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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Avery Johnson Owns What Kansas State Lost Last Season
The 6-6 finish still hangs over Avery Johnson and Kansas State, and the quarterback did not try to soften why it happened. Johnson said the Wildcats spent too much time chasing results instead of leaning into the daily process, a lesson that has become a central theme under first-year coach Collin Klein. Attention to detail and consistent effort are now the points of emphasis, with Johnson acknowledging that the program has had to work through personnel changes and injuries while trying to reset its standard.
Johnson also framed the shift as one that fits the Wildcats history, and that matters because he is one of the players expected to carry the offense forward. After a season in which his production dipped, the pressure on him is obvious, especially with a senior year ahead and a team trying to prove last fall was more a warning than a trend. The bigger question is whether Kansas State can turn that self-critique into something sturdier before the next season starts to ask for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Is Carrying A K State Legacy Fans Deeply Trust
Collin Klein has spent enough time around Kansas State football to understand what comes with the job, and now he is the one carrying it. In his first season as the Wildcats head coach, Klein talked about how his path was shaped by the people who came before him, pointing to the lessons he absorbed while playing under Bill Snyder and later coaching under Chris Klieman.
For Kansas State fans, that lineage matters because it ties the present to the programs most trusted eras. Klein said Snyders influence helped push him toward coaching in the first place, while his relationship with Klieman has also been a major part of his rise. The result is a head coach who does not feel detached from the schools identity, even as he settles into the pressure of leading it himself. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Jackson Could Unlock A New Level For Kansas State
Joe Jackson already gave Kansas State plenty as a runner last season, when he emerged as a third-team All-Big 12 back with 911 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Even with that production, the Wildcats are looking at a version of Jackson that could stretch defenses in a different way, one that makes him more than just the guy taking handoffs between the tackles.
Jackson has made it clear he wants to be more involved catching the ball and doing damage out of the backfield, which would add another layer to an offense that can always use another reliable playmaker. For Kansas State, the appeal is obvious: if Jackson can turn those touches into something bigger, he could raise both his own ceiling and the offenses. [Read more 🡒]