Kansas basketball transfer still easing in with Jayhawks amid early struggles

When the 2024-25 Kansas basketball roster was assembled, several incoming transfers were expected to take on a large role. The Jayhawks lost starters Kevin McCullar and Johnny Furphy, and head coach Bill Self replaced them with a handful of wings.

Newcomers Zeke Mayo and Rylan Griffen have been as advertised through KU’s two scrimmages and a season-opening win over Howard. However, perhaps the most highly touted addition to the transfer group has been underwhelming. AJ Storr came off the bench against the Bison and has not performed at the level Jayhawk fans expected him to.

AJ Storr is still figuring it out with Kansas basketball

The former Wisconsin Badger didn't look great in his KU debut in the scrimmage against Arkansas. He shot 4-for-11 from the field and missed all four of his 3-point attempts, totaling eight points and three rebounds. Storr stayed in the starting lineup but wasn't any better vs. Washburn, shooting 2-for-7 and missing three free throws.

In the regular season opener, Self demoted him to the second unit in place of Griffen. He played 16 minutes, scoring five points while turning it over twice and racking up three fouls. Although Storr looked more comfortable in this game, it's been a very rocky start to his Jayhawk tenure.

Early hiccups like these are not unusual for a player who just transferred to a new school. At Wisconsin, Storr may not have played with the same level of discipline KU basketball demands. Self told reporters he 'doesn't know what aggressive looks like.'

Storr had a reputation for being a volume scorer and inefficient shooter before heading to Lawrence. However, his talent usually made up for it. On a loaded Kansas roster, he has options ahead of him that could very well steal his minutes if they are playing better.

It is well-known that Storr can impact the game immensely. He is a terrific finisher around the rim and moves well off the ball. So far, it seems as though he is forcing shots and not letting the game come to him.

Perhaps we're reading into this prematurely — after all, the team has yet to play any games of significance. Storr should be back in the starting lineup and out of the doghouse at some point. He has a chance to earn back the trust of his coaches on Friday in a pivotal matchup against No. 9 North Carolina.