The Kansas basketball team is off to an 8-2 start to the 2024-25 season, with just one game remaining in nonconference play. Although the on-court performance is often underwhelming, the nation's top school heading into the campaign has shown glimpses of its potential.
Head coach Bill Self’s squad boasts a much deeper roster than last year, but inconsistent performances from transfers AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen have forced the team to lean heavily on its starters. To strengthen the roster, KU is bringing in an intriguing addition in January: 5-star recruit Bryson Tiller.
OFFICIAL: Per Bill Self, Kansas commit and City Reapers star Bryson Tiller is enrolling early at Kansas, starting in January !
— nbadraftpoint (@draftpoint2024) December 16, 2024
Big move for Tiller, getting acclimated early to Self’s system while providing some wing depth for an already strong Jayhawks squad pic.twitter.com/pPx98Zanmv
Bryson Tiller joining Kansas basketball team early
Tiller, a 6-foot-10 forward/center with a 7-foot-3 wingspan who committed last month, will join the Jayhawks as a redshirt freshman walk-on next month, per Coach Self via The Kansas City Star. He likely won’t see the court this season unless an emergency arises, but Tiller’s presence provides long-term benefits for him.
The former Overtime Elite standout is known for his rebounding and defensive potential. Jayhawk fans shouldn’t expect Tiller to contribute immediately, though his midseason arrival allows him to acclimate to the college game and learn Self’s system.
Former Kansas forward Silvio de Sousa joined the team at the season's midpoint in the 2017-18 campaign. Unlike de Sousa, Tiller doesn't have much of a role on the roster. Self will continue to rely on Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams, Flory Bidunga, and even Zach Clemence before Tiller.
Tiller is part of a highly touted 2025 recruiting class that includes No. 3 overall recruit Darryn Peterson and Brazilian forward Samis Calderon. While Peterson and Calderon are expected to join the Jayhawks as planned next year, Tiller’s time at Overtime Elite allowed for more flexibility in his timeline.
As KU aims to find consistency and make a deep postseason run this year, Tiller will be watching and learning from the sidelines. While he’ll be a behind-the-scenes asset, nothing but good things should arise from being around the rotation players.