Kansas basketball had no shortage of headlines last week, and the first full week of July brought a little bit of everything: recruiting momentum, a fresh corporate sponsorship era, a former star taking a swipe at Bill Self, and a troubling arrest involving a former Jayhawk.
The loudest buzz came from Darryn Peterson, who told reporters after his Vegas summer league debut that he wasn’t enjoying his time at Kansas because the offense didn’t run through him. Peterson, the second-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, said, “I’m back having fun.
I wasn't really experiencing it that much at Kansas. I was off [the ball] a ton.
… I feel like myself again. Being on the ball, that's what comes with it - being double teamed”
That comment did not land well, especially because it left out plenty of context from his lone season in Lawrence. Peterson missed multiple games in the first half of the year and removed himself from others, which forced Self to adjust on the fly.
With Melvin Council Jr. handling the ball, Kansas often looked better without Peterson than it did with him, and when Peterson was available, the Jayhawks still had their share of struggles. He had issues dealing with pressure and double teams, and the season never really found a clean rhythm.
Comments like this only deepen the divide with fans.
While Peterson is looking backward, Kansas is already pushing forward on the recruiting trail. Self and his staff are working the road hard for the Class of 2027 and beyond, and they already secured five-star forward Javon Bardwell last fall. Now the focus is on finding the right fits to build out future rosters, a job that never really stops.
One name to watch is Demarcus Henry, who included Kansas on his initial list of schools. Henry is a top-five recruit, and if he eventually joins Bardwell - along with maybe Taylen Kinney, Kohl Rosario, and Leroy Blyden Jr. - the Jayhawks could put together a dangerous backcourt in 2027. It’s still very early, but Henry is clearly a player worth tracking.
Kinney, in particular, looks like a strong fit for Self’s system. He can create his own offense off the dribble, score, and set up teammates.
At 6-foot-one, he isn’t the biggest guard, but he brings athleticism and bounce. That size could keep him in college longer, especially now that NIL money is part of the equation.
For Kansas fans, he’s the kind of player who should generate real excitement.
Off the court, the corporate patch era is here, whether fans like it or not. The Big 12 announced a deal with Monster Energy last week, and Kansas followed with its own agreement with Ripple.
Both deals will put patches on uniforms, and more of that is likely coming. The look may not be popular, but the money matters.
Those partnerships are expected to help fund NIL opportunities for players, giving Kansas another way to stay competitive in recruiting beyond booster-backed support.
Not every headline was about building the future, though. Former Kansas guard Lagerald Vick was arrested in Memphis and charged with attempted murder, according to ESPN.
Vick played for Kansas from 2015-19, appearing in 117 games and scoring 1,100 points while averaging 9.4 points per game. Given his past issues, the arrest is still a jarring development, and the case will now have to run its course.
In Other News...
True Freshman Just Crashed BYUs Most Important Receiver Battle
BYUs wide receiver room is wide open heading into fall camp, and that has created a real path for true freshman Legend Glasker to matter right away. The early enrollee turned heads in spring practice, and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick has already signaled that Glasker is expected to contribute this season after a receiver group lost several key pieces from last year.
Glasker is at least in line to back up on the two-deep, but the more interesting part is how quickly he has moved from newcomer to legitimate contender. He spent much of spring working with the second team before earning more first-team looks as camp went on, and with BYU still sorting out who can handle the physical demands of the Big 12, his development over the next few weeks could determine whether he stays a useful depth option or pushes all the way into the starting conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Former BYU Star Fred Warner Just Earned Massive NFL Respect
Fred Warners standing around the NFL keeps getting louder, and for BYU fans it is another reminder of how far the former Cougar has carried his game in San Francisco. The Associated Press put together a ranking of the leagues top off-ball linebackers entering the 2026 season, and Warner landed at the top of the list ahead of a strong group that included Detroits Jack Campbell and Philadelphias Zack Baun.
The recognition fits the broader arc of Warners career, which has already included multiple first-team All-Pro selections and a reputation as one of the most complete defenders in football. Even with the conversation around the position getting deeper, Warner continues to separate himself in the eyes of evaluators, and the only real question now is how long he can keep that standard going. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Is Betting Big On One Of Its Riskiest Position Groups
BYUs receiver room is one of the bigger unknowns hanging over the upcoming season, and it is easy to see why. The Cougars are trying to piece together a pass-catching group with returning players, transfers and a freshman class that still has to prove it can handle the jump, all while adjusting to the loss of the most established targets from last year. Kalani Sitake has sounded cautious but encouraged about where things stand, which is about as much certainty as a staff can reasonably offer at this point.
The challenge now is turning that optimism into production before the season starts to ask real questions. BYU is counting on a mix of newcomers and holdovers to settle into roles quickly, and there is still time for more help to emerge from the young group or from other additions. For a team trying to build around an inexperienced position room, the margin for error is slim, and the next few weeks will tell a lot about how much faith the Cougars can really place in that part of the roster. [Read more 🡒]