Considering it was the first full week in July, there was plenty of Kansas basketball news last week. Darryn Peterson took a pot shot at head coach Bill Self, and the Big 12 and the Jayhawks both announced big corporate sponsorship deals.
Self and his staff are hitting the recruiting road hard for the Class of 2027 and beyond. They locked down five-star forward Javon Bardwell last fall, but now they are out there looking for the best roster fits. It is just about a 365-day-a-year task.
Here's a recap of some of the biggest Kansas basketball stories from last week.
Darryn Peterson tries to alienate Kansas basketball fans again
Peterson's time at KU was frustrating for most fans. They had high expectations for the extremely talented guard, but the season was a mess. Most of it was Peterson's fault. Whether it was beyond his control or not is something few people know.
The second-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft told reporters he didn't have fun at Kansas because the ball wasn't in his hands.
Darryn Peterson to @swishcultures_ post Vegas summer league debut: “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
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 10, 2026
Of course, he didn't mention that he missed several games during the first half of the season and that he took himself out of several others. He also didn't mention Self had no choice but to come up with another plan because of Peterson's unavailability. The team, with Melvin Council Jr. handling the ball, often played better without their prima donna star on the court, and the team scuffled when Peterson did play. The star guard often struggled with pressure and double teams when he did play.
Peterson will never be beloved by KU fans, and it is mostly his fault. Comments like these don't help.
Taylen Kinney will be an exciting player for Kansas basketball
Taylen Kinney appears to be the perfect point guard for Bill Self and his offense. Kinney can create offense off his dribble, he can score, and he can facilitate for others.
He's not overly tall at 6-foot-one, but he is athletic with plenty of bounce. That lack of overall height could keep him in college an extra year or two, especially since he can now make money through NIL deals.
Fans should be excited to see Kinney play. He's going to be special.
Top recruit Demarcus Henry has Kansas basketball on his early list of schools
Demarcus Henry listed KU on his initial list of preferred schools. He's a top-five recruit, and if paired with Bardwell (and maybe Kinney, Kohl Rosario, and Leroy Blyden Jr.), the Jayhawks could have a formidable backcourt in 2027.
It is extremely early in the recruiting season, but Self will be looking at every possible option to fill out his future rosters. Henry looks like he will be a player to watch if he commits to the Jayhawks.
Corporate patches on Kansas uniforms are probably here to stay, so get used to them
The Big 12 announced a deal with Monster Energy last week, and Kansas put forth their own deal with Ripple. Both corporate sponsorships will require a patch on all uniforms.
While the patches will mar the Kansas uniforms, it's likely they're here to stay, and there probably will be more than just two.
The partnership provides money for NIL deals for players. Boosters have provided a lot of the funds in the early years of NIL, but that isn't a sustainable model. Corporate sponsorships add money to the coffers and will help Kansas stay competitive when it comes to recruiting top talent.
Former Kansas basketball player Lagerald Vick was arrested for attempted murder
Not all news is good news. This past weekend, former Jayhawk Legerald was arrested in Memphis and charged with attempted murder, according to ESPN. Vick played at Kansas during the 2015-19 seasons. He played 117 games and scored 1,100 points, averaging 9.4 points a game.
Vick has a troubled past, but it is still shocking to see him charged with such a serious crime. Everyone just has to wait for the case to play out to see how it turns out for Vick.
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