Kansas

Zeke Mayo, AJ Storr officially sign to play in college next season with Kansas basketball

Published

2 years ago

April 19, 2024

Zeke Mayo, AJ Storr officially sign to play in college next season with Kansas basketball

LAWRENCE — Zeke Mayo and AJ Storr are now officially members of the Kansas basketball program, after their signings were announced by KU on Thursday.

Mayo, a senior guard, is transferring in from South Dakota State. Storr, a junior guard, is transferring from Wisconsin. Both are set to be key pieces for the Jayhawks’ next season, as coach Bill Self continues to reshape the roster into another Big 12 Conference and national contender.

How Kansas basketball’s roster looks next season after transfer portal, recruiting

AJ Storr, a highly sought-after college transfer, commits to join Kansas basketball

“Zeke has had a terrific career at SDSU and led them to the NCAA Tournament two of his three seasons there,” Self said in a Kansas release. “Most importantly, Zeke is a proven shooter. He made 92 threes last year and will be able to help us in that area. Being a local kid, it will mean so much to him and his family to put the Kansas jersey on and run out of the tunnel.”

Self added in the release: “AJ is a great athlete, and one of the top wing players in the portal. He pulled his name out of the (NBA) draft and we are happy he chose to come to Kansas. We feel AJ will fit in well with our style of play. He comes from a winning program at Wisconsin. He actually visited Kansas out of high school when he was at IMG Academy.”

As Self stated, Mayo comes to Kansas as a Lawerence native. Storr started his college career at St. John’s and is from Rockford, Illinois. Both will have the opportunity to earn roles on a Jayhawks squad that has enjoyed Big 12 and national success in recent seasons, but went without any new championships during the 2023-24 campaign — which ended with a loss in the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament. Both have showcased an ability to hit shots from the perimeter.

Mayo, listed at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, was described as a combo-guard and is multi-time, All-Summit League honoree. He earned recognition as the Summit League’s player of the year this past season. While at South Dakota State, he helped the program to two Summit League regular season championships and a pair of Summit League conference tournament championships.

Storr, listed at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, earned All-Big Ten Conference recognition at Wisconsin this past season and All-Big East Conference recognition at St. John’s the season before that. At Wisconsin, he helped the team to the NCAA tournament. Before this past season he also played for the Bahamian national team, when Kansas played it during a trip to Puerto Rico.

“With great excitement and humility, I announce my commitment to the University of Kansas Basketball program,” Storr said Thursday in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Joining the Jayhawks is a dream realized, and I’m incredibly honored for this opportunity to be a part of the tradition and culture of Kansas Basketball.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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Grades for Chiefs’ offseason reset, from free agency haul to Taylor Swift aura

Published

11 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

Grades for Chiefs’ offseason reset, from free agency haul to Taylor Swift aura

The Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2025 NFL season hoping to become the first team to earn a Super Bowl three-peat.

Instead, they sputtered to their worst-ever finish during Andy Reid’s 13 seasons in Kansas City.

The Chiefs posted just a 6-11 record in a season that was marred by a bevy offensive issues that led to the team struggle badly in one-score contests. Kansas City lost starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee in the game during which it was eliminated from playoff contention, adding injury to what was already an insulting season.

As such, Kansas City entered the offseason hoping for two things: get healthy and reshape its roster to better support Mahomes, especially with him returning from a significant injury.

Were the Chiefs able to accomplish those goals? Here’s a complete breakdown of Kansas City’s offseason and whether the team has the talent and pathway needed to be a contender in 2026.

Kansas City Chiefs offseason report card

Free agency: C

Free agency was a mixed bag for the Chiefs. On the one hand, they made a notable upgrade to their running game by signing Kenneth Walker to replace Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. The Super Bowl 60 MVP should help take pressure off Mahomes, which could prove critical as the 31-year-old quarterback returns from his significant knee injury.

However, the Chiefs also lost a lot of talent, particularly on defense. Notably, they lost three starters from their secondary, as cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook signed with the Rams and Bengals in free agency while star cornerback Trent McDuffie was traded to the Rams.

That overhaul, along with the loss of linebacker Leo Chenal, could prove a lot for the Chiefs to overcome on defense even after adding some solid veteran depth in the form of defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, safety Alohi Gilman and CB L’Jarius Sneed.

NFL draft: B+

The good news for the Chiefs? They had a rock-solid 2026 NFL Draft that helped shore up their defense. Kansas City spent its first three picks on that side of the ball, landing the draft’s top cornerback, Mansoor Delane, a potential-packed defensive tackle in Peter Woods and an explosive, high-motor edge rusher in R Mason Thomas.

The Chiefs also spent a seventh-round selection on quarterback Garrett Nussmeier – viewed by many as a Day 2 talent – after he slid due to injury. Having him to develop behind Mahomes and free-agent signee Justin Fields will be nice for Reid.

State of the roster: B-

This version of the Chiefs has more concerns than previous iterations. The cornerback group is particularly suspect, though Delane’s presence raises that unit’s ceiling. Elsewhere, the team is thinner than most would like at receiver while right tackle remains a question mark.

Still, Mahomes remains one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks even with the questions facing him in his return. Kansas City’s interior offensive line remains strong thanks to the Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith pairing while Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy could be a strong receiver duo, if all goes well.

Defensively, the Chiefs still look strong up the middle thanks to Chris Jones and the team’s newly-acquired interior depth as well as the Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill partnership at linebacker. It’s just a matter of whether they will be able to hold up in coverage with their new-look secondary.

All that’s to say that while the Chiefs still have an above-average roster, it has far more holes than many of its recent Super Bowl-winning units have.

Chance of contending in 2026: B

There are some factors working against the Chiefs this season. They play in the AFC West, which figures to once again be one of the toughest divisions in football, and will need to stay afloat early in the season either without Mahomes or with him still getting his injured left leg under him.

Kansas City is also undergoing a lot of changes on defense, so it may take a while before Steve Spagnuolo’s unit is playing at its peak.

Still, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that Reid and Co. will be able to turn this team into a playoff contender once again. He and Mahomes have three rings together, after all.

Long-term outlook and team direction: A-

The Chiefs still have a rosy outlook long-term. Realistically, that will remain as long as the Reid-Mahomes partnership is in effect. Sure, the team will have to get creative with its finances considering the quarterback’s record-breaking contract, but GM Brett Veach has shown an ability to navigate the cap well across his tenure.

This offseason is a great example of that. Veach had to play “Moneyball” with some portion of the team’s roster as expenses mounted, and he chose the secondary for that. That was an astute move considering Spagnuolo’s penchant for developing defensive back talent, and giving him a top prospect like Delane via a trade up was a sensible maneuver.

The biggest questions with which Kansas City will soon reckon are about how to replace Travis Kelce and whether to extend Rashee Rice. As long as they find suitable answers to those and fill any holes that develop during the 2026 season, the Chiefs should remain a contender.

Aura and vibes: B

Vibes around the Chiefs are generally good. Mahomes’ recovery from his late-season injury has inspired optimism, as he and the team has posted videos of him working out and throwing, while the antics surrounding Kelce’s wedding to Taylor Swift showed off the team’s strong-looking bond.

The lone negative? Rice has had a trying offseason during which he spent time in jail for a probation violation. Questions about his ability to stay on the field continue to persist, and he remains one of the team’s biggest short- and long-term question marks because of it.

Nonetheless, there seems to be a lot of belief that the Chiefs can re-establish themselves as a playoff contender during the 2026 NFL season. That’s great news for a team that endured a disappointing and shocking 6-11 campaign last year after back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

Overall offseason grade: B-

It’s hard to fault the Chiefs too much for the approach they took during the offseason. They suffered some key losses in free agency, but that was to be expected given how much they are paying to Mahomes and other stars on the roster.

Kansas City should still be a playoff contender, but questions remain whether this year’s iteration of the team can reach the Super Bowl ceiling of previous squads. It’s hard to categorically count out Mahomes and Reid, but given the holes Kansas City has, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it have to scratch and claw its way into the playoff race.

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‘Explosive diarrhea’ outbreak includes 5 cases in Sedgwick County, 22 in Kansas

Published

24 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Press Room

‘Explosive diarrhea’ outbreak includes 5 cases in Sedgwick County, 22 in Kansas

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – As cases climb in the nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Sedgwick County provided clarity on the “explosive” diarrheal illness’s impact at the state and local levels.

Data from KDHE shows 22 cases in Kansas. Further localizing cyclosporiasis cases, there are five confirmed cases in Sedgwick County. The county clarified that all five local cases are Sedgwick County residents.

Regarding whether any of the local cases resulted in hospitalization, Sedgwick County said that for privacy reasons it couldn’t provide that information, “due to the small number of cases.”

While questions continue surrounding the outbreak, Health experts announced on Tuesday that lettuce and other salad greens are a potential source.

To protect yourself from cyclosporiasis and bacterial illnesses connected with produce, Sedgwick County offered the following guidance:

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or preparing them.
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
- Avoid bagged lettuce or salad mixes. When eating a whole head of lettuce, remove the first two or three layers of leaves and thoroughly wash the inner leaves under running water. Separate the leaves as you wash them.
Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.
Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
Travelers to cyclosporiasis-endemic areas should follow food and water precautions, including avoiding foods and beverages that may be contaminated.
Be aware that Cyclospora is unlikely to be killed by routine chemical disinfection or sanitizing methods.
If you develop symptoms of cyclosporiasis, especially persistent watery diarrhea, contact a healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment recommendations.

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Newly released song depicts world visiting Kansas City for historic summer

Published

1 day ago

July 14, 2026

Press Room

Newly released song depicts world visiting Kansas City for historic summer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – One creator has written an anthem for Kansas City to reflect the metro’s historic summer for years to come.

An Omaha-based Afrobeat artist, Kusher Snazzy, released a World Cup song, ‘KC to the World,’ celebrating the tournament’s culture and diversity.

A shot of the Kansas City skyline taken on July 4, 2024.(Zoe Shriner, KCTV5)

The song features soccer players and dancers representing multiple nations that played in the World Cup, including Germany, Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Italy. It was filmed locally in multiple locations, including a metro studio and rooftop.

READ MORE: Kansas City eyes 2031 Women’s World Cup bid after hosting FIFA tournament

'KC to the World' depicts the uniqueness and excitement of a once-in-a-lifetime Kansas City... — ‘KC to the World’ depicts the uniqueness and excitement of a once-in-a-lifetime Kansas City summer.(Kusher Snazzy)

Kusher Snazzy’s goal with the song was to depict the once-in-a-lifetime summer. His passion for soccer and the Midwest inspired the lyrics.

“We don’t know when FIFA is going to choose KC again,” said Kusher.

Joseph Termini is the mastermind behind the project. He took a vision and made it come to life. As a Kansas City native, he knew the importance of showcasing his city positively through a music video.

“Kansas City has been under the radar, and I feel like this is the first time we’re being put on a pedestal, and that pedestal is allowing other people to realize that this is more than just a small-town city,” said Termini.