Peterson Named to NABC Player of the Year Preseason Watch List

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson has been named to the 20-member 2026 NABC Division I Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) released today.

Peterson is looking to become the fourth Jayhawk to win the NABC Player of the Year joining Drew Gooden (2002), Nick Collison (2003), and Frank Mason III, the 2017 recipient.

In his unofficial college debut, Peterson scored 26 points, including six three-point field goals, with four rebounds and five steals in No. 19 Kansas' 90-82 win at No. 11 Louisville in an exhibition game on Oct. 24.

Named the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year and a unanimous Preseason All-Big 12 selection by the league coaches, Peterson is one of Kansas' highest-ever recruited players after earning Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year and McDonald's All-American honors following the 2024-25 season. Last season, the 6-foo6-6 Canton, Ohio, native averaged 30.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He ended 2024-25 ranked No. 1 by 247Sports.com and On3.com. Peterson is the third No. 1 national recruit to play for Hall of Fame coach Bill Self at Kansas, joining Andrew Wiggins and Josh Jackson.

No. 19 Kansas opens the 2025-26 regular season when it plays host to Green Bay on Monday, Nov. 3. The contest from historic Allen Fieldhouse begins at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on ESPN+.

Darryn Peterson 2025-26 Honors
NABC Preseason Player of the Year Watch List (1 of 20)
The Field of 68 Preseason All-America
CBS Sports Top 100 (#2)
The Athletic Preseason All-America First Team
Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20
CBS Sports Preseason Freshman of the Year
CBS Sports Preseason All-America
Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year
Preseason All-Big 12 (unanimous selection)

2026 NABC Division I Player of the Year – Preseason Watch List
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Alex Condon, Florida
Donovan Dent, UCLA
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's
PJ Haggerty, Kansas State
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Alex Karaban, Connecticut
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Otega Oweh, Kentucky
DARRYN PETERSON, KANSAS
Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
Labaron Philon, Alabama
Braden Smith, Purdue
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Milos Uzan, Houston
Darrion Williams, North Carolina State

University of Kansas Athletics

Peterson Named to NABC Player of the Year Preseason Watch List

Players Mentioned

Darryn Peterson

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