Up until a few days ago, the Kansas basketball roster had nothing going right. Six players transferred away from the program, leaving the school with zero returning rotation players from the disappointing 2024–25 squad. The most surprising portal entry was Flory Bidunga, who was the projected starting center for next year.
Many fans were wondering who would play alongside incoming freshman Darryn Peterson, but Bill Self has addressed his roster holes in a big way in the past few days. After adding two gritty transfer players, Bidunga made a surprising announcement that he would return to Kansas for a sophomore season.
Sources: Coveted big-man Flory Bidunga, one of the top transfers in the portal, has agreed to a deal to stay at Kansas, he told ESPN. The move keeps @FBidunga in Lawrence and represents a huge victory for Bill Self as he rebuilds the Kansas roster. pic.twitter.com/rB0i9jdQcv
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 6, 2025
Flory Bidunga will not leave Kansas basketball after all
With the rumblings that schools like Auburn were offering lucrative NIL deals to Bidunga, KU’s chances were looking slim in bringing the shot-blocking big man back. However, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, he agreed to a new deal and will stay put in Lawrence.
A 6-foot-9, 220-pound center, Bidunga was one of the best defensive players in the Big 12 this past season. He averaged 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds across 34 games (including six starts) while also adding 1.6 blocks per game. His length and athleticism made him a key piece down low, even in limited minutes behind KJ Adams and Hunter Dickinson.
Peterson called Bidunga the player he was most excited to team up with in an interview last month, so the Jayhawks’ phenom is definitely pumped about the news. The tandem should form an exciting one-two punch in pick-and-rolls, and Kansas fans can expect some highlight-worthy lobs between them.
After such a promising freshman year, it was disappointing to see Bidunga enter the portal. But now it looks like it was just a leverage play to weigh his options. Kansas fans can finally breathe a little easier knowing the starting center is back, and the new-look roster is starting to come together.