Is Jacque Vaughn responsible for this recruiting run?
Kansas basketball has been on a recruiting tear. There’s urgency here, and you can tell. Next year’s class is looking loaded with five-star PG Taylen Kinney, four-star forward Trent Perry, four-star forward Javon Bardwell (class of 2027), and now four-star big man Davion Adkins. Bardwell is hoping to reclassify. This is quite the haul, and it includes two guys from Kentucky. Let’s go.
The timing of this haul is convenient for the narrative. One longtime assistant, Norm Roberts, retired in the offseason and needed replacing. Though it took a minute to get pen to paper, Jacque Vaughn’s addition to the staff was a big deal then, and it seems like an even bigger deal now.
According to Kinney, Vaughn “kept it real” during his visit. Trent Perry openly cited Kansas being a path to the pros during his commitment… I probably do not need to remind you that Jacque was an NBA head coach as recently as 2024. Vaughn is also working closely with Darryn Peterson, staging one-on-one workouts on the side to add additional polish and perspiration to what should be a stellar freshman season. Want a quote that will get you juiced? Here’s one, via the Topeka Capitol-Journal’s Jordan Guskey:
“I’ll give you an observation about what I’ve seen,” Goff said during the Big 12 Conference’s media days for football. “I’ve been able to pop by a few of the workouts, and what happens after the workouts is a handful of the guys stick around and work with one of the coaches. I’ve been to three or four, and every time Darryn Peterson has stuck around for added work. And it’s not Darryn and another guy and two coaches, it’s Darryn and Jacque, Darryn and Jacque, one-on-one after every one of those sessions. And you can just see the mutual connection of Darryn going, ‘That dude’s done this workout, this drill, with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.’”
Golly!
Although ON3.com sometimes lists the attendant coaches in the “Recruited by” column, those notes aren’t currently on these recruits’ profiles. I don’t think we need to see them, though. I’ve made up my mind. Jacque Vaughn… the reason is you.
SOME OTHER BULLETS JUST FOR FUN
Kansas Citians, you gotta check out the vintage store 6 Foot Closet in the West Bottoms neighborhood. It’s a truly insane stash, filled with Jayhawks/Chiefs/Royals gems at the best vintage prices I’ve seen anywhere. Thank you to Emily Kratzer for putting me on!
I’m raising some money for KC Tenants, an incredible tenants organization run by Tara Raghuveer currently staging a rent strike in Raytown. If you donate $20 or more, forward your donation email to corban.goble@gmail.com with your address and I’ll send you some stickers and other swaaaaggggg. Don’t sleep on their merch store!
A Great Sports Book I really enjoyed (and read in like, two sittings) is Giri Nathan’s Changeover, an insightful and joyful chronicle about the rise of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcarez by a former Deadspin and New Yorker writer. Grab a copy from the Raven and do it fast, it’s pretty backordered where I live.
If you’re not angry right now, you’re not paying attention. Let’s take that anger and make some beautiful newsletters. Thanks for reading Streakers. Basketball soon.
Townsy is still around, no?