Darryn Peterson's freshman season at Kansas hasn’t exactly followed the script most top recruits dream about. Injuries have kept him off the floor for stretches, limiting his early impact for the Jayhawks. But when he has played, the flashes have been undeniable - enough to keep him firmly in the conversation as a top-three prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Peterson came into the season with sky-high expectations, sharing the spotlight with fellow elite freshmen Cameron Boozer at Duke and AJ Dybantsa at BYU. All three were pegged as potential No. 1 overall picks before they even suited up for their first college game, and so far, none of them have done anything to shake that status.
That’s why the internet was buzzing recently when a social media post claimed Peterson was “shutting it down” for the season - a move that would’ve turned heads across the college basketball world and the NBA scouting community. But let’s be clear: that report isn’t true.
The post came from a parody account that’s been making the rounds this season, pushing out fake news in the name of going viral. In this case, it worked - the rumor gained traction fast.
But there’s no truth to it. Darryn Peterson is not out for the season.
He hasn’t made any decision to walk away from college basketball early, and Kansas hasn’t announced anything of the sort.
This kind of noise is becoming more common in today’s game, especially with high-profile players like Peterson. In the modern era of college hoops - where NIL deals, draft stock, and long-term career planning are all part of the equation - it’s easy to believe a player might choose to focus on the NBA path rather than risk further injury. But that’s not what’s happening here.
Peterson is still very much part of the Jayhawks’ plans, and assuming he gets back to full health, he’ll have every opportunity to remind people why he was one of the most hyped recruits in the country. His combination of size, skill, and scoring instinct hasn’t gone anywhere - and neither has his draft stock.
So while the rumor mill keeps spinning, the reality is this: Darryn Peterson isn’t shutting anything down. He’s still in the fight, and if he gets back on the court soon, don’t be surprised if he makes a serious push to be the No. 1 pick come June 2026.