Darrin Peterson has absurd excuses for health fears before potentially becoming the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft

Kansas star Darrin Peterson offered an absurd explanation to ease some teams’ concerns ahead of next month’s NBA Draft.

For many basketball evaluators, there was no more exciting NBA prospect than the Jayhawks guard in the 2025-26 college basketball season as the freshman was one of the most prolific scorers in the country. He has a great mid-range game, but can also be a force at the basket and from three. But he doesn’t need to be a ball hog and can be dangerous without it.

Additionally, the 6-foot-5 guard has a wingspan similar to that of a 6-foot-10 player, and this, along with his athletic ability, plays a significant role in why he is also a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball. He has the potential to become a perennial All-Star at the next level. However, he had one major challenge stacked against him in his lone season at Kansas: his availability.

Of the Jayhawks’ 35 games, Peterson missed 11, and there were instances when he asked to leave games early while on the heater. This led to questions about how dedicated he was to winning, as the crux of it all often seemed to be the excuse.

Well, this week, Peterson tried to calm some doubters about possibly being the No. 1 pick in June’s draft with an explanation of cramp issues. The 19-year-old told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that “a new round of blood tests and other tests” by doctors during the pre-draft process revealed that creatine was the cause of his cramps.

Darryn Peterson feared he was dying during convulsive episode in September

darrin peterson
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“I had never taken it before, but after the season, I took two weeks off and they did tests that showed my baseline levels were already high,” he said. “So, when I took the dose they said [a process of increasing a dose over time to create maximum benefit at the beginning of taking a supplement]”This would have made the levels unsafe.”

Peterson revealed that his cramps got so bad at a Kansas boot camp in September that he actually feared he might die.

“I took it to the training room and begged them to call 911,” Peterson recalled of the cramps he felt in his legs, stomach, back, arms and hands. “They were trying to give me an IV, get a vein to get me back hydrated. But I was convulsing so hard they couldn’t get the vein out. I thought I was going to die on the training table that day.”

In recent mock drafts, Peterson is projected to go to the Indiana Pacers (No. 2) or the Brooklyn Nets (No. 2) in Round 1 of the NBA Draft.

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After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

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Major update on Stephanie Walker potentially being written off WWE TV

Stephanie Wacker is dealing with a real injury after Monday’s WWE Raw.

Brian Alvarez confirmed that Wecker’s shoulder problem during the backstage attack is legitimate, possibly consistent with the second-degree AC sprain that Michael Cole referenced on commentary after Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez attacked him.

Pérez rammed a tool box into Wecker’s shoulder during the segment, with Cole saying on air that Wecker would be “out for a while” as a result. It is unclear when and how the injury first occurred prior to angle airing. The attack was planned as a storyline development on Raw, but the real-world consequences of a legitimate second-degree AC sprain added a layer of uncertainty to WWE’s plans for Walker in the coming weeks.

Second degree AC sprains involve a partial tear of the acromioclavicular ligaments and recovery timelines are usually measured in weeks rather than days. This means that Wacker’s absence from ring competition could be extended in the near future, depending on how his body responds to treatment.

Wacker most recently competed at WrestleMania 42, where she lost the Women’s World Championship to Liv Morgan, a top match on the card. Prior to that loss, Wacker was one of WWE’s top female stars, holding the title and regularly appearing in top-of-the-card storylines.

Her post-WrestleMania plans were expected to put her in that position throughout the spring and summer schedule through a feud with Morgan for the top women’s title on Raw, making the injury’s timing difficult from a creative standpoint.

The segment that resulted in the injury involved Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Pérez targeting Wecker in a backstage attack, with Pérez using a tool box as a weapon to cause damage to the shoulder. Aside from Cole’s on-air comment that she would be out for some time, neither the full scope of the injury nor a specific timeline for her return has been publicly confirmed.

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Denny Hamlin questions top Hendrick prospect Corey Day potentially joining the Cup Series in 2027

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver Corey Day is coming off his first win, driving to victory at Talladega Superspeedway and proving he is one of the top prospects in racing. With a seat potentially opening up next season in the Cup Series at Hendrick Motorsports, there has been some speculation that Day might get a ride at only 21 years old.

Speaking on Day’s win on the latest episode of Action Detrimental, future Hall of Fame driver Denny Hamlin was asked if he thought Hendrick’s top prospect could race in the Cup Series next season.

“Next year? Oh man, that’s quick. I wouldn’t recommend it, but you never know.”

Denny Hamlin on whether Corey Day can reach the Cup Series in 2027

RELATED: Denny Hamlin eyes revenge on fellow driver

  • Corey Day Statistics (O’Reilly Series): 399 points, 1 win, nine top-10s, four top-5s, 1 pole, 1 DNF, 191 laps led, 8.09 average starting position, 8.36 average finishing position

Day, who won’t turn 21 until November, is widely viewed as one of NASCAR’s top prospects in 2026. He signed a development contract with Hendrick through 2024 and ran 11 races with the team in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series last season.

The young driver of the No. 17 Hendrick car got off to a poor start in his first full-time season in the O’Reilly Series. After qualifying sixth, Day finished 27th at Daytona to start the season. However, in the last 10 races he has finished 12th or better in every race with an average finishing position of 6.5.

Between Day being out at OARS and Alex Bowman having a disastrous contract year, it seems likely the young driver will take over the No. 48 car at least next season. It would be a short-term gamble, but Hendrick can see it as a long-term move to prepare Day for his future with a top team and he will gain valuable experience racing in a consistent Next Gen car.

However, Connor Zylisch is a perfect example of why HMS wants to play slowly with Day’s development. The 19-year-old had a historic dominance in the O’Reilly Series last year, winning 10 races and leading 1,013 laps. Now driving the No. 88 for Trackhouse Racing in his rookie season, he has the third-worst average finishing position (27.0) and fourth-worst average starting position (28.3) among full-time Cup Series drivers through 10 races.

The car and support staff that Day will have in the No. 48 car will certainly be better than the one that worked with Zillisch this season at Trackhouse. However, this could ultimately be detrimental to the young driver as expectations would be higher and his early struggles racing in a top-flight car would be more pronounced.

Hamlin’s advice that Day should spend two full seasons in the O’Reilly Series, with perhaps a few Cup starts mixed in, is probably the right approach for the rising player. If all goes well and he continues to sharpen his racing with experience in OARS, he will soon be in the Cup Series.

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Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

#Denny #Hamlin #questions #top #Hendrick #prospect #Corey #Day #potentially #joining #Cup #Series

Chicago Bulls HC Billy Donovan addresses potentially leaving for UNC Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels turned to pro sports two years ago when they needed to find a new head coach for the football program. Now that they are in the market for a men’s basketball coach, the same approach can be used with someone acquired from the NBA.

Amid reports that he is an option under consideration in the Tar Heels coaching search, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan did not deny that he would be interested in the North Carolina coaching job. However, for now he is focused on his role in Chicago.

“My main focus is on these guys and this new team. I understand there’s a lot out there, and I understand there will be some speculation. But, I have to focus on this group, and really, my focus is on what we’re doing here in Chicago, having a game tonight, and traveling to play a back-to-back.”

Chicago Bulls HC Billy Donovan on potential interest in being considered as part of the North Carolina Tar Heels coaching search (h/t The Athletic)

RELATED: Latest on North Carolina Tar Heels coaching search

Donovan, who will turn 61 in May, was once one of the best coaches in college basketball. He won six regular season SEC titles and back-to-back national championships along with four Final Four appearances with the Florida Gators.

After posting a 467–186 record (.715 winning percentage) at Florida, Donovan made the jump to the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to the 2015–16 NBA season. He recorded a .608 winning percentage in five seasons with the franchise, but his record in the NBA playoffs was only 18–23.

RELATED: North Carolina Tar Heels coaching candidates

One thing worth noting is that Chicago Sun-Times It was reported that there were rumors in the NBA that Donovan might leave the position of head coach of Chicago and then take a year off. Instead, he may decide to return to college basketball for the first time in more than a decade.

This would be a bit risky for both parties. Donovan was a men’s college basketball coach long before the NIL era and won national championships when future NBA stars like Joakim Noah and Al Horford coached him for multiple seasons.

Donovan wasn’t the only guy under consideration in the NBA. North Carolina reportedly had interest in Boston Celtics executive Brad Stevens, but he has opted to remain in his current role

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Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

#Chicago #Bulls #Billy #Donovan #addresses #potentially #leaving #UNC #Tar #Heels

Hughes discusses potentially important trade, Canadiens deadline

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes met with the media on Friday afternoon following the NHL trade deadline, which resulted in no deal for the Habs.

According to Hughes, the Canadiens had the outlines of a potential deal, however it fell through in the final minutes of the deadline.

“We spent a lot of time on one case in particular,” he said. “And it came down to the wire, but that doesn’t stop us from revisiting it in the summer.”

Without trying to read too much between the lines, it seems like the Habs were actively involved in a trade for a player like Robert Thomas or Vincent Trocheck, two talented centers who should still be available in a trade after the regular season and playoffs are over.

When pressed for more details about a potential deal, Hughes once again pointed to the possibility that a trade could be completed in a matter of months.

He said, “I’d love to answer, but maybe you’ll find out in the summer.”

As far as pending unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine is concerned, Hughes suggests that despite all the trade talks approaching the deadline, he won’t be a distraction moving forward.

Hughes explained, “Patrick is part of the team like the other players, he’s not a distraction.” “I expect Patrick to be available for the team based on the decisions made by the coaches.”

If the Habs had pulled off a significant trade, Hughes noted that it would likely have resulted in other trade dominoes falling.

“We had some things that would have happened if the deal we were working on had gone through,” he said. “Yes, it was an important business for us.”

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

As for the lack of action, Hughes reminded fans that the team actually made some big deals earlier in the season, including the trade that brought star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Canadiens.

“I think our players are happy to be here and they’re happy with the group,” Hughes said. “They are not unaware of the fact that we have taken significant steps since the end of last season to improve our team.

“Part of the message to the group is that we like these players, we have good hockey players, and we have good hockey players that are not playing.”

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

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James Dolan reveals plan to potentially divest Knicks, Rangers for MSG

There is a possibility that Madison Square Garden Sports CEO James Dolan is taking steps to split the New York Knicks and Rangers, the city’s NBA and NHL teams, into two separate publicly traded companies.

Reports have emerged that MSG’s board of directors has approved a plan to “rediscover its hockey and basketball clubs” (via The New York Times).

If this occurs, the Knicks and their G League team, the Westchester Knicks, will become a separate company from the Rangers and their minor league team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, will similarly be spun off into a separate company.

Still, nothing is “guaranteed to happen” and “there is no timeline in mind to complete this move.” Therefore, fans will have to keep an eye on the situation.

“We are exploring the opportunity to create value for our shareholders by separating our two professional sports franchises into separate companies,” Dolan said in a statement, via The New York Times. “Both the Knicks and Rangers are dominant teams in their respective leagues, with storied histories and large and passionate fan bases.

He further added, “We believe this proposed transaction will provide each company with greater strategic flexibility, its own defined business focus and clearer attributes for investors.”

Will James Dolan and Madison Square Garden split the Knicks and Rangers?

New York Knicks executive chairman James Dolan sits courtside during the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden.
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While Madison Square Garden’s board approved the plan, there were other factors involved. Both the NBA and NHL would have to approve the move. The New York Times also notes that “There are other views.”

Regarding the reason for this, some are speculating that such a move would make it “easier” for Dolan to sell one of the franchises. In 1994 the Dolan family became minority owners of the franchise. Shortly thereafter, he became the majority owner.

Dolan is adamant that he has no interest in selling teams. However, he and MSG executives have stated their interest in selling a minority stake.

Another possible reason for the move, as The New York Times notes, is that it could serve as a “precursor” to making the Knicks and Rangers privately traded teams. They are both currently publicly traded.


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