Darryn Peterson Injury Update
Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson, the No. 1 high school recruit, missed Tuesday night's dominant 77-46 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi after tweaking his hamstring during morning shootaround. He appeared in street clothes at tip-off, catching fans off guard as no prior announcement was made. On X, @M_Vernon listed the reasons Darryn Peterson has allegedly missed games as of November 11, including cramps, not feeling well, and a hamstring issue.
Head coach Bill Self addressed the injury post-game, delivering a mix of reassurance and caution. "He practiced Sunday, practiced Monday, and practiced today," Self said. "His hamstring was tight this morning. So, you know, I'm not going to risk that. So, hopefully it's precautionary. I look forward to seeing him in practice on Thursday. At least we think that's the case, but it was tight after he practiced today."
On X, @mctait reported that Bill Self said Darryn Peterson practiced on Sunday, Monday, and today, but his hamstring was tight this morning, so they decided not to risk him playing.
The team practiced at 10 a.m., and Peterson participated fully until the end, when he reported the tightness. A doctor's evaluation confirmed sitting him out to avoid escalation, noting he was opting for jumpers over drives, a sign of discomfort.
This isn't Peterson's first early-season hiccup. In his college debut against Green Bay on November 3, the 6-foot-5 phenom exploded for 21 points in 22 minutes but sat out the second half due to leg cramps. He followed with 22 points against North Carolina, but cramping has lingered as a fall concern, though Self stressed Tuesday's issue was distinct hamstring tightness, not cramps. "Probably a combination, it was bothering him, he said he felt it coming on, so no reason to put him back in," Self recalled from the debut.
The Jayhawks thrived without him, leaning on paint dominance: Kohl Rosario led with 16 points, Flory Bidunga added 12, and Tre White and Bryson Tiller scored 11 each. Ranked No. 25, Kansas used the blowout to test depth ahead of a grueling slate Princeton on Saturday, No. 4 Duke in the Champions Classic on November 18, then Notre Dame, Syracuse, and No. 3 UConn. Self called it a silver lining: "We need to practice tomorrow, so hopefully we can get him out there... If it had been a closer game, I’m sure he would have tried to go back out there."
Peterson's day-to-day status leaves some questions, especially with his cramping history, but Self expects a short absence. The long season demands caution for the 5-star talent poised to anchor Kansas' backcourt.
Disclaimer:
This injury update is based on public statements and recent media reports available as of November 12, 2025. Player health status can change rapidly. For the most accurate and timely medical or team decisions, always refer directly to official Kansas Jayhawks announcements and NCAA-approved communication channels.
