Peterson's March Madness Debut: Jayhawks Win

0:00On March 21st, freshman Darren Peterson made a huge splash in his NCAA tournament debut, scoring 28 points to lead the Kansas J-Hawks to A, 68-60 win over California Baptist on Friday night. Shooting 11 of 24 from the floor with 4-3 pointers, the guard overcame a rough 0-6 start, and took over as the 4th seated J-Hawks built a 26-point lead. Peterson heated up with 15 points in the first half and kept the pressure on after the break, showing off pull-up jumpers, step back 3s, and drives to the basket against the tough defense. His scoring burst helped Kansas stand control despite early jitters. The performance grabbed national headlines right away, boosting talk of Peterson as a top prospect for the 2026 NBA draft. Scouts loved his versatility and how he bounced back under the bright lights of March Madness. California Baptist made a late run behind Dominic Daniels Jr.'s 25 points, but Peterson's early cushion held firm as Kansas closed

1:01it, out. Officials noted his poise in the clutch moments. With this win locked in, the J-Hawks now gear up for a Sunday showdown against 5th-seated St. John's where Peterson could solidify his role as, their go-to score on the road to the sweet 16.