Much has been made about Kansas basketball head coach Bill Self missing out on highly sought-after recruits like Dame Sarr and Darrion Williams, but that doesn’t mean the Hall of Famer doesn’t have plenty of talent to work with.
Instead of focusing negatively on the players Self didn’t successfully recruit, there are plenty of good players fans can positively get behind. The Jayhawks have several solid players returning, as well as some dawgs from the transfer portal, and a talented freshman class.
When he targeted players in the transfer portal this year, he appeared to be seeking better fits for his system. This means good defenders, players that can create action with the ball in their hands, and mentally tough players.
What’s the Kansas basketball roster looking like for the 2025-26 season?
This team will be focused around super freshman Darryn Peterson. ESPN had him rated as the number-two overall recruit in this class. In his final prep season, he averaged 30.4 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.8 rebounds a game. If he can make shots at a high level and get the ball to teammates in a position to score at anything close to the same level, the Jayhawks will be plenty good.
The second big piece to this season’s puzzle will be the further development of Flory Bidunga. The sophomore entered the transfer portal but was lured back into the fold. He averaged 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds as a freshman, in 16.3 minutes per game.
During a four-game stretch when KJ Adams was out with an injury, Bidunga averaged 28.8 minutes, 11.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. Assuming that he takes a step forward in his development, he could be in line for a big year as the starter.
Another returning player is redshirt sophomore Elmarko Jackson, who was injured all of last year after an uneven freshman campaign. Jackson will be in a much better position this season without much of the spotlight on him. While he didn’t play last season, getting to watch practices and games should give him better insight into what will be expected from him by Self.
Two other holdover players are redshirt sophomore Jamari McDowell and redshirt junior Noah Shelby. It is hard to speculate on how much the Jayhawks will get from either player, but they do offer some perimeter depth for the KU.
Kansas added three transfers, all of whom averaged double-digits last season. All seem to have tenacious mindsets that will fit Self’s system better than transfers from past seasons. Melvin Council Jr., Tre White, and Jayden Dawson will all complement Peterson around the perimeter, and all three are decent rebounders.
Three more freshmen look to contribute in 2025. Bryson Tiller joined the team in January but redshirted. He, along with Samis Calderon, will provide depth behind Bidunga. The Jayhawks also added forward Corbin Allen. Allen might be more of a developmental piece for this season, but he could work his way into some playing time if he improves at a good pace.
The Kansas basketball team still has three scholarships to offer. Self could still add a veteran presence on the interior to offset all of the inexperience that exists with his big men. KU could look for long-term players who are looking to develop within the program, if Self can’t add a higher-profile transfer. The staff might also be looking internationally, as they did with the late addition of Johnny Furphy two years ago.
There is enough talent on the roster right now to be competitive in the Big 12 and nationally, especially if these transfers are better fits than the past couple of years.
The biggest challenge will be to get this many players, who have never played together, to gel and play as a unit. Self’s preferred style of play seems to have a steep learning curve, but hopefully, this group can make the transition quickly.