Darryn Peterson left Kansas’ game against NC State in the fourth quarter and didn’t play in overtime. Michael Hickey / Getty Images
Kansas coach Bill Self said star freshman guard Darryn Peterson “was getting tight” in his hamstring and told the Jayhawks’ staff he needed to sub out with 2:15 left in regulation of KU’s 77-76 overtime win over NC State Saturday.
With Kansas leading by two, Peterson was set to inbound the ball for the Jayhawks. However, before he did, he grabbed at his hamstring and immediately signaled to KU’s bench for a substitution. Peterson went straight to the end of Kansas’ bench and met with team trainers, and did not return for the end of regulation or overtime.
“I haven’t talked to the doctor yet or the trainer about it, but he said he needed to come out,” Self said. “I think it’s just tightness, but I haven’t even found out yet.”
Peterson finished with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists in a season-high 31 minutes before exiting.
Peterson, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, missed seven of Kansas’ first 10 games with the same lingering injury. He returned Dec. 7 for the Jayhawks’ Border War contest against Missouri, missing exactly a month.
“He’s experienced this every game that we’ve played,” Self added. “I was happy that he got that far, that deep, into the game, because it’s happened to start the second half every other game.”
Self did not comment on Peterson’s long-term status.
Kansas’ next game is Tuesday, when it hosts Towson. Beyond that, the Jayhawks only have one more game — home vs. Davidson Dec. 22 — before opening Big 12 play at UCF on Jan. 3.