Darryn Peterson entered the season viewed as a likely No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but the Kansas freshman now faces questions about his health and consistency heading into March Madness.
The 19-year-old recently revealed that he was hospitalized before the season after experiencing severe full-body cramping following preseason workouts.
“I had like a full-body cramp, super serious,” Peterson said. “You could say it was traumatic. I would say it was a traumatic experience.”
He said that incident has affected him during games, sometimes leading him to ask out when he feels similar symptoms. One example came against Oklahoma State, when he scored 23 points in 18 minutes before sitting the rest of the game.
“As much as I want to say I wasn’t thinking about that experience,” Peterson said. “It was traumatic for me.” He called it “a huge factor.”
Peterson has missed 11 games due to injuries and illness, which, along with his inconsistent availability, has caused some NBA scouts to reconsider his status as the top prospect. Some now favor BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.
Peterson pushed back on speculation surrounding his situation.
“It was definitely frustrating, just because it was stuff that I can’t control and that wasn’t true,” he said.
Recently, he has looked healthier, playing seven straight games and logging heavy minutes. He said the cramping has subsided, though he’s unsure why.
“I still don’t know what kind of fixed it,” Peterson said, “but I’m feeling good now.”
Despite the ups and downs, Peterson remains focused on proving himself during the NCAA Tournament.
“What I went through this year was serious stuff,” Peterson said. “The games I missed, I wanted to be out there a lot … But to finally feel free out there feels great.”
Darryn Peterson Opens Up On 'Traumatic' Cramping Issues, Turbulent Freshman Season https://t.co/oQgFqQuQ6c
— RealGM (@RealGM) March 17, 2026
