Bill Self didn’t need much prompting to bring up Luke Barnett this week, and that alone says plenty about where the Kansas freshman stands heading into next season.
Kansas is already rolling in a loaded recruiting class, one that 247Sports ranks No. 3 in the country. The headliners are obvious: Tyran Stokes, the nation’s No. 1 player, along with No. 20 point guard Taylen Kinney, power forward Davion Adkins and wing Trent Perry, both top-100 prospects. But Barnett, ranked 124th in the class, is the name Self singled out when talking about offseason progress.
Barnett has carried a reputation as a pure shooter for a while, and Self was already willing to go big when he first signed. At that point, the Kansas coach called Barnett “the best shooter we’ve recruited since Gradey Dick,” high praise for a player whose shot has long been his calling card.
This week, Self sounded even more impressed.
“But maybe the nicest surprise we've had so far has been Luke Barnett. He hadn't been good; he's been terrific. So, that's been a pleasant surprise
Self also pointed to the bigger picture with Barnett, saying, “…We knew Luke could really shoot, but Luke, you know, it's great to be able to really shoot, but you still got to be in the game to make shots. Luke's plenty good enough to be the game. So that adds to your shooting right there”
Barnett’s production at Mater Dei backed up the buzz. In his junior season, California’s No. 13-ranked player averaged 21 points, 3,7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals.
The shooting fit matters because Kansas needs it. Last season, the Jayhawks finished with the nation’s 161st-best offense at 75.1 points per game. In 2025-26, the team posted a 34.6% three-point rate, which ranked 139th nationally.
Only five players on last season’s roster finished above a 30% three-point rate: Melvin Council Jr. at 30.8%, Jamari McDowell at 34.9%, Elmarko Jackson at 37.2%, Darryn Peterson at 38.2% and Tre White at 40.3%. None of them are set to return next season as of publishing, leaving Kansas without any proven returning perimeter shooting.
That opens the door for Barnett, though the exact path to minutes is still taking shape. In a straightforward lineup structure, he could be the second shooting guard off the bench behind Kohl Rosario. But Kansas may not use a traditional setup at all.
With Stokes projected to handle the ball at times, Self could lean into a combo guard look. If that happens, Taylen Kinney would likely run point, Leroy Blyden Jr. would slide to shooting guard, and Barnett would fall behind both of them on the depth chart. Early projections point more toward that kind of arrangement, which would leave Barnett as the third option at shooting guard.
There’s still a long offseason ahead, but Self’s unsolicited praise stood out. He brought up Barnett on his own, without being asked about the freshman’s development first. For a player trying to carve out a role, that’s a strong sign.
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