Kansas may have another big-man target to track as the offseason keeps shifting around Bill Self’s roster. With the Jayhawks still waiting on eligibility decisions for Melvin Council Jr. and Mihailo Mušikić, and Christian Reeves’ recovery from shoulder surgery still without a firm timetable, the need for another center remains obvious. That’s why Jaxon Kohler’s name matters.
CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein reported that the former Michigan State standout is considering a fifth year of college basketball and is drawing interest from Kansas, BYU, and Kentucky. A return to East Lansing is still on the table, but those three programs are now in his top group.
Jaxon Kohler tells me that he will explore a return to college for a fifth year and is receiving interest from the following programs:Kansas Kentucky BYU Kohler averaged 12.5 PPG and 8.9 RPG last season at Michigan State. A return to East Lansing is also possible.
If Kohler does enter the transfer portal, he’d instantly become one of the most sought-after names available. He just turned in his best college season with the Spartans, putting up 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50.0% from the field, 38.9% from 3-point range, and 86.9% from the line.
At 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, Kohler brings a different look than Kansas currently has at center. He’s developed into a real threat from deep over the last two years, which gives him stretch-five value along with the rebounding numbers that jump off the page. That kind of skill set would give the Jayhawks another scoring layer inside the offense.
Kohler declared for the 2026 NBA Draft but went undrafted, then played for the Utah Jazz in the NBA Summer League on an Exhibit 10 deal. He’s also from American Fork, Utah, which helps explain why BYU is in the mix.
Kansas and BYU both need another center, and Kohler fits that need cleanly. Michigan State still can’t be dismissed either, since he spent all four seasons of his college career there. And while the buzz around Paul Mbiya becoming Kansas’ starting center is real, that doesn’t mean the Jayhawks should stop looking for another big who can push for the job.
In Other News...
Kansas Eligibility Drama Just Got More Complicated For Two Jayhawks
A federal ruling this week has added another layer to the eligibility picture for college basketball players who have already used four seasons, and it could matter down the road for Kansas. U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction that would allow Division I athletes from the high school class of 2022, if they exhausted their fourth season of eligibility this spring, to compete again during the 2026-27 academic year.
For the Jayhawks, the timing complicates two separate lawsuits involving former players Melvin Council Jr. and Jayden Dawson, both of whom are seeking extra eligibility. The NCAA is expected to appeal the ruling, so nothing is settled yet, but the decision adds another moving part to an already tangled set of legal fights that could shape who is available for Kansas and when. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Self Sends Kansas Fans A Clear Message On Darryn Peterson
Darryn Petersons first professional summer has given Kansas fans a useful reminder of what made him such a compelling player in Lawrence. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by Utah spent summer league showing flashes of the talent that made him one of the most watched players in college basketball, even if the results came with the usual uneven stretches that tend to come with that setting.
Bill Selfs read on it was straightforward: Peterson did not blow anyone away, but he did enough to reinforce the idea that his ceiling is still very much intact. Self pointed to the promise Peterson showed after an all-Big 12 second-team season at Kansas, a run that came while he battled health issues in his final year. For Jayhawk followers, the bigger question now is how much more there is to unlock once he gets settled at the next level. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Self Faces A Bigger Kansas Roster Question Than Fans Realize
The NCAAs recent eligibility ruling has reopened the roster market for a lot of programs, and Kansas is already being linked to the frontcourt search. One name that has surfaced is former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler, a possible fit as Bill Self continues to evaluate how to add size and depth around the paint for next season.
CBS Sports also reported Kansas had interest in Auburn forward Keyshawn Hall, but a Kansas spokesperson confirmed no contact has been made with Hall. Hall has bounced around multiple schools and is drawing attention from several programs, so his name will keep circulating in transfer chatter, but for now the Jayhawks most meaningful roster questions appear to be just getting started. [Read more 🡒]