Kansas guard Darryn Peterson watched his team’s season end on a last-second shot Sunday, a 67-65 defeat to St. John’s that capped a frustrating freshman campaign marked by injuries.
“I was hurt most of the year,” Peterson said, according to The Athletic’s Ira Gorawara. “I really didn’t feel like myself until the end, so whatever people saw in the last few games is closer to who I am.”
The 6-6 freshman entered college projected as a top-three selection in the upcoming NBA Draft, but he logged only 16 appearances and struggled to establish consistency. Brief offensive bursts hinted at his potential, yet extended stretches never materialized.
Peterson said he avoids dwelling on missed opportunities. “I don’t believe in what could have happened. It is what it is,” he noted.
Teammates remain bullish on his professional upside. “Number one,” guard Jamari McDowell said when asked about Peterson’s draft stock. “He’s got it—he’s the best ever.” Fellow guard Melvin Council Jr. added that the college schedule didn’t reveal Peterson’s full repertoire. “Watching his high school film, you see him put up 60 or 70 points—that’s what people haven’t seen yet,” Council said.
Head coach Bill Self pointed to Peterson’s health as the key variable. “There were moments he looked great, and moments his body just wouldn’t let him play the way we know he can,” Self explained.
With Kansas eliminated, NBA scouts must weigh Peterson’s limited game tape against his pre-college reputation. For teams near the top of the draft, the decision will hinge on projecting what he can become rather than what this injury-shortened season displayed.
Source: Hoops Wire
