Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Kansas State on January 24, 2026 , Win , 86, to, 62
Final
Men's Basketball
86
at Kansas State
62
Photo by: Kansas Athletics
KU’s Peterson Named to John R. Wooden Award Late Midseason Top 20
2/10/2026 5:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Late Midseason Top 20 Watch List, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced today.
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.
Peterson, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Jan. 19 and three-time Big 12 Starting Five weekly honoree this season, leads Kansas with a 20.5 point per game scoring average. The Canton, Ohio, guard who was Dick Vitale's Diaper Dandy of the Week on Feb. 12, has six games of 20 or more points and has made 36 threes in 13 games played this season.
Peterson's national awards' watch lists include the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy, the NABC Division I Player of the Year, and the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy. Additionally, Peterson was recently named to the 10-member Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List. He entered the 2025-26 season as the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year and unanimous Preseason All-Big 12 selection as selected by the league coaches.
The players on the Wooden 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 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.
For the complete list of the Wooden Award Late Midseason Top 20 Watch List one can go to www.WoodenAward.com.
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.
Peterson, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Jan. 19 and three-time Big 12 Starting Five weekly honoree this season, leads Kansas with a 20.5 point per game scoring average. The Canton, Ohio, guard who was Dick Vitale's Diaper Dandy of the Week on Feb. 12, has six games of 20 or more points and has made 36 threes in 13 games played this season.
Peterson's national awards' watch lists include the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy, the NABC Division I Player of the Year, and the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy. Additionally, Peterson was recently named to the 10-member Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List. He entered the 2025-26 season as the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year and unanimous Preseason All-Big 12 selection as selected by the league coaches.
The players on the Wooden 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 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.
For the complete list of the Wooden Award Late Midseason Top 20 Watch List one can go to www.WoodenAward.com.
Players Mentioned
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