Kansas freshman star Darryn Peterson will not return until he is “as close to 100 percent as possible.”
Those are the wishes of the family of the potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Jayhawks coach Bill Self said.
“(Peterson’s family) made a decision, which I don’t disagree with it at all, that they want him to be as close to 100 percent as possible when he comes back,” Self said after Monday night’s 90-61 win over Davidson. “He’s just not quite there yet. It’s a day-to-day deal. He will be (ready).
“I wish he could have played tonight, but the fact of the matter is other guys got some run and did well. So hopefully giving other guys some opportunities will make us deeper when we get into conference play.”
Peterson, a 6-foot-6 guard from Canton, Ohio, has been limited to four games this season due to quad and hamstring injuries. He has not played since Dec. 13.
Peterson is averaging 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists and shooting 42.3 percent from 3-point range for the 17th-ranked Jayhawks (10-3), who are idle until their Big 12 opener at UCF on Jan. 3.
Self said Peterson is pushing to get back on the floor.
“We’ve talked about this. We’re in agreement with the family that he should not play until he feels good,” Self said. “We’re in agreement. 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.”
-Field Level Media
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