Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson suffered from cramps in the second half of his team’s 81-69 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Wednesday. Peterson scored a game-high 23 points along with two rebounds, but exited with 17:22 remaining in the contest.
On Thursday, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith appeared to warn NBA teams that might be looking to draft Peterson with the top pick this year.
“There is no team in hell that should grab Darryn Peterson at No. 1,” Smith said on ‘First Take.’ “You cannot do it. The first ability is availability. And my brother, Darryn Peterson, I hope you’re watching because I’m talking directly to him and his family members, inner circle, whoever. What the hell is going on?”
“I’m looking at him in the camera, you cannot be trusted. The NBA is a business. It’s 82 games; if you’re already a professional, you’re invoking your own load management. You are a freshman in college and already engaging in load management. It don’t get better,” he continued. “How can I trust you? How can I invest in you?”
Peterson, in his freshman year at Kansas, also missed a month earlier in the season due to an injury.
While there is no denying Peterson’s ability, he has been picking up mysterious injuries. Smith certainly believes that availability is the most important trait for a player who is likely to be taken as the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
Kansas HC Bill Self Shares Injury Update on Darryn Peterson
Kansas coach Bill Self offered an update on Darryn Peterson after his team’s win over the Cowboys.
“It’s a concern,” Self said. “I thought we were past it, but obviously we’re not. It’s certainly a concern.
“You get into the NCAA tournament, you’re playing a team just as good as you, and you need to have all your best players available, so to speak. All it takes is for one day like that to derail not only a game, but a season. It’s concerning, but I do think we’re making progress with it,” he added.
Peterson is averaging 20.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game this season. The Jayhawks would want him to remain healthy during their important postseason games.
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