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Bill Self is set for another matchup vs. Rick Pitino for five-star SF Malachi Jordan

Hopefully, Bill Self can get his first commitment in the Class of 2027 with Malachi Jordan putting the Jayhawks in his top three schools.
ByEricka Brockish
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Oct 20, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas coach Bill Self is interviewed during the Big 12 Media Days event at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Oct 20, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas coach Bill Self is interviewed during the Big 12 Media Days event at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The college basketball season is officially here, but it is never too early to start talking about the 2027 recruiting cycle. In fact, this is the perfect time for Bill Self and his squad to be making an impact on 2027 recruits, and it looks like they are already doing so with five-star forward Malachi Jordan.

Jordan has officially narrowed his search down to three schools, putting a lot of focus on Kansas, St. John's, and Vanderbilt as his possible schools to commit to. Jordan is one of the top forwards left in the Class of 2027, coming in at the No. 24 overall recruit and No. 6 small forward in the country, according to 247Sports recruiting rankings.

Right now, Self doesn't have a single commit in the Class of 2027, which isn't abnormal, with the 2027 cycle still early in recruitment. That doesn't mean Self and his coaching staff have put out a lot of offers - 26 in total, actually - with Jordan being one of them.

Bill Self will most likely need a Tyran Stokes replacement at the forward positon

One-and-done seasons are not something the Jayhawks are unfamiliar with. Just last season, Kansas only got five-star prospect Darryn Peterson for one season before he was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. 2026 five-star and No. 1 overall prospect Tyran Stokes is most likely going to follow that same path, although he is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick.

To think that Stokes is going to stick around Lawrence for more than one season is pretty foolish, so the Jayhawks will need a solid forward going into next season to be his replacement. Is Jordan that forward? Well, he is one of two players Kansas has offered at that position who have yet to make a commitment.

Jordan and AJ Williams, who doesn't have the Jayhawks in his Top 10 schools, are left for Self when it comes to offers. Jordan has at least narrowed his list to three, putting Kansas at the top. This creates yet another showdown with St. John's head coach Rick Pitino for Self.

The last time Pitino and Self went head-to-head was on the court in the NCAA Tournament last season. Kansas was simply a few seconds away from winning, but a last-second layup at the buzzer propelled PItino's team into the next round and ended the Jayhawks' season.

While this matchup between Self and Pitino doesn't have season-ending implications on it, the Jayhawks could really use the win and get their first commitment in the Class of 2027.

Jordan made official visits to all three schools, but has yet to announce a commitment date.

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