If you have followed Kansas men's basketball or even college basketball this season, you have likely heard about Darryn Peterson and his issues staying on the court. The star freshman guard has undeniable talent, but cramps have prevented him from finishing games this season, and a hamstring injury and sickness have kept him out of 11 games this season.
This Peterson saga has prompted many fans and media personnel to propose conspiracy theories or share their opinions on the situation. Peterson is widely regarded as a projected top-three draft prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft, but some media personnel have changed their opinion on Peterson.
This week, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith questioned whether Peterson could be trusted as a projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick, citing his recurring cramping issues.
“There is no team in hell that should grab Darryn Peterson No. 1,” Smith said on First Take. “The first ability is availability… I can’t trust him.”
The next ESPN personality to voice their opinion is analyst Dick Vitale, who voiced his opinion on social media last night:
"Sometimes a divorce is good for everyone involved & I firmly believe that needs to happen NOW @KUHoops - the Darryn Peterson soap opera needs to end. It has to be a nightmare for ALL involved- so sad as Darryn’s talent is off the charts."
Kansas head coach Bill Self gave some thoughts on the cramping issue after the Jayhawks won at Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
“We’ve had it more than a couple times,” Self said. “I didn’t anticipate that tonight at all. I thought he was good to go. But obviously, we only got 18 minutes out of him. That’s disappointing because he could have had a really big night.”
Peterson briefly returned in the second half and drilled his sixth 3-pointer before signaling to the bench.
“He was going to come out before he made the three,” Self said. “Then he makes the three and says, ‘Get me.’ I didn’t know that he’d be done, but obviously he was.”
Self later called the cramping “a concern,” especially with March approaching.
“You get into the NCAA Tournament and you’re playing a team just as good as you, you need to have all your best players available,” Self said. “All it takes is one day like that to derail not only a game, but a season.”
Although Kansas lost at Allen Fieldhouse yesterday, Peterson did finish a full game.
“If we’re going to grab a positive out of this today, yeah, let’s go with that," Self said. "I actually thought for the most part he moved pretty well.
For now, Peterson remains both dominant and uncertain, capable of taking over a game in minutes, yet still battling to finish them consistently. Kansas is still in the Big 12 race, but the question right now is if its best player can stay on the court.