Darryn Peterson: Creatine led to cramping at Kansas

Field Level Media|published: Fri 8th May, 12:23 2026

Mar 3, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) reacts against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first half at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Top NBA draft prospect Darryn Peterson says high doses of creatine led to his repeated cramping issues at Kansas.

The 19-year-old guard told ESPN this week that doctors diagnosed the cause after a round of bloodwork.

Peterson, a potential No. 1 pick in June's draft, missed 11 of the Jayhawks' 35 games as a 2025-26 freshman.

He said he never took creatine, a popular supplement for building muscle strength and growth, before college.

"But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high," he told ESPN. "So, they said when I dosed (increasing a dose over time to create maximum benefit at the beginning of taking a supplement), it must've made the levels unsafe."

Peterson was taken by ambulance to a hospital following a September boot camp when he experienced cramping throughout his whole body.

"I made it to the training room and just started begging them to call 911," he said. "They were trying to get a vein to get me the IV, get me back hydrated. But I was cramping so hard they couldn't get a vein. I thought I was going to die on the training table that day."

Throughout the season, Peterson said he lived in fear that another scary episode could happen.

"Whenever I felt anything like that come on, my initial thought was that it might get to that again," he said. "And I can't let that happen and be embarrassed and have that on TV and all that.

"It kind of put me in a tizzy because I didn't know what was causing it. Nothing has ever been wrong with me before. Basketball is my life. What I love to do. But something was going on and I couldn't figure it out."

Peterson averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 24 games (23 starts), shooting 38.2% from 3-point distance and making the All-Big 12 second team.

Peterson said he has not experienced any issues since he stopped taking creatine. He has been training for the NBA combine that begins Sunday in Chicago.

"I've been thinking about how differently things could have been (at Kansas) if I didn't get hurt or have all this stuff going on," he said. "When I was out there, I felt like I still did all right. But there was another level of me that people didn't get to see."

--Field Level Media