Sherron Collins has attended 10 KU practices. Here’s his take on Darryn Peterson
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- Sherron Collins has observed 10 KU practices to enhance his coaching methods.
- Collins and Jacque Vaughn monitor freshman Darryn Peterson’s practice growth.
- KU alumni team prepares for TBT debut vs. OffDaHook on Saturday in Kansas City.
Sherron Collins, the Kansas City area’s coach of the year after leading his Oak Park High School team to a 31-1 record and the first state title in program history, figures he’ll be an even better coach in 2025-26 after observing 10 Kansas basketball practices during the summer school session.
“I’m over there just being a sponge and stealing stuff,” Collins said with a smile Monday at Crown Automotive.
The coach of KU’s alumni entry in the 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all single-elimination TBT, was speaking while signing autographs for fans alongside alumni team general manager Tyshawn Taylor, as well as team members Billy Preston, Nick Timberlake, Jamari Traylor, Kevin Young and former Washburn guard Jacob Hanna.
Former KU forward David McCormack has left the team to take care of some travel paperwork involving his pro career overseas and is no longer expected to play in the TBT. Former Jayhawks Cliff Alexander, Lagerald Vick and Zeke Mayo are expected to join the squad, which goes by the name JHX Hoops.
“I’m just learning how to run practice better, be more organized with practice and get out of my boys what I want to get out of them,” Collins said of his spending time in Kansas’ practice facility with the current KU team.
The 2025-26 Jayhawks have been working out together since early June, in accordance with NCAA rules.
“They play so hard,” Collins said. “The focus at practice is unbelievable.”
Collins, a key player on KU’s 2008 NCAA title team, has been observing not only his head coach, Bill Self, at Jayhawks practices, but a new addition to the coaching staff, too.
“I can pick Jacque Vaughn’s brain now. That’s like heaven for me,” Collins said of first-year KU assistant Vaughn, the former head coach of the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets who has replaced Norm Roberts.
Roberts, Self’s former right-hand man, retired after 37 years in coaching, 14 at KU. Vaughn and Collins are regarded as two of the top point guards in KU history.
“Between him, Coach Self, (Jeremy) Case … learning from all those guys,” Collins said. “I’m just trying to put my own spin on the thing.”
Both Collins and Vaughn have kept a close eye on freshman sensation Darryn Peterson, rated as the No. 1 player in the recruiting class of 2025, according to 247sports.com, and No. 2 according to ESPN.com.
“I would say more of I’m like a big brother role,” Collins said, “and Jacque’s working him (Peterson) out and doing a lot with him. I’ll talk to him about the little things, like being vocal, talking a lot, commanding practice, making sure he’s bringing his guys along.”
Peterson, the 6-foot-5, 195-pound standout from Canton, Ohio, is the 2025 Naismith Trophy boys basketball player of the year. And he’s expected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“He’s elite,” former KU guard Taylor said while seated next to Collins at a table at Crown Automotive.
“Yeah, he’s elite. But the difference is he wakes up 6-foot-5, 6-5, 6-5,” the 5-11 Collins exclaimed. “I wouldn’t compare it to me, but I’ll look at it how I used to get my shot off: (I) just have to do so much to get the space, whereas he (Peterson) can just rise over and shoot over you. I mean, it’s easy (for him).
“I call him, ‘Smooth,’ because it’s just smooth, man,” Collins added of the versatile Peterson. “He’s just really good. He can play the game of basketball. He doesn’t have to have the ball in his hand. He’s got to move a little bit better, but he’s elite.”
Collins was asked about some other current Jayhawks he’s watched at practice.
“It’s a mixture,” Collins said. “The guys coming in (portal transfers Tre White, Jayden Dawson, Melvin Council) are really good.
“The new guy (Kohl Rosario, 6-5 freshman from Overtime Elite), he’s really good. He’s gonna happen. He’s just raw.”
Collins added that, “Samis (Calderon, 6-8 freshman, Overtime Elite) is really good. Jamari (McDowell, soph guard) looks solid. ‘Flo’ (soph forward Flory Bidunga) looks really good. And the other guy that just started playing, (Bryson) Tiller (a 6-10 freshman from Overtime Elite), he’s going to be a really skilled big. I’m excited about the team. They look good when they practice, playing so hard.”
Tiller, who didn’t play last year because of injury, “started (practicing) a couple days ago. So, I mean, I’m excited about the team. They look good when they practice. They play hard,” Collins said.
Collins, who ran his TBT team through a practice Monday at Bishop Seabury in Lawrence, likes his current alumni squad.
“Great,” he said. “I mean, it’s a collection of guys that have all been successful. They respect us for what we (he and Taylor) have done playing-wise. I like the team. These guys are pros. We get to bring them together and coach them. They all listen, so it’s the best thing ever.”
JHX Hoops will practice before or after their summer skills camp for youths, set for 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Wednesday at Swinney Center on UMKC’s campus. KU will play Kansas State’s TBT alumni team, Purple Reign, in the Wheat State Showdown exhibition contest at 7 p.m. Thursday at UMKC’s Swinney Center.
KU will open play in the TBT against New York team OffDaHook at 3 p.m. Saturday at Municipal Auditorium. If KU prevails against OffDaHook, JHX would play again at 8 p.m. Monday, July 21, at Municipal.
This story was originally published July 15, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Sherron Collins has attended 10 KU practices. Here’s his take on Darryn Peterson."
