BREAKING: Darryn Peterson, the highly touted freshman for the No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks, will miss another game due to a persistent hamstring injury. Head coach Bill Self confirmed the news just moments ago, stating Peterson will not play against Princeton this Saturday.
This latest blow comes after Peterson missed Tuesday night’s decisive 77-46 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where he suffered the injury during a pre-game shootaround. Self reassured fans, saying, “we don’t think it’s a long-term deal at all,” but the urgency remains as Kansas gears up for critical matchups ahead.
Peterson, the nation’s top-ranked recruit and a potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, impressed in his debut, scoring 21 points in just 22 minutes against Green Bay. However, he has faced challenges this season, struggling with cramps that limited his participation in earlier games.
“For whatever reason it’s still sore and we are trying to figure it out,” Self explained. “As long as it’s still this sore, there’s no reason to put him out there yet.”
Fans are left wondering whether Peterson will be ready for a series of high-profile games starting next week. Kansas is set to face No. 4 Duke in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, November 14, followed by potential matchups against Notre Dame and Syracuse in Las Vegas. A showdown against third-ranked UConn is scheduled for December 2, with additional games against Missouri and N.C. State looming before the Big 12 play begins.
Self expressed optimism regarding Peterson’s recovery timeline, stating he is not overly concerned at this moment. “Right now, a couple of days, I’m not,” he said. However, the tightness in Peterson’s hamstring continues to be a point of contention as the team prepares for upcoming challenges.
The Kansas Jayhawks will look to maintain their momentum this Saturday against Princeton, even as they navigate the uncertainty surrounding their star player. Fans and analysts alike are keeping a close eye on Peterson’s status, making this a developing story worth following.
