Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson, the projected No. 1 pick in next summer’s NBA draft according to ESPN, will miss Tuesday’s game against Duke in the Champions Classic because of a hamstring injury, the school announced.
“[Peterson] continues to progress with his hamstring strain,” Bill Self said via X. “He will be re-evaluated at the end of the week.”
This is a significant development for a high-profile clash between two blue bloods at Madison Square Garden. Cameron Boozer, a No. 5 Duke star and son of former Blue Devils star and NBA standout Carlos Boozer, and Peterson are among a small group of young talents hoping to hear their name called first by Adam Silver in June’s draft.
Peterson’s absence takes some of the luster from the highly anticipated matchup between No. 24 Kansas and No. 5 Duke, although Self hinted Saturday that the freshman, who has already missed the team’s last two games, could be sidelined for a longer period of time with his hamstring injury.
The buzz around the NBA prospect began before the season when Peterson scored 21 points in 22 minutes in his team’s exhibition win over Louisville. He finished with 22 points in a loss to North Carolina on November 7, the last time he played for the Jayhawks.
Now, Kansas will look to other players to handle a Duke team boasting another elite recruiting class. Boozer, Dame Sarr and Isaiah Evans are listed as projected first-round picks in ESPN’s latest mock draft, which includes five Duke players total.
For Kansas, Flory Bidunga (17.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG) and Illinois transfer Tre White (12.0 PPG) are averaging double-digit scoring. Self gave Peterson the keys to his offense upon his arrival in Lawrence, but the team will have to wait to see how he progresses before they can attempt to live up to the lofty expectations attached to his first season.
Kansas will face Notre Dame and Syracuse Monday and Tuesday at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas before a game against UConn a week later.
