Kansas basketball fans should be excited about this year's team. The number one recruit in the class, Tyran Stokes, should be terrific and draw the most attention. Fellow freshman Taylen Kinney, another top recruit, promises to be an exciting player to watch.
A few transfers will also bring key elements to the roster. Keanu Dawes is a high-motor player who can get to the rim, and he can rebound. Leroy Blyden Jr. gives KU a second dual-threat point guard who will provide opposing defenses fits. Dennis Parker Jr. is a scorer who gives the Jayhawks a lot of depth and talent.
With all of these known players with flashy resumes, some players aren't gaining as much attention as the others. There are reasons for this, but there are some players who could be in line for seasons that go beyond expectations.
3 Kansas basketball players who aren't in the spotlight but might be better than people think
Paul Mbiya
Mbiya only played in 21 games last season and averaged just five minutes when he did play. He was raw offensively and fouled too much. Still, he showed improvement throughout the season and some toward the end of the season when he positively contributed to the team, especially on defense.
In the Jayhawks' only two NCAA Tournament games, Mbiya played 29 minutes, scored 12 points (nearly half of his season total of 26), had 9 rebounds, and had two blocks. Those games are the building blocks for this season.
Mbiya was slated for a reserve role, but due to an injury to transfer Christian Reeves, he will probably start. Look for a big jump in production for him. It might not be as big of a jump as Flory Bidunga made between his first and second seasons, but he's going to be much better this year.
He should be a staunch rim protector. If he can avoid fouls, he might be as good as Bidunga was last year. He might not be fully developed offensively yet, but he will probably be on the receiving end of his share of lobs, and his rebounding skills should give him the opportunity to score off offensive rebounds.
Mbiya might be such a pleasant surprise that he might end up being the starter, even when Reeves is healthy.
Kohl Rosario
Rosario is just one of two returning Jayhawks from last year's team, with Mbiya being the other. He impressed head coach Bill Self in the preseason enough that he was a starter for the first six games of the season.
Rosario struggled to shoot early on, one of his strengths coming in. He also didn't play great defense sometimes, and he worked himself into Self's doghouse. He had some stretches last season when he played very little, but like Mbiya, he finished the season strong, displaying some of the talent that led to him starting early.
Please keep in mind that Rosario reclassified into the class of 2025 and was only 18 last season. Making that jump is big, and asking him to start early was probably unrealistic. Now, he should be comfortable in the system and with his role on the team. He is extremely athletic, and it's almost a certainty his three-point shooting will improve from the 28.6 percent accuracy rate as a freshman.
It would be surprising if Rosario starts this season, but he should get plenty of minutes off the bench, and he will be a major contributor in 2026.
Luke Barnett
As the Kansas roster slowly came together this offseason, it seemed as if Barnett might be relegated to a developmental season where he wouldn't see much playing time. Over the summer, he's impressed Self, who called him a “pleasant surprise.” He's not just an excellent shooter but also someone who understands the game.
Barnett is likely one of several players who might not get a ton of playing time, but if Barnett can learn to play defense the way Self wants it played, he could see his minutes increase. There will be games when KU will need outside shooting, and Barnett seems like the top candidate to provide that.
If Barnett can play good defense and can shoot consistently, there is a path to playing time for him. He might not get 20 minutes a game, but he should get plenty of opportunities to help this team win, maybe more than initially thought.
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