Kansas still has one open roster spot, and Bill Self isn’t shutting the door on using it.
The Jayhawks are sitting at 14 players, one shy of the NCAA limit of 15, and the search for that final addition has centered on the frontcourt. Earlier this month, Mihailo Mušikić briefly looked like the answer, though he still has not been cleared to play. There’s also chatter about former fan favorite Melvin Council Jr. potentially making his way back, but that’s a separate conversation.
For now, the big-picture issue is simple: Kansas needs more size.
As things stand, the Jayhawks’ realistic options in the frontcourt are Keanu Dawes, Davion Adkins, Christian Reeves and Paul Mbiya. That group has some promise, but the depth chart is not exactly in a comfortable place, especially with Reeves dealing with the aftermath of shoulder surgery. The senior center’s offseason has been interrupted, and that recovery is expected to limit him until the start of the regular season.
Asked whether the roster could still gain that final piece, Self kept it open-ended.
“I think we could [add another player]. I figure one of the first questions is ‘is your roster set?’ and I think the answer is maybe?”
Kansas has already done plenty of roster work. Through the transfer portal, the Jayhawks brought in seven players, and they added five more through the high school ranks. The only holdovers from last season are sophomore guard Kohl Rosario and Mbiya.
That haul has the Jayhawks sitting with the 27th-best transfer class and the third-best high school class, according to the source material.
Self made it clear the staff is still weighing options, and the motivation is obvious: more help in the paint.
“We’re still looking. And so if we can make ourselves better, then we're certainly gonna try to do that. And one of the things that we want to try to do is get a big, just because of the situation with Christian and depth and all that.”
Mbiya gave Kansas a glimpse of what he can bring as a freshman, finishing with 26 points, 30 rebounds and 5 blocks in 107 minutes across 11 games. But there’s still a long way to go in his development, and with Reeves’ minutes situation uncertain, another big body would be welcomed.
“So our roster's not set. It may be over, but we're still investigating different opportunities,” Self said.
The portal market is not exactly overflowing with options at center. Of the top 50 centers who entered the portal, none remain available, and to find a player who still has not committed, you have to keep going past 70 total centers.
That leaves Kansas in a familiar spot this time of year: waiting, watching and hoping the right big man becomes available before the season gets here. The Jayhawks would like Mušikić to clear as soon as possible, but beyond that, Self and his staff are mostly left to monitor the market and trust Reeves’ recovery to move faster than expected.
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