Kansas had no shortage of headlines last week, and the biggest ones stretched from the transfer of power in the backcourt to the growing business side of the program.
The most talked-about quote came from Darryn Peterson, who took a swipe at Bill Self after his NBA Summer League debut. The second-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft said he was glad to be playing freely again, adding, “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” pic.twitter.com/MwofOjphQ2
That comment landed with plenty of force because Peterson’s time in Lawrence never matched the hype. Fans expected a star who could carry the offense, but the season never settled into anything close to that.
Peterson missed multiple games in the first half of the year and also removed himself from several others, leaving Self to adjust on the fly. With Melvin Council Jr. taking over ball-handling duties, Kansas often looked better without Peterson on the floor, while the games he did play too often turned messy.
He also had trouble dealing with pressure and double teams when defenses loaded up on him.
That’s why remarks like this are unlikely to soften how KU fans feel about him.
On the recruiting front, Self and his staff are already pushing hard for the Class of 2027 and beyond. They secured five-star forward Javon Bardwell last fall, but the bigger picture now is roster construction and fit. One name that stands out is Taylen Kinney, who looks like a clean fit for what Self wants to do.
Kinney brings shot creation, scoring, and playmaking in one package. At 6-foot-one, he’s not a giant, but he’s athletic and bouncy, and that size could keep him in college longer than some of his peers, especially now that NIL money can factor into the equation. He looks like the kind of guard fans will want to watch closely.
Another recruit worth tracking is Demarcus Henry, who included Kansas on his initial list of preferred schools. He’s a top-five recruit, and if the Jayhawks were to land him alongside Bardwell and maybe Kinney, Kohl Rosario, and Leroy Blyden Jr., the backcourt picture in 2027 starts to look awfully strong. It’s still very early, but Henry is clearly one to watch.
There was also movement on the business side. The Big 12 announced a deal with Monster Energy, and Kansas followed with its own partnership with Ripple. Both agreements come with uniform patches, a visual change that will show up on all jerseys.
The patches may not thrill everyone, but they appear likely to stick around, and more could follow. The bigger point is what the deals mean for NIL funding.
Boosters have carried much of that load so far, but that model isn’t built to last. Corporate money adds another stream, and for Kansas, that matters when the program is trying to stay in the mix for top-end talent.
Not every piece of news was tied to the future, though. Former Jayhawk Legerald Vick was arrested in Memphis over the weekend and charged with attempted murder. Vick played at Kansas from 2015-19, appeared in 117 games, and scored 1,100 points while averaging 9.4 points per game.
His past has already been complicated, but the charge is still a stunning development. For now, the case will have to run its course.
In Other News...
Kansas Football Just Made A Massive Statement About Its Future
Kansas is putting a major stamp on its football future with the ongoing renovation of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, a centerpiece of the Gateway District project that has quickly become one of the most ambitious facility pushes in the sport. The upgrades are designed to bring in improved seating, modern fan amenities and a more polished game-day atmosphere, all while signaling that the program under Travis Goff and Lance Leipold is serious about building something lasting.
The project also carries real weight beyond aesthetics, because it gives Kansas a chance to present itself more like a Power Four program when it comes to recruiting and the overall experience around the team. With completion expected by 2027 or 2028, the stadium work is still unfolding, but the message is already clear: Kansas is investing heavily in a future it expects to compete for at a much higher level. [Read more 🡒]
Former Jayhawk Lands In Shocking New Legal Trouble
A former Kansas basketball player is back in the news for all the wrong reasons, with Lagerald Montrell Vick arrested in Memphis and booked into Shelby County jail after a July 4 incident at a party. The case has already taken on serious weight because investigators say a shooting was involved, and Vick is now facing a separate firearm-related charge as the legal process begins to unfold.
For Kansas fans, the troubling part is that this is not an isolated off-court issue. Vick already had a pending case from an earlier arrest in April that involved aggravated burglary, theft and vandalism allegations, and now he is dealing with another court fight on top of that. His bond was set at $1.5 million, leaving a once-familiar Jayhawk name tied to a rapidly escalating legal situation with a lot still unresolved. [Read more 🡒]