Right now, the Kansas Jayhawk basketball team is in a bit of an odd place.
While they have made great strides thus far in the NCAA Transfer Portal, ringing in the likes of four-star power forward Keanu Dawes, four-star guard Leroy Blyden Jr. and four-star center Christian Reeves, according to 247Sports. Kansas’ starting lineup ahead of next season is still in severe flux.
Don’t forget the Jayhawks are also adding two five stars in Tyran Stokes, the nation’s No. 1 player in the class of 2026, five-star guard Taylen Kinney, the nation’s No. 13 player in the class, along with four-star forward Davion Adkins, four-star wing Trent Perry, four-star shooting guard Luke Barnett and unranked center Grant Mordini.
Also, remember KU is still retaining the likes of shooting guard Kohl Rosario and center Paul Mbiya.
While it is safe to assume Stokes will be enlisted at small forward, Dawes at power forward and either Mbiya or Reeves at center, who is going to fill in the backcourt?
Kansas' backcourt situation right now
Kansas’ backcourt options look roughly like this: Kinney (PG), Rosario (SG), Blyden (PG), Barnett (SG). Barnett will likely redshirt or experience a bit-part role, leaving Blyden, Rosario and Kinney two spots for three players.
Rosario had a largely positive first season and seems committed to the Jayhawks long-term; however, what about Blyden and Kinney?
Kinney would be an assumed starter at point guard next season as most five-stars are, but Blyden naturally plays at the one. Does this now lead to a Kinney/Blyden combo where Rosario plays behind the pair?
Or does Kansas land either Kansas State transfer Abdi Bashir Jr. or Oklahoma State transfer Vyctorious Miller, who would be a surefire starting shooting guard and leave Blyden and Kinney to duke out starting minutes and the loser of that first-string battle falls to the bench with Rosario.
Miller or Bashir would be a slam-dunk acquisition
The pair have both taken visits to KU, either virtually or in person, so far during their respective recruitments.
Bashir is rated as the nation’s No. 130 overall transfer and No. 21 shooting guard who is coming off a season where the Wildcat averaged 13. 2 points per game, 2.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds on a 42.1% mark from the field. Bashir has one year of eligibility left.
Miller, meanwhile, notched 10.8 points per game, along with 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists on a 41.8% field goal rate. Miller is rated as the nation’s No. 86 transfer and No. 21 shooting guard who has two years of eligibility remaining.
While the question of “who will be the starting point guard” won’t quite be answered, adding either Bashir or Miller would likely eliminate the small backcourt situation that Blyden and Kinney would have posed.
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