Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson declares for NBA Draft after one season

Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson declared for the NBA Draft, he announced on social media.

Peterson came into the season as one of the projected top picks in this year’s NBA Draft. When healthy, he showed why he is such a tantalizing player. He averaged 20.2 points per game, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists and had a fluidity as a scorer unique for someone his age.

However, his season was ultimately defined by absences on the court and speculation about what was going on. Peterson suffered full-body cramps that sent him to the hospital during a preseason workout, The Athletic reported. He called it a “traumatic experience.” He looked great for a stretch, but then his legs wouldn’t feel right, and he would ask out of the game.

He also had two separate ailments during the season: He sprained his ankle in January and experienced flu-like symptoms ahead of a game against the then-No. 1-ranked Arizona.

In Kansas’ final game in the NCAA Tournament, Peterson scored 21 points in a buzzer-beating loss to St. John’s.

Despite not having the healthiest of seasons, Peterson was still an All-America honorable mention, made the All-Big 12 second team and was an All-Big 12 freshman team selection.

In The Athletic’s latest mock draft, Peterson is projected to go No. 2.

The deadline for college players with eligibility remaining to declare for the NBA Draft is Friday at 11:59 p.m. ET. Early-entry players can withdraw from the draft and return to college until June 13.