We are going down the roster until we've covered every member of the 2025-26 KU men's basketball team. We already highlighted a couple of guards, including Elmarko Jackson. Now, it's time to talk about the other redshirt sophomore guard, and fellow member of the high school class of 2023, Jamari McDowell.
Back in the 2023-24 season, he averaged 1.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in just 7.2 minutes per game for the Jayhawks. Last season, McDowell redshirted and did not play. He reportedly wanted to focus on improving his game and preserve his eligibility for later in his college career. Given that reasoning, he could potentially be a key piece for some of the upcoming KU squads.
The 6-foot-5 guard from Manvel, Texas came to Kansas as a four-star recruit, ranked as the No. 88 player in the Class of 2023 and one of the top players in Texas, according to 247Sports.
Since his arrival in Lawrence, he has displayed tremendous athletic potential and elite ball-handling skills. He thrives in the pick-and-roll game, is extremely agile, and has the motor to legitimately impact the game on both ends of the floor. Given his impressive size, phenomenal versatility, and supreme confidence, he could be an effective spark plug off the bench at multiple positions for this team.
Bill Self has publicly acknowledged that, after being here for a couple of years, McDowell is one of the leaders of this team, not only on the court but also off the court. He helps teammates adapt and learn the school's culture, allowing them to feel comfortable where they are. His loyalty to the school and his drive to always improve have to please not only Bill Self and the coaching staff, but Jayhawk fans as well.
McDowell's exact role on this season's team may not be entirely clear yet, but he will undeniably be a big part of this program in the near future.
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