The first week of the college basketball season was, of course, a wild one. Kansas just suffered its first loss of the season to North Carolina on Friday night in Chapel Hill. Not to worry, it was a tough early-season test on the road, and Self’s group will have plenty of opportunities to bounce back in the near future.
With most Division I programs having already played their first few games, it’s time to check in on some early-season stats from every player who used to call the city of Lawrence home. We’ll name every former Jayhawk currently on an active college basketball roster so you can keep track of them throughout the season.
Last Season’s Jayhawks
AJ Storr (Ole Miss)
Averages through two games: 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on 58.8% shooting
After entering the 2024–25 season with high expectations at Kansas, Storr didn’t quite perform at the level everyone knew he was capable of. This was largely due to a poor fit, as he wasn’t the type of player who typically thrives in Bill Self’s system. Talent was never the issue, and other coaches (including Self) knew it. In April, he elected to transfer to Ole Miss to play for head coach Chris Beard. Now at his fourth school, Storr has begun his “restart” season with the Rebels and has looked good through the first couple of games. He’ll look to maintain that effort as the season progresses in hopes of leading Ole Miss to another NCAA Tournament berth, and possibly more.
Rylan Griffen (Texas A&M)
Averages through three games: 11.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 60.0% shooting
The sharpshooter, who played for the Jayhawks last season after beginning his college career at Alabama, is now one of three former Jayhawks to join head coach Bucky McMillan down in College Station. Griffen didn’t have a great junior season at KU, seeing a dip in his efficiency. Now, through his first three games with the Aggies, he appears to be back to his old form, shooting the ball at a high percentage, and even better than before. If he keeps it up, his season promises to be a successful one as he helps lead Texas A&M to another NCAA Tournament appearance.
Diggy Coit (Maryland)
Averages through two games: 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 31.8% shooting
The former pizza delivery man played last season at KU with few expectations but showed flashes of why he could be a great player. One of two former Jayhawks to join Maryland this season, Coit has carved out a much larger role, doubling his minutes per game. The high-volume shooter has begun the season as a sixth man for the Terps and will try to help lead them through the Big Ten schedule. Despite a loss to Georgetown in their second contest, Maryland still has NCAA Tournament expectations with new head coach Buzz Williams now at the helm.
Zachary Clemence (Texas A&M)
Averages through three games: 5.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on 33.0% shooting
After four years and three seasons of never fully carving out a role with the Jayhawks, the former four-star forward now plays at Texas A&M. Clemence has tripled his playing-time average through three games and looks to be a bigger piece who can help contribute to the Aggies’ overall goals for the season.
Rakease Passmore (Maryland)
After transferring to Maryland at the conclusion of his freshman campaign at Kansas, Passmore will miss the 2025–26 season for the Terps after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in September.
Other Active Former Jayhawks
Arterio Morris (Bethune-Cookman)
Averages through two games: 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on 25% shooting
Though the former five-star recruit never played an official game for the Jayhawks, Morris was projected to be an enormous piece for them heading into the 2023–24 season after transferring from Texas. Before the season began, he was dismissed from the program following a now-dropped rape charge. After spending the past two years trying to work his way back to the Division I level, he has returned as a major piece for Bethune-Cookman, an HBCU that competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Morris has looked good through the first couple of games, nearly leading the Wildcats to an unprecedented opening-night win at “The Jungle” in Auburn. Will we hear his name again come March?
Zuby Ejiofor (St John’s)
Averages through two games: 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks on 72.7% shooting
After getting minimal repetitions in his first season with the Jayhawks, Ejiofor transferred to St. John’s, which at the time was welcoming new head coach Rick Pitino. He didn’t play much in his sophomore year but had a breakout junior season, helping lead the Red Storm to a 2-seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. He entered this season as the Preseason Big East Player of the Year and has gotten off to a hot start. He had a huge game against Alabama (despite the loss) and will need to continue playing at that level if St. John’s wants to achieve its goal of winning a national title this season.
Ernest Udeh Jr. (Miami)
Averages through two games: 11.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks on 90.0% shooting
The former four-star center had a promising freshman season as a backup to KJ Adams but left to play for TCU after news broke that Hunter Dickinson had signed with Kansas. Udeh Jr. played two seasons for the Horned Frogs under head coach Jamie Dixon, doubling his role each year, though he never developed quite as he may have hoped. After last season, he transferred to Miami to play for new head coach Jai Lucas. Through the first couple of games, he has looked better than ever and will try to help lead the Hurricanes through the ACC and possibly into March.
MJ Rice (Cape Fear Community College)
Averages through two games: 18.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 55.0% shooting
The former four-star prospect had high expectations as a freshman for the Jayhawks, who were coming off a national title heading into the 2022–23 season. Rice showed flashes of his potential but never fully panned out by the end of the year. He decided to transfer to NC State for his sophomore season. Although the Wolfpack made a run to the Final Four, Rice redshirted, appearing in just nine games, and ultimately decided to leave the program after the season. Last year, he disappeared from the public spotlight before returning this season as a member of JUCO school Cape Fear CC. Through the first couple of games, he has looked great, and while the competition may not be as intense, he could very well play himself back to the Division I level by next season.
Kyle Cuffe Jr. (Mercer)
Averages through two games: 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals on 26.7% shooting
The former four-star recruit spent two seasons at KU (2021–23) but appeared in only two games due to injury complications. Cuffe Jr. then transferred to Syracuse, where he spent the last two seasons without finding a truly consistent role. He moved to Mercer for the 2025–26 season and is expected to be a solid role player for the Bears. Could we potentially hear Kyle Cuffe Jr.’s name again come March?
Tyon Grant-Foster (Gonzaga)
Averages through two games: 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals on 61.1% shooting
The Kansas City native was a freshman at KU back in 2018. Grant-Foster arrived as a junior in the 2020–21 season with major expectations. After a largely lackluster season with the Jayhawks, he transferred to DePaul. During his first game with the team, he collapsed in the locker room at halftime due to cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated three times. He ended up missing the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons while recovering from two heart surgeries for arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart disorder that causes irregular heart rhythms and can be fatal to athletes if left untreated. After being cleared to play, Grant-Foster moved on to Grand Canyon, where he spent two seasons and reappeared on the national scene. He led the Lopes to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, guiding them to the Round of 32 in 2024. He now arrives at Gonzaga seven years after beginning college, having even faced clearance issues prior to the season. This year, he is undeniably one of Gonzaga’s leaders as the team aims to capture the first national title in program history.
One big name who was signed to Kansas and attended multiple games in high school but ultimately transferred to Alabama prior to the 2024–25 season is Labaron Philon Jr. After a successful freshman campaign with the Crimson Tide, he elected to return for his sophomore season. Through the first two games, he is currently averaging 23.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 63.3% shooting. Philon Jr. helped Alabama take down St. John’s on the road Saturday afternoon and will undoubtedly be one of the team’s leaders throughout the SEC contender’s season.
One final name not mentioned in today’s article, but who spent last season with the Jayhawks (without appearing in a game), is Noah Shelby. He is one of three former Jayhawks who transferred to Texas A&M after the 2024–25 season. He appeared in one of the Aggies’ first three games this season and, despite logging just two minutes, was able to drain a three-pointer.
Which of these players will have the biggest impact on their team this season, and could one of them help their team make a deep run in March?
Make sure to bookmark Through the Phog and follow us on X and Facebook with the username @Throughthephog