As Kansas gears up to open Big 12 play on the road against UCF this Saturday, one key question still lingers: will freshman guard Darryn Peterson be available?
Peterson has been a bit of a mystery this season - not because of his talent, which is clear every time he steps on the floor, but because injuries have kept him off it more often than not. Through the Jayhawks’ 13-game non-conference slate, Peterson has suited up just four times. He’s missed the last two games and has been absent for nine total, leaving fans and coaches alike wondering when the dynamic freshman will be back at full strength.
Head coach Bill Self offered a glimpse into the situation during his recent “Hawk Talk” radio show, but it wasn’t the kind of update that clears everything up. If anything, it added a layer of nuance to Peterson’s status.
“He’s practicing, and doing everything,” Self said. “But it’s unfair to assume that just because he’s on the court, he’s back to 100%.”
That’s the tricky part. Peterson is participating in practices - running drills, staying involved - but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s game-ready.
According to Self, Peterson is still dealing with limitations, and practice itself is part of his rehab process. So while it’s encouraging to see him active, it’s not yet a green light for full-speed competition.
“Gosh dang, he looks good to me,” Self added. “He can do some things that nobody else can do.”
That’s not just coach-speak. In the limited action we’ve seen, Peterson has been electric.
He’s started all four games he’s played in, averaging 19.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest. Those numbers don’t just pop - they underscore just how much of a difference-maker he can be for this Kansas team.
He’s already shown flashes of brilliance in wins over Missouri and Green Bay, and even in the loss to North Carolina, he proved he could hang with elite competition.
But Self made it clear: while Peterson is close, he’s not quite there yet.
“I think we’re really, really close,” Self said. “Hopefully immediate, but who knows?
It may not be. It may be a little while longer.”
The main issue appears to be lingering effects from a strained hamstring and recurring cramps - both of which have hampered Peterson’s explosiveness. And for a player whose game is built on quick bursts, sharp cuts, and next-level athleticism, that missing gear makes a difference.
“He still probably doesn’t have that explosion that he had prior,” Self noted. “But his rhythm is getting back.”
If Peterson isn’t cleared in time for the UCF game, the next opportunity for him to return would come Jan. 6, when the Jayhawks host TCU. And while Kansas has held its own during non-conference play - sitting at 10-3 and ranked No. 17 - there’s no question that Peterson’s presence would elevate this team’s ceiling heading into the grind of Big 12 competition.
Bottom line: Kansas is close to getting one of its most talented players back. But how soon that happens - and how quickly he can regain his full form - could play a major role in how far this team goes in conference play and beyond.