Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson didn’t just live up to the hype in his season debut; he blew past it. In the Jayhawks’ season-opening win over Green Bay, Peterson put up 21 points in just 22 minutes, and it didn’t take long for the praise to start rolling in. One of the loudest voices came from across the court.
Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb took to Twitter after the game and didn’t hold back. “Closest thing to Kobe I’ve seen. Kid is awesome,” Gottlieb posted. That’s a wild comparison to throw out, but it says everything about how Peterson’s game hit the court that night.
It wasn’t just the scoring that stood out. Peterson played with complete control from the jump. He got to his spots, hit tough shots, played through contact, and never forced anything. There was no freshman learning curve. No hesitation. He looked like he’d been playing at this level for years, not minutes.
Kansas didn’t need a full game from him, either. The Jayhawks cruised to a blowout win, but Peterson made sure to get his reps in early and leave an impression. He knocked down threes, finished at the rim, and played with a pace that made it clear the moment wasn’t too big. That’s what makes the performance so striking. He didn’t go hunting for numbers. He let the game come to him and still filled the box score.
For Kansas, this is exactly what they hoped for when they brought Peterson in. The Big 12 isn’t a place where you can ease into stardom. You’ve got to be ready from day one, especially when you’re expected to lead. Peterson just showed he’s not only ready, but possibly ahead of schedule.
Gottlieb’s comment might be a bit over the top, but it’s also telling. Opposing coaches don’t throw out praise like that unless a player makes it impossible to ignore. Peterson did that. If this is what Kansas is getting from him in week one, there’s no telling what the ceiling looks like once conference play hits.
