The Kansas Jayhawks (and the college basketball world, to be fair) are months away from next season. After a slightly disappointing ending to the 2025-26 campaign, Bill Self announced he was going to return for his 24th year, and since then, well, it's been mayhem.Â
Nearly every player from last year’s team has exited via the NCAA Transfer Portal, exhausted eligibility, or pursuit of the NBA, leaving just Kohl Rosario and Paul Mbiya left from last season’s team.Â
Kansas has then brought in four-star transfers Keanu Dawes, a four-star power forward from Utah, Leroy Blyden Jr. a four-star guard from Toledo, and Christian Reeves, (you guessed it) a four-star center from the College of Charleston.Â
Let’s not forget the Jayhawks’ loaded freshman class that comprises five-star small forward Tyran Stokes, five-star point guard Taylen Kinney, four-star center Davion Adkins, four-star wing Trent Perry, and four-star shooting guard Luke Barnett.Â
Today’s task? Numbering every single incoming KU player’s importance heading into next season.Â
No. 10 Davion Adkins
Just a few weeks ago, Adkins was Kansas’ only center ahead of next season, but with Mbiya returning and the acquisition of Reeves. Adkins is set to take a backseat role, perhaps being backup for Dawes as a power forward.Â
No. 9 Luke Barnett
Barnett figures into what will be an interesting shooting guard battle. However only being a freshman and possibly playing behind both Blyden and Rosario, means Barnett may struggle to get valuable playing time.
No. 8 Trent Perry
Perry comes in as the nation’s No. 140th prospect. Having to play behind someone like Stokes, combined with the chance that Rosario may share minutes at the small forward spot may mean a short role next season.Â
No. 7Â Christian Reeves
Reeves and Mbiya can flip, depending on the day. Reeves is the more experienced player, having plied his trade at Duke, Clemson and the College of Charleston.
No. 6 Kohl Rosario
Rosario showed tremendous promise last season, breaking onto the scene during the Jayhawks’ non-conference slate and providing game-shifting momentum in Kansas’ Big 12 semifinal loss to Houston and in the Jayhawks’ round of 32 exit to St. John’s, but with a muddled rotation, does Rosario slide into a small forward role, starting shooting guard or backup No. 2?
No. 5 Paul Mbiya
While Reeves offers more experience, Mbiya has still spent a valuable year at Kansas under Bill Self. While Mbiya looked raw in his time at KU, the promise is present.Â
No. 4 Leroy Blyden Jr.
Blyden finds himself in an interesting position. Will he be the team’s leading point guard? Backup point guard? Starting shooting guard? No one knows. If he does factor into a starting shooting guard role, he and Kinney will create one of the Big 12’s smaller backcourts.Â
No. 3 Taylen Kinney
Kinney and Stokes will provide an exciting freshman duo that is bound to take the nation by storm. If Kinney can lock down the point, he will emerge as a rising star who can both shoot and create.
No. 2 Keanu Dawes
Dawes offers experience to a youthful side. His time at both Rice and Utah showed tremendous scoring outputs along with efficient shooting rates and an ability to get rebounds on both sides of the court.
No. 1 Tyran Stokes
This feels a little too obvious. Stokes completely takes Kansas from a bubble top 25 team heading into the season, into a contender. How much of a contender? Only time will tell, but Stokes is one of the few players in basketball who can flip momentum that fast.
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