Kansas Jayhawks star freshman guard Darryn Peterson has been making headlines for his stellar play but also for his controversial minutes, often subbing himself out of games in the second half. This was again the case after he scored 23 points in 18 minutes against Oklahoma State before exiting due to cramping.
Discussing Peterson’s situation, Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, on a recent episode of his “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, proposed a fix to prevent similar cases.
Carmelo Anthony Advocates for High School Players’ Eligibility for NBA Without College
Anthony, who earned freshman of the year honors in college, said that a solution exists to prevent projected high lottery selections from load managing or restricting their playing time in the college game.
“Let these guys come out of high school, man,” Anthony said. “The league ain’t getting older, it’s getting younger. It’s not that big of a gap no more, so they already getting the bread, they already getting the money, they already getting the resources.”
Melo doesn’t agree with Darryn Peterson subbing himself out, but is it all his fault or is this part of a bigger problem? 🤔
“This is why I say just let these [kids] come out of high school, save a lot of headaches.” pic.twitter.com/V2kYx9RkVy
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) February 20, 2026
The NBA’s one-and-done rule, implemented in 2006, requires a prospect to be one year removed from high school graduation to be eligible for the NBA Draft, leading them to college or other pre-NBA pathways. According to Anthony, that rule is creating problems for players, as in Peterson’s case.
“I don’t know the whole situation, but I know DP, and I know he’s a great, great, f**king kid,” he said. “Has a hell of a work ethic. Now all of a sudden, we hearing the narrative shift. This is why I say, just let these motherf**kers come out of high school.”
Anthony added that allowing players to enter the NBA directly from high school would enable college coaches to build their programs more effectively, since they would not be as reliant on athletes who stay only one year before turning professional.
“Save a lot of headaches. Save a lot of coaches in college headaches. Like, now I can start building back my program. Because I ain’t getting these one-and-done guys.”
Anthony also noted that Peterson continues to perform at a high level when available, suggesting his situation may be influenced by injury management or self-preservation, with his team appearing to protect him. He emphasized that producing 20 to 25 points in limited minutes already demonstrates Peterson’s ability, leaving little else to prove.
