Darryn Peterson’s freshman season with the Kansas Jayhawks has been defined by flashes of brilliance and frustrating interruptions.
The five-star guard and projected top pick in the 2026 NBA draft went down with yet another leg injury Saturday night, casting renewed uncertainty over his availability as the Jayhawks approach Big 12 play.
When Peterson is on the floor, he looks every bit like a future No. 1 pick. The problem is how rarely Kansas has had him there.
Another Setback in a Stop-Start Season
Peterson has appeared in just three games this season. He debuted in a season-opening blowout win over Green Bay, then played again in an 87-74 loss to No. 19 North Carolina. Soon after, hamstring tightness sidelined him for seven straight games, forcing Kansas to navigate the early portion of its schedule without its most dynamic scorer.
He returned last Sunday against Missouri and immediately reminded everyone of his ceiling, scoring 17 points on 6 of 14 shooting in an 80-60 win. That momentum carried into Saturday night against NC State, where Peterson again poured in 17 points, including 12 in the second half, while adding five rebounds and four assists across 31 minutes.
Then came the moment that changed the night. With just over two minutes left in regulation, Peterson stepped back awkwardly on defense, grimaced, and pointed toward his leg. He jogged to the bench and did not return, even as the game went to overtime.
Kansas survived anyway, edging NC State 77-76 behind a breakout performance from Melvin Council Jr., who erupted for 36 points on a blistering 9-of-15 shooting from three-point range. Peterson watched from the sideline.
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Bill Self Addresses Peterson’s Frustration
After the game, head coach Bill Self acknowledged the recurring nature of the issue without sounding alarmed.
“He said he needed to come out,” Self said. “He’s experienced this every game that we played. I was happy that he got that far, that deep into the game.”
Earlier in the week, Self detailed the emotional toll the injuries have taken on Peterson, who has also battled cramping issues and even played through the flu during his return.
“I think it frustrates him,” Self said. “That kid is over there getting four treatments a day, 45 minutes in every treatment. That kid wants to be out there so bad.”
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The Jayhawks have two remaining nonconference games against Towson on Dec. 16 and Davidson on Dec. 22 before opening Big 12 play Jan. 3 at UCF. With looming matchups against Iowa State, Baylor, BYU, Texas Tech, Arizona, and Houston, Peterson’s presence could dramatically change Kansas’ ceiling.
Long term, however, the priority is clear. Peterson is battling Duke’s Cameron Boozer and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa for pole position atop the 2026 draft class, and NBA teams continue to covet his rare blend of athleticism and shot-making.
There has been no official update on Peterson’s status. But as Kansas inches closer to conference play, patience may matter more than urgency for both the Jayhawks and their potential program star.