Just a few weeks ago, Paul Mbiya was committed to the NC State Wolfpack. Since then, he has decommitted and been the focus of both Kansas head coach Bill Self and Oregon head coach Dana Altman.
On Wednesday, June 25, Mbiya committed to the Kansas Jayhawks, continuing Self's hot streak on the recruiting trail.
The 6-foot-10 prospect out of Congo signed with the Wolfpack just days after receiving the initial offer. However, only two weeks later, he had decommitted and was testing the waters with the Jayhawks and the Oregon Ducks.
BREAKING: Kansas has landed international big man Paul Mbiya, sources tell @DushawnLondon1. #KUbball
— Michael Swain (@MSwain247) June 25, 2025
Story: https://t.co/k9bMa3Dm43 pic.twitter.com/DBzRmbx1fz
Before Mbiya's commitment, Self held the No. 31 recruiting class of 2025 in the nation, following the addition of four-star shooting guard Kohl Rosario just one day earlier.
Adding the big man to his depth chart could be exactly what Self and the Jayhawks need for depth in the paint next season. Kansas had yet to pick up a true center from the class of 2025, and Self had not recruited any centers from the transfer portal.
Kansas Jayhawks 2025 recruiting and transfer portal pick ups
- Five-star shooting guard Darryn Peterson
- Four-star shooting guard Kohl Rosario
- Three-star power forward Samis Calderon
- Three-star shooting guard Corbin Allen
- Unrated center Paul Mbiya
- Four-star small forward Tre White from Illinois
- Four-star point guard Jayden Dawson from Loyola Chicago
- Four-star shooting guard Melvin Council
Beyond Mbiya's shocking 6-foot-10 height, he also adds a good amount of strength that the Jayhawk lineup was previously lacking. At 200 pounds and 20 years old, Mbiya is a sturdy player in the paint, with international experience to show for it.
Most recently, he played for ASVEL Basket, a ProA U21 League in France. Now, he will use that experience to hopefully turn things around for the Jayhawks after a disappointing 2024-25 season.
In fact, Mbiya could be a fantastic substitute for Kansas losing veteran big man Hunter Dickinson after he reached the end of his eligibility last year.