The top NBA prospect reveals how a routine supplement led to a terrifying hospitalization, sidelined his freshman campaign, and nearly derailed his future with the Jayhawks.
Darryn Peterson Says Creatine Caused Cramping Issues During Kansas Jayhawks Season, Per ESPN
Darryn Peterson’s up-and-down freshman season at Kansas now has a clear explanation.
According to a recent article from ESPN and Ramona Shelburne, Peterson revealed that high doses of creatine were the likely cause of the cramping issues that limited him throughout the year.
The projected top NBA Draft pick said he had never used the supplement before arriving in Lawrence, and post-season testing showed his baseline levels were already elevated, meaning the added dosage pushed them into an unsafe range.
“I’d never taken it before,” Peterson said. “They said when I dosed, it must’ve made the levels unsafe.”
The issue significantly impacted his season, limiting him to 24 games and often reducing his minutes. The most serious incident came during preseason workouts, when Peterson experienced a full-body cramp that required hospitalization.
“I thought I was going to die on the training table that day,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Peterson still averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds as a freshman and remained one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Now fully healthy and no longer taking creatine, Peterson is focused on preparing for the next level, confident that his best basketball is still ahead.
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Meet Kansas Men's Basketball's 2026 Recruiting Class
Kansas’ 2026 class is loaded with talent and depth, headlined by No. 1 overall prospect Tyran Stokes and supported by a strong group of complementary pieces.
Head coach Bill Self signed six high school players: five-star guard Taylen Kinney, four-stars Davion Adkins and Trent Perry, shooting guard Luke Barnett, and big man Grant Mordini. All but Barnett and Mordini rank inside the top 100 on major recruiting services, giving KU one of the deepest classes in the country.
According to ESPN recruiting director Paul Biancardi, the class starts with a true superstar in Stokes.
“One year after landing potential No. 1 NBA draft pick Darryn Peterson, Bill Self again has a superstar headed to Lawrence in Stokes, the best player in the class,” Biancardi said. “He's too strong for most wings and too skilled for most big men, and he's capable of doing a little bit of everything on the floor.”
Biancardi also highlighted Kinney as an immediate-impact guard.
“He joins another top-20 recruit in immediate-impact point guard Kinney, who has the size and playmaking ability to cause matchup problems… and is a terrific scorer with a variety of finishing moves,” he said.
The rest of the class adds versatility and upside. Perry brings length and two-way potential, while Adkins’ physical tools give him a high ceiling in the frontcourt.
With Stokes and Kinney expected to lead the way early, Kansas will lean heavily on its freshman class to produce right away. If the group develops quickly alongside KU’s transfer additions, the Jayhawks could position themselves for a deep March run for the first time since 2022.