We have finally made it to opening night tip-off against Green Bay, and are down to the final two player profiles. It’s finally time to talk about the highly anticipated sophomore, Flory Bidunga.
The 6-foot-9 big man from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, graduated high school as a five-star recruit and was ranked No. 14 in the class of 2024, according to 247Sports.
Bidunga moved to America after his freshman year of high school, when he was 15 years old. He then attended Kokomo High School, where he averaged 17.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks per game during his sophomore season.
In his junior season, he averaged 20.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 4.5 blocks per game, earning Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
During his senior year, he averaged 19.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 4.4 blocks per game, once again winning the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year award.
He arrived at Kansas prior to last season, playing a backup role behind former Jayhawk center Hunter Dickinson. Bidunga thrived off the bench in a way many freshmen have struggled to do in recent years, averaging 5.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in just 16.3 minutes per game, all while shooting 69.8% from the field. Though his numbers weren’t overly flashy, he made the most of his opportunities and quickly made a name for himself.
Over the course of last season, it became clear that Bidunga was destined to be the next starting center for the Jayhawks once Dickinson’s eligibility expired.
After the season, Bidunga shockingly announced that he would enter the transfer portal and leave KU. He quickly became one of the most coveted players in the country. Jayhawk fans across the nation were understandably upset and confused, especially after reports surfaced that he was close to signing with Bruce Pearl at Auburn (now coached by Steven Pearl).
Fortunately for Kansas, Bill Self didn’t let him walk. After just nine days in the portal, Bidunga elected to return to Lawrence for another season after reaching an agreement with the Jayhawks.
He enters this season as one of the top returning sophomores in the nation and now has the opportunity to step into a leadership role alongside top recruit Darryn Peterson.
Bidunga is considered a traditionally undersized center, but he makes up for it with elite athleticism and a 7-foot-2 wingspan. Additionally, his lean frame allows him to outrun most players at his position without sacrificing physicality or defensive presence.
He’s highly skilled in the post and excels at establishing deep position, leading to easy hook shots, layups, and emphatic dunks. He’s the type of player who can quickly energize the crowd with highlight-reel plays on both ends of the floor.
Defensively, he recovers quickly and will serve as the team’s primary rim protector. The lefty isn’t a consistent shooting threat from deep yet, but he’s actively working to expand that aspect of his game.
When asked about the improvements Bidunga made to his game over the offseason, Bill Self said, “He’s gotten better on the perimeter… not so much shooting the ball from distance… I’m talking about his ball handling, he’s playmaking… Playing with Hunter (Dickinson), in many ways, I think did help him because he saw what a good passing big looks like, and he’s become a good passer… He can make a case for being as consistent of players we’ve had so far.”
Bidunga has already proven his defensive skill set and shown his ability to score and rebound the ball. When you combine those traits with the passing abilities that Self says he’s developed, Bidunga will undeniably be a relentless force in the paint for the Jayhawks this season.
Will Flory Bidunga have a breakout year as one of this team’s captains?
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