When two of the nation’s top freshmen - and potential future No. 1 NBA Draft picks - share the court, you expect fireworks. And for 20 minutes on Saturday, Darryn Peterson delivered exactly that.
Before cramps cut his night short, Peterson put on a show at Allen Fieldhouse, dropping 18 points in just 20 minutes and giving Kansas the kind of early jolt that championship-caliber teams feed off. Whether it was the smooth pull-up jumpers, fearless drives to the rim, or a first-half dunk that brought the crowd to its feet, Peterson looked every bit the star Kansas fans were hoping for.
“He got us off to a really good start, and then the basket just opened up for everybody,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said postgame. “DP was just DP.
You guys hadn’t had a chance to see that like we have. Just unfortunate we didn’t see it for 40 minutes.”
What stood out most? A high-flying finish in the first half that had the building buzzing - not just for the athleticism, but for the context. Peterson pulled it off while still nursing a sprained ankle.
“That was athletic, and it was off a sprained ankle,” Self said. “That was good to see. He showed a lot in his bag in the first half.”
Across the court, fellow freshman phenom Dybantsa wasn’t backing down. He answered with tough shot-making and a scoring rhythm that kept BYU in the game. The duel between the two lived up to the billing - a tantalizing glimpse of what NBA scouts might be watching for years to come.
“He can get to a spot,” Self said of Dybantsa. “You’re not going to block his shot. You just have to contest it.”
But while Dybantsa kept pushing, Peterson’s night began to fade after the break. Self noticed it even before the second half tipped off.
“He didn’t have the same bounce,” Self said. “He said he was good, but I could just tell.”
Still, in just one half of play, Peterson gave Kansas everything it needed to grab control early - and gave fans a taste of the electric talent that’s made him one of the most talked-about players in college basketball.
The No. 14 Jayhawks ultimately held off No. 13 BYU for a 90-82 win, but the night belonged to the flashes of brilliance from a freshman who, even in limited minutes, left a lasting impression.