The 2026 NBA Summer League closed on Sunday with a familiar Kansas footprint all over the box scores, and the loudest buzz belonged to Darryn Peterson. The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft wasted no time showing why he came into the league with so much hype, giving the Utah Jazz a jolt of shot-making that stood out even in a crowded Las Vegas setting.
Peterson’s opening statement came in an overtime win, when he poured in 28 points. Two days later, he followed that with a 25-point, 12-assist double-double.
From there, he kept stacking productive nights, adding 24, 23 and 15 points in Las Vegas before sitting out several games as part of workload management. After one season at Kansas, the Jazz guard looked every bit like a player ready to carry a bigger offensive load.
Tre White also used Summer League to make noise after landing with the Miami Heat. The former Kansas wing got better as the event went on, finishing with consecutive scoring bursts of 19 and 21 points.
He wasn’t just filling it up, either. White showed he could impact the game in more than one way, contributing as a scorer, rebounder and defender while boosting his case for one of Miami’s remaining two-way contract spots.
Hunter Dickinson kept his pro momentum going with the New Orleans Pelicans. The 7-foot center logged steady minutes throughout the event and saved his best for a 21-point performance in a comeback win over Charlotte. Dickinson spent much of last season with New Orleans’ G League affiliate, and he’s expected to compete for more NBA minutes in 2026-27.
Melvin Council Jr. also took advantage of his chance with the Pelicans. After going undrafted, he earned more run as Summer League moved along, eventually working his way into the starting lineup and contributing both as a scorer and a facilitator.
Elsewhere, Dajuan Harris Jr. saw only limited action with the Minnesota Timberwolves, appearing in just a handful of games. Zeke Mayo, meanwhile, put together a string of efficient scoring outings for the Atlanta Hawks after beginning Summer League in Salt Lake City.
KJ Adams had perhaps the most meaningful moment of all. The former Kansas forward returned to game action for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon in his final college game. His minutes were limited with the Golden State Warriors, but simply getting back on the floor marked a major step in his recovery.
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What Summer League Just Told Jayhawks Fans About KU's NBA Hopefuls
The NBA Summer League wrapped up with Golden State taking the title, and for Kansas fans it offered a first look at how a handful of Jayhawks are trying to carve out their next steps. Seven former KU players were spread across different teams and venues, with Darryn Peterson drawing the most attention in Utah, Hunter Dickinson and Melvin Council Jr. getting chances with New Orleans, Tre White flashing for Miami, and Zeke Mayo logging minutes for Atlanta.
KJ Adams was part of the Warriors summer roster, but his path back into game action remained the quieter subplot of the group. Across the board, the Jayhawks had a little of everything in July: promising scoring bursts, uneven shooting, and the kind of mixed results that can still matter when front offices are deciding who gets another look once summer league ends. [Read more 🡒]
Tyshawn Taylor Just Took A Meaningful Next Step Beyond Kansas
Tyshawn Taylor has stayed close to Kansas basketball in a way that feels bigger than a summer reunion. The former Jayhawk is helping guide the Kansas alumni team in The Basketball Tournament while also being part of the action himself, a reminder that some program ties do not fade when the college days end. Around him is a roster built to draw attention from Kansas fans, with familiar names and enough experience to make the group feel like more than a nostalgia act.
Taylors next step also points well beyond Lawrence. He has begun talking through his new coaching path with Bill Self, and the Kansas coach has made clear he is proud of the opportunity and eager to see where it leads. For Taylor, the move adds another layer to a career that now includes leadership, teaching and the kind of daily work that can open doors with young players and college coaches alike. [Read more 🡒]
How Kansas Turned Overlooked Recruits Into Jayhawk Football Legends
Kansas has spent the last several recruiting cycles proving that the old labels do not always stick. Cobee Bryant arrived as a three-star safety and left Lawrence as a three-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, while Jalon Daniels developed into one of the most important quarterbacks in program history after signing with the school as a dual-threat prospect. Even Dominick Puni, who came in without a ranking at all, became the kind of offensive lineman Kansas fans now point to as a model for what development can look like in the right system.
What makes that run so striking is how different each path was, and how quickly the Jayhawks turned overlooked talent into real production. Bryant is already into his next NFL chapter, Daniels is still carrying a legacy that trails only one name in the program record book, and Punis rise remains the clearest reminder that Kansas has found value where plenty of others did not. The bigger question now is which recent recruit will be next to follow that same unlikely climb. [Read more 🡒]