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.
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Ranking Kansas Five Stars Since 2020 Will Spark Plenty Of Debate
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Bryce Thompson, Gradey Dick and the incoming class all offer different versions of that story, from early departures to polished scorers to players whose best days are still ahead. Taylen Kinneys production at OTE gives Kansas another high-end talent to evaluate, while Tyran Stokes arrives with the kind of projection that can reshape a ranking before he even plays a game. The real debate is less about whether Kansas keeps landing five-stars and more about which of them actually end up defining the next era. [Read more 🡒]