Completed Event: Men's Basketball at North Carolina State on December 13, 2025 , Win , 77, to, 76
Final
Men's Basketball
77
at North Carolina State
76
KU’s Peterson Named to John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25
1/7/2026 5:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced today, launching the 50th anniversary of the individual honor.
Peterson is vying to become the third Kansas men's basketball player to earn the Wooden Award, joining Danning Manning in 1988 and Frank Mason III in 2017.
On most every preseason All-America team and preseason national player of watch lists, Peterson is coming off a career-high 32 points in Kansas' 104-100 overtime win against TCU on Tuesday. Peterson's 32 points against the Horned Frogs followed at 26-point effort at UCF (Jan. 3). The Canton, Ohio, guard leads Kansas with a 22.5 scoring average and Peterson has made 19 threes in six games played this season.
Peterson's 32-point performance versus TCU is the fourth highest point total by a Kansas freshman in the Bill Self era (since 2003-04) trailing only – 1. Andrew Wiggins (41 at West Virginia, 3.8.14); 2. Ben McLemore (36 vs. West Virginia, 3.2.13); 3. Ben McLemore (33 vs. Iowa State, 1.9.13).
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2026 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year. Players not selected for the list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award late-season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award qualifications.
Celebrating its 50th year, the Wooden Award will feature special programming throughout the season with first winner and ambassador Marques Johnson, culminating in the 2026 John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal. Winners and All-Americans will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Peterson is vying to become the third Kansas men's basketball player to earn the Wooden Award, joining Danning Manning in 1988 and Frank Mason III in 2017.
On most every preseason All-America team and preseason national player of watch lists, Peterson is coming off a career-high 32 points in Kansas' 104-100 overtime win against TCU on Tuesday. Peterson's 32 points against the Horned Frogs followed at 26-point effort at UCF (Jan. 3). The Canton, Ohio, guard leads Kansas with a 22.5 scoring average and Peterson has made 19 threes in six games played this season.
Peterson's 32-point performance versus TCU is the fourth highest point total by a Kansas freshman in the Bill Self era (since 2003-04) trailing only – 1. Andrew Wiggins (41 at West Virginia, 3.8.14); 2. Ben McLemore (36 vs. West Virginia, 3.2.13); 3. Ben McLemore (33 vs. Iowa State, 1.9.13).
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2026 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year. Players not selected for the list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award late-season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award qualifications.
Celebrating its 50th year, the Wooden Award will feature special programming throughout the season with first winner and ambassador Marques Johnson, culminating in the 2026 John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal. Winners and All-Americans will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Players Mentioned
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