Kansas star Darryn Peterson's cramping cause revealed

Shreyas Laddha, The Kansas City Star on May 8, 2026

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What a year for Darryn Peterson.

For months, the highly talented men’s college basketball player had no idea what was causing the cramping that plagued his 2025-26 season. After undergoing some medical tests after the season, he finally found a reason for all that discomfort and missed playing time:

Creatine.

A source close to the situation told The Kansas City Star that Peterson underwent several medical tests before being fully cleared for the NBA draft, which is why he took a while to declare.

“I’d never taken it before (college),” Peterson told ESPN of creatine, which is sometimes taken to increase strength and endurance. “But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests, which showed my baseline level was already high.

“So they said when I dosed (a process of increasing one’s intake over time for max benefit), it must’ve made the levels unsafe.”

In the same article, Peterson mentioned that a number of his KU teammates supported him throughout his time in Lawrence.

“My roommate Bryson Tiller had my back — Melvin Council Jr. did as well,” Peterson said. “They would say certain stuff about it, but even they didn’t know what it was. They’re trying to defend you, but they don’t know what to say except, ‘If he could have been out there, he would be. He’s trying, he’s working.’

“They saw I was in rehab every day before practice, after practice. Get massages. Trying all types of stuff.”

To Peterson’s point, a source told The Star in March that his teammates were around when he experienced the full-body cramps. The source noted that some of his teammates were “traumatized” by the experience.

The Star spoke to former KU guard Elmarko Jackson about Peterson’s full-body cramps at the NCAA Tournament.

“For him, it’s obviously scary,” Jackson told The Star. “You’re starting your freshman season, where there’s a lot of hype and a lot of buzz around you. It kind of…gives you a different kind of perspective.”

In Jackson’s mind, Peterson should still be picked No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA draft.

“You can ask me in the summertime to now, I still think he’s the No.1 pick,” Jackson said. “He’s probably the best, most talented freshman guard I’ve ever seen in my life. The world can hate you hate for whatever reason, all the bullshit, fake stuff they put out there on the internet that doesn’t matter. ‘Everyone in this locker room, we are all with you (Peterson), just keep being you.’ ”

Multiple NBA scouts told The Star throughout the season that Peterson remains a strong contender to become this year’s top pick and is unlikely to fall past No. 2, pending an evaluation of his health. He’s contending with BYU’s AJ Dybantsa for the chance to be picked No. 1 overall.

There is a belief within Peterson’s camp that he won’t drop past No. 3 in the NBA draft. An NBA scout agreed, with that sentiment.

“For sure, but not much further,” a scout said when asked if Peterson could fall past No. 2. “Someone could fall in love with the idea that (Caleb) Wilson is (Pascal) Siakam ... Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”