The chaotic world that is college basketball cost the Kansas basketball team its only recruit for 2027. On Wednesday, Javon Bardwell, a five-star small forward, decided to reclassify into this year's class and decommitted from Kansas.
It's tough to hold a grudge against Bardwell for looking elsewhere upon changing classes. If he had come to KU this season, he would have been stuck behind the top overall prospect, Tyran Stokes. There is little doubt that Stokes will get a bulk of the minutes at small forward; going elsewhere will give Bardwell way more opportunity for playing time.
It would have been fun to see Bardwell in a Kansas uniform, but it's not going to happen. The Jayhawks will continue to look to fill out their roster now that the Barwell situation is settled.
There have been several names thrown out and discussed over the past week or so. Players like Jaxson Kohler, Emmanuel Ogbole, and more recently Karmin Oriol and Alfred Worrell could all be possibilities. Melvin Council Jr. might be an option if he wins his case against the NCAA, but that seems like a long shot. One other name emerged earlier this week—Tre White.
Is Tre White an option for the 2026 Kansas basketball roster?
On Wednesday, Michael Swain of 247Sports suggested that there might be mutual interest between White and Kansas (subscription required).
It's not clear just how White would fit with the current roster construction, but he'd be an experienced asset for sure. He had a good season with Kansas last year but faded a bit down the stretch.
White averaged 13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last year for the Jayhawks. During the last four games of the season, which included two games in the Big 12 Tournament and two in the NCAA Tournament, he faltered a bit. He scored just 29 total points and pulled down 18 rebounds. It was his worst stretch of the season, but it also reflected how poorly the team played down the stretch.
White had only eight games last season with fewer than 10 points, and three of them were in those tournament games. He countered that with five games with at least 20 points. He also had seven games with double-digit rebounds.
Keanu Dawes and White could be a brutal combination for opponents at the four spot. They play a similar game, which relies on high energy and hustle. White could probably play a little small forward to spell Stokes now and then.
It would be interesting to see what Dawes would think about adding White and how Self would navigate getting each the minutes they need and deserve.
With Bardwell suddenly out of the picture, White becomes an intriguing option. With only one season of eligibility, if the court injunction against the NCAA holds, White wouldn't take up a roster spot long-term. He'd bring an expanse of college basketball experience, not just at Kansas, but from his years at UCLA, Louisville, and Illinois.
He plays hard and is a good teammate. He brings an arsenal of skills with him, even if he doesn't excel at any one of them. Furthermore, he is an excellent college player, and he'd be a great complement to the players already on the roster. This team has the chance to be extremely deep, and White could be a piece to push this team to the top.
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