Flashback Friday: Remembering Kansas basketball great Darnell Valentine

This Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d take a look back at the career of one of the best point guards to ever put on a Kansas uniform – Darnell Valentine.

Valentine played high school basketball at Wichita Heights in Wichita, Kansas, before committing to play for KU under then-head coach Ted Owens.

Valentine was a coveted prospect and ended up being one of the first recruits selected to the inaugural McDonald’s All-American Team in 1977, along with Magic Johson and several other future NBA players.

Valentine played at KU from 1977 to 1981, amassing numerous conference and national honors and setting several school records.

To this day, Valentine remains No. 1 in school history in made free throws (541) and steals (336). He is sixth in KU history in assists (609) and seventh all time in scoring with 1,821 points.

Valentine led the team in scoring in each of his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. Following his senior year, Valentine was named Second-Team All-American by the Associated Press and is one of just three players in KU history to earn both All-American and Academic All-American honors – the latter of which he earned three times during his KU career.  

He’s also the only player in KU history to be named first-team all-conference four times.

After his distinguished KU career, Valentine was drafted 16th overall in the 1981 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He played with the franchise for five seasons and spent 10 seasons overall in the NBA between the Trailblazers, Los Angelese Clippers, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

After his playing days were over, Valentine’s No. 14 (fitting for a player with his last name) KU jersey was officially retired on Jan. 1, 2005, where it now hangs alongside dozens of other Jayhawk legends.

Valentine’s contributions to KU have continued throughout the years, and he was recently recognized for those as one of the 2025 Marian E. Washington Trailblazers.

Named after former long-time KU women’s basketball head coach and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Marian E. Washington, the Trailblazers Series “recognizes the notable achievements and accomplishments of African Americans who have helped shape the Jayhawk program throughout the years.” Honorees have been recognized each year since 2020 during Black History Month in February.

Valentine’s Day is all about love, and Darnell Valentine remains one of the most beloved teammates and players in Kansas basketball history.