Kansas came into the 2024 recruiting cycle swinging, and they didn’t miss. The Jayhawks landed a trio of high-upside prospects, headlined by Flory Bidunga-the No. 14 player in the nation-and Rakease Passmore, who was ranked 50th before transferring to Maryland. But one name that’s starting to turn heads in Lawrence is Bryson Tiller.
Tiller, a 6-foot-11 forward and the 42nd-ranked player in the class, redshirted last season. Now, in his first year actually suiting up for Kansas, he’s beginning to carve out a role-and show why the coaching staff was so high on him from the start.
Through the early part of the 2025 season, Tiller has already posted double-digit points six times, including an 11-point showing in Kansas’ recent 73-49 win over Towson. While he’s still adjusting to the speed and spacing of the college game, the flashes are undeniable.
“I’m glad he made a three,” head coach Bill Self said after the Towson game. “He didn’t rebound the ball, but none of us did. But I thought he showed some pretty good moves on the post.”
That’s the thing about Tiller-he’s got the tools. He’s skilled around the rim, and he’s comfortable operating in the post.
But the adjustment hasn’t been without its bumps. Self acknowledged that Tiller is being asked to guard on the perimeter-something he’s never really done before-and it’s been a learning curve.
Still, the staff believes in his upside, and there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic. Tiller’s averaging 8.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting just under 46% from the field. Those are solid numbers for a redshirt freshman still finding his rhythm.
One of his standout moments came on a big stage-an early-season matchup on the road against No. 12 North Carolina.
Kansas fell 87-74, but Tiller was one of the few bright spots. In just 15 minutes off the bench, he dropped 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from deep.
He added two boards and committed just one turnover, but his night was cut short after picking up five fouls with over nine minutes left in the second half.
That performance was a glimpse of what Tiller can bring when everything clicks. And he didn’t stop there.
In Kansas’ opening game of the Players Era Championship against Notre Dame, Tiller delivered his most complete performance yet. He scored a career-high 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds, helping the Jayhawks secure a 71-61 win over a scrappy Fighting Irish squad. That game helped Kansas eventually finish third in the tournament, and it was another step forward in Tiller’s development.
While he’s not a starter, don’t let that fool you-Tiller is becoming a key part of this Kansas rotation. Over the last six games, he hasn’t played fewer than 23 minutes, even in blowout wins like the one over Towson. He’s earning trust, and more importantly, he’s producing.
The next test for the Jayhawks comes Monday night against Davidson. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
CT, and the game will stream on ESPN+. If Tiller keeps trending upward, don’t be surprised if he continues to play a bigger role as Kansas heads into the heart of the season.