, also joined in with his take on Darryn Peterson’s 28-point performance. He shared: “28 points on 24 shots against Cal Baptist. This is nasty PR when Dybantsa went for 35 last night against Texas.”
While praise is pouring in, the road only gets steeper from here for Darryn Peterson and the Kansas Jayhawks. After securing the first-round win, they face Rick Pitino and No. 5 St. John’s this Sunday. If they manage to suppress the Red Storm, they face No. 1 seed, Duke.
For that to happen, Peterson will have to replicate this scoring output against St. John’s top-ranked defensive unit.
