Melvin Council Jr. is the third transfer portal commit that Bill Self and the Kansas basketball program have landed this spring. The former Wagner and St. Bonaventure guard joins a roster where he will likely be a part of the starting lineup in Lawrence.
A Third Team all-conference selection in the A-10 this season, Council brings an added level of defensive grit and intensity that fans of the Jayhawks have missed the last couple of seasons. With his 'If you ain't a dog, you dog food' slogan already picked up by Jayhawk faithful online, he's destined to be a fan favorite come November when the next season starts.
Feel like you can see an identity building with the transfer portal additions for #kubball. Seems like they’ve done a good job getting “Bill Self guys.”
— Sam Winton (@sam_winton2) April 16, 2025
Bill Self has approached this transfer portal window differently than in years past. A label is attached to the transfer acquisitions. It is not a bad thing, either — quite the opposite. Jayden Dawson, Tre White, and Council seem to fit the mold as all being 'Bill Self guys.' But what does that mean exactly?
It's not just a player who fits well in Bill's system, although that certainly helps. These are players who are gritty, physical, and tenacious defenders. These are guys who are able to get down low and bang under the basket, fighting for boards on both ends of the floor. They are disciplined on offense and take the role of a floor general for Kansas. And, most importantly, they absolutely LOVE playing for Kansas.
Coach Self has been in Lawrence for quite some time. Through his 22 seasons he's seen plenty of 'Bill Self guys' come and go. Below, I'll list out the five players that I believe fit that label the best.
Honorable Mentions
This could very easily be a 30-person list. With 22 years in Lawrence, there are plenty of players who fit the 'Bill Self guy' identity. From more recent teams, think of guys like KJ Adams and Marcus Garrett. Four-year players for Bill who were well-liked by the fans, always caught praise from Self and the coaching staff, and brought a certain energy to the court.
Older players who didn't make the list and also fit the mold are Landen Lucas, Jeff Withey, Wayne Selden, and Perry Ellis. All of them fit the criteria well, and all have iconic moments in Crimson and Blue.
Travis Releford (2008-2013)
A Kansas City native, Travis Releford embodied what it meant to be an elite Jayhawk defender. In his first two seasons, he didn't play more than 10 minutes a night, but fans were able to see flashes of the greatness he would bring in his upper-classmen years in Lawrence.
In a press conference the day following the Jayhawks' Jan. 5, 2011 matchup against the UMKC Kangaroos, Self said of Releford: "Travis is great. I believe that he’s like a baseball utility player. You put him out there, he’ll play wherever... You can play him as a big. You can play him as a guard. He can play post-defense. He guards ball screens as well as anybody we have. He does a lot of things that are important to us."
As a junior, Releford was a starter for the national runner-up roster, a season where he broke out as a vital piece to the team's defensive and athletic prowess. As a senior the following season, he was Second Team All Big-12, as well as an all-conference defender with teammate Jeff Withey. A 'Bill Self guy' through and through, Releford is one of the best to do it during the early 2010s. A memorable player for sure.
Darnell Jackson (2004-2008)
A member of Self's first national championship team, Darnell Jackson was a slow burner during his four seasons under Self. Standing at 6-foot-9 and weighing 250 pounds, Jackson was a presence in the front court.
His play style was characterized by his physicality on the court. He set some mean ball screens, chassed after rebounds on both ends of the court, and punished anyone who dared to defend him in the post. He was a force to be reckoned with and was one of the driving factors for the success of the championship team in 2008.
His best game as a Jayhawk came in January 2008, a road nonconference game against Boston College. He dropped 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help the then-undefeated Jayhawks breeze past BC 85-60. One of the best forwards Self has had, Jackson was one of the best 'Bill Self guys.'
Jamari Traylor (2012-2016)
Chicago native Jamari Traylor is one of Bill Self's favorite players he has ever coached. He might not have had the most star power as some of his teammates, didn't score a ton, and he only started in 27 games through his four years in Lawrence. What Jamari lacked in talent he made up for in sheer work ethic and toughness.
He got down and got dirty, and he was physically present on both ends of the floor. He was a glue guy, a guy that held the team together. He had a high motor, played with the most energy of anyone on the court, and absolutely loved putting on the crimson and blue every game.
His best game during his time at Kansas was his 2014 first-round performance against Eastern Kentucky. In his first career double-double, Traylor came off the bench to put up 17 points and grab 14 rebounds to help the Jayhawks advance to the next round.
Kevin Young (2011-2013)
Kevin Young didn't start his career playing under Self. A transfer from Loyola Marymount in the WCC, Young came into his junior season on a loaded Kansas roster. A gritty forward off the bench for the Jayhawks, Young was a spark of energy every time he stepped foot on the court.
Come his senior year, Young had earned himself a starting spot on the court. He wasn't a primary scorer, but he had great court vision and was very unselfish, creating space for some well-timed passes to his teammates. He was a tenacious defender as well, fighting for rebounds in the back-court as well as being athletic enough to defend multiple positions on the floor.
In his two years in Lawrence, there are a couple of key games that stick out. His performance against Ohio State at Allen Fieldhouse in December of 2011 might be his most impactful. He came off the bench and put up 14 points while grabbing four rebounds to lead Kansas to the upset victory over the No. 2 ranked Buckeyes. Young is often spotted at Kansas home games to this day supporting the program, solidifying himself as a 'Bill Self Guy."
Frank Mason III (2013-2017)
This list would be incomplete without bringing up one of the greatest to ever play for the Jayhawks. Frank Mason was a consensus All-American, three-time All-Big 12, All-Big 12 defender, Big 12 Player of the Year, Wooden Award, and National Player of the Year recipient. To put it shortly, he is one of the best to ever play college basketball.
Mason was an undersized guard, but that didn't stop him from dominating in every aspect of the game. He was a true floor general during his entire time in Lawrence. A true point guard who was great in pick-and-roll situations, could dish the ball around with ease, and was incredibly efficient at creating his own shot.
Mason was as gritty a defender as anyone else on this list. If he was guarding you with the ball, good luck getting around him. If he was guarding you off-ball, you wouldn't be moving around the court too easily. Everything he did encompassed Bill Self's style of basketball perfectly. He's one of the best to ever do it in a Jayhawk jersey, and without question deserves to be on this list.