Sports
Prestonwood alum Zach Peters leaving Kansas due to health issues
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
Prestonwood Christian Academy alum Zach Peters has decided to leave the University of Kansas men's basketball program, citing health reasons.
After a shoulder injury and a pair of concussions sidelined Peters for almost the entirety of the fall, Kansas head coach Bill Self announced Peters' decision Monday to leave the Jayhawks following the 2012 fall semester.
"Zach and I met today after he went home to meet with his family and he has informed us that he will be leaving the basketball program effective at the end of the semester," Self said in a statement. "Zach has labored with health issues since he has been here.
"His shoulder has improved but he's also been dealing with multiple concussions that have become a big source of frustration and concern for him."
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward was a four-time TAPPS all-state first team selection and helped guide Prestonwood to a pair of TAPPS Division I State Championships. Peters also contributed as a wide receiver with the Lions' football team, catching 82 balls for 1,095 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.
Self added doctors noted that Peters sustained four concussions since his senior year at Prestonwood, including two in his brief time with the Jayhawks.
"This is unfortunate for Zach and our team," Self said. "I personally thought that Zach had a chance to be a very good player at the University of Kansas. It's a shame that these health issues have kept him from doing so. While the shoulder has improved, he's still not 100 percent."
Peters contributed during the team's Europe trip to Switzerland and Paris over the summer, averaging 5.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.
"I hate that this is happening. I have really enjoyed my time at KU," Peters said. "I was looking forward to having a great college experience here but with all the injuries, including the concussions, that I have dealt with lately, I feel like in order for me to move on and be able to get over all this, I need to go home and basically heal."
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
After a shoulder injury and a pair of concussions sidelined Peters for almost the entirety of the fall, Kansas head coach Bill Self announced Peters' decision Monday to leave the Jayhawks following the 2012 fall semester.
"Zach and I met today after he went home to meet with his family and he has informed us that he will be leaving the basketball program effective at the end of the semester," Self said in a statement. "Zach has labored with health issues since he has been here.
"His shoulder has improved but he's also been dealing with multiple concussions that have become a big source of frustration and concern for him."
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward was a four-time TAPPS all-state first team selection and helped guide Prestonwood to a pair of TAPPS Division I State Championships. Peters also contributed as a wide receiver with the Lions' football team, catching 82 balls for 1,095 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.
Self added doctors noted that Peters sustained four concussions since his senior year at Prestonwood, including two in his brief time with the Jayhawks.
"This is unfortunate for Zach and our team," Self said. "I personally thought that Zach had a chance to be a very good player at the University of Kansas. It's a shame that these health issues have kept him from doing so. While the shoulder has improved, he's still not 100 percent."
Peters contributed during the team's Europe trip to Switzerland and Paris over the summer, averaging 5.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.
"I hate that this is happening. I have really enjoyed my time at KU," Peters said. "I was looking forward to having a great college experience here but with all the injuries, including the concussions, that I have dealt with lately, I feel like in order for me to move on and be able to get over all this, I need to go home and basically heal."
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News