Darryn Peterson Says ‘Mind Stuff’ Derailed Bizarre College Season

Darryn Peterson says his final handful of games with Kansas represent his true self after a rocky freshman season.

Speaking to reporters following Kansas’ last-second loss Sunday to St. John’s, the freshman guard admitted that his season was derailed by physical and mental issues.

“I was hurt for the majority of it,” Peterson said of his up-and-down year in college. “Not hurt, but there was just some mind stuff. I wasn’t really myself really until the end of the year. I guess whatever people see in these last games is kind of me.”

Peterson played at least 30 minutes in seven of his last nine games, including 36.5 minutes per game in the Jayhawks’s two NCAA tournament contests. He averaged 24.5 points in the two games, leading the Jayhawks in scoring.

But Peterson missed 11 games this season due to a slew of injuries, notably full body cramps that he sustained before the season. He averaged 29 minutes per game, but had his minutes managed for most of the season

On several occasions, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft appeared to be making the call on his own playing time.

During a February game against Oklahoma State, Peterson appeared to signal to head coach Bill Self to remove him from the game with 17:42 remaining in the second half. Peterson had scored 23 points in a season-low 18 minutes before he exited.

Self said in December that he’s talked to Peterson and his family about his availability.

“We’re in agreement with the family that he should not play until he feels good,” Self said.

“But I’m not inside his head or his body that I can determine if he feels good enough or not. That’s up to him. He wants to be out there. He’s just not ready.”

An NBA scout told Front Office Sports in February that Peterson’s behavior was unprecedented, especially at a historic program under a legendary coach.

“Haven’t seen this before,” the scout told FOS.

Following the Jayhawks’s elimination, Peterson said he will start preparing for next season, but he wouldn’t confirm if that would be in college or in the NBA.

“I’m not sure if it was my last,” Peterson said about playing in college. “I still have to talk to my family. Yeah, I’m not sure what next year holds.”

Along with Duke’s Cameron Boozer and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Peterson is part of a trio of vaunted college prospects expected to be selected at the top of the NBA draft in June. Dybantsa and BYU were knocked out in the first round while Boozer’s Duke will play St. John’s in the Sweet 16 on Friday.