Lost in all the news of who has left the Kansas basketball program and those who've stayed is the fact that Darryn Peterson has inconspicuously not declared for the NBA Draft or the transfer portal.
Of course, this could mean nothing, or it could mean something. It is just interesting that college basketball is firmly entrenched in the transfer portal season, with several players making themselves available for the NBA, yet Peterson has done neither.
Over 2,000 players have entered the portal, and Peterson not being one of them is not terribly shocking in and of itself. It has been a foregone conclusion since he arrived on the KU campus that he'd go to the NBA after one season and be the first overall pick.
But Peterson hasn't declared for the NBA Draft either. That he hasn't made any announcement about his future doesn't mean anything yet, because he still has time to do one or the other. It doesn't give KU fans the tiniest glimmer of hope.
If Darryn Peterson shockingly stayed at Kansas, it would change everything
As of now, only three players from last year's roster appear to be staying with the Jayhawks. It seems Kohl Rosario, Corbin Allen, and maybe Paul Mbiya could possibly stay. The latter announced he would enter the portal, but after a week, he hasn't. There appears to be a chance he stays too. Rosario is the only one to play significant minutes.
Of course, KU has four top recruits slated to join the team. Taylen Kinney, Trent Perry, Davion Adkins, and Luke Barnett guarantee the cupboard is far from bare.
KU is still in the running to land top-ranked prospect Tyran Stokes. That would certainly add merit to the incoming recruiting class, making it the best in the nation. Self is currently
Self is also bringing several players from the portal for visits. He'll be able to add talent to complement the great foundation already in place.
What if Peterson decided to come back to Kansas? He doesn't really have anything to prove. He clearly battled cramping issues throughout the season and was probably never 100 percent. Kansas fans never saw all that he could do.
What if Peterson wants to come back for himself and show what he's capable of when healthy? He'd certainly get top dollar from Kansas to stay, but is that enough to keep him at KU over the NBA? It seems unrealistic on the surface, but who knows?
It would be the biggest recruiting coup of all time if Bill Self recruited Peterson, not once, but twice. It would immediately change the perspective of the Jayhawks roster.
If we are going to dream a little, could Peterson stay and Stokes still come to KU? Could the two coexist? KU would vault toward the top of the list of favorites for next season if both ended up in crimson and blue.
Don't be fooled. This is as unlikely of a scenario as the sun rising in the west. It ain't happening. Still, until Peterson makes his intentions known, it is fun to dream a little.
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