The Darryn Peterson hype train is slowly gaining more and more steam.
The Kansas guard won fans over Friday after an outstanding outing against Baylor at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. Peterson led all scorers with 26 points, to go along with 2 rebounds and 3 assists in an 80-62 victory. Those numbers were impressive on their own, but did not tell the whole story of Peterson’s dominance.
Peterson put on an offensive clinic on the eve of his 19th birthday, shooting 11/13 from the field and looking a cut above the rest of the players on the floor.
"Haha! Ball. Player." Darryn Peterson putting on a show @KUHoops pic.twitter.com/sqPW5CCExL
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 17, 2026
Many who saw Peterson’s performance called him one of the greatest prospects they’ve ever seen.
I haven’t seen a player with Darryn Peterson’s feel for the game, instincts and shot-making capabilities at this level since KD. He gets any shot he wants, when he wants and it’s always a good shot because he takes it. Just makes the game look so easy. Rare for a teenager.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) January 17, 2026
It’s no surprise that Darryn Peterson is one of the most potent off-ball scoring prospects we’ve ever seen.
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) January 17, 2026
99th percentile (!) in spot-up scoring (1.696 PPP), shooting 45.2% on catch-and-shoot 3’s this season. https://t.co/beoZmKMyfX pic.twitter.com/9VVnXAUUwU
I been watching college basketball for 15 years and Darryn Peterson is hands down the best NBA prospect I seen in college. The way this dude moves is unreal
— KRISWRLD (@VegasKriis) January 17, 2026
Darryn Peterson’s first-half performance tonight was one of the most ridiculous things I’ve seen in 20 years on this beat. An effortless offensive talent. 26. 11-13 from the field. Kansas dominates Baylor in Lawrence.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 17, 2026
The scary part about Peterson’s display of offensive excellence was that he didn’t even have to give full effort. With the score as lopsided as it was, Peterson only had to play 23 minutes for the Jayhawks. He played like a boxer pulling some of his punches, while still delivering devastating haymakers.
In a 2026 NBA draft class that has elite prospects such as AJ Dybantsa and Cam Boozer, Peterson could very well end up going first overall. His game against Baylor only adds to his prospect resume.
