Kansas basketball’s headline names are going to soak up most of the attention this season, and for good reason. Tyran Stokes arrives as the No. 1 recruit in the class, Taylen Kinney brings another elite freshman profile, and the transfer group adds plenty of intrigue with Keanu Dawes, Leroy Blyden Jr. and Dennis Parker Jr. all expected to matter in different ways.
But the Jayhawks also have a few players who could wind up being bigger stories than they look on paper.
Paul Mbiya is the clearest candidate. Last season, he appeared in 21 games and averaged only five minutes a night, and his game still had rough edges.
He was raw offensively and got into foul trouble too often. Even so, he kept improving as the year went on and helped Kansas late, especially on defense.
That showed up most clearly in the Jayhawks’ two NCAA Tournament games, when he played 29 minutes, scored 12 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and blocked two shots. Those outings mattered, because they accounted for nearly half of his season total of 26 points.
Mbiya was originally expected to be a reserve, but Christian Reeves’ injury has likely pushed him into the starting role. That opens the door for a major jump.
It may not mirror the leap Flory Bidunga made from one season to the next, but Mbiya looks poised to be much better. He should give Kansas a strong presence at the rim, and if he can stay out of foul trouble, he could be as effective as Bidunga was a year ago.
The offense still has room to grow, but he should get his share of lobs and putbacks thanks to his rebounding.
There’s even a chance Mbiya holds onto the job when Reeves is healthy.
Kohl Rosario is another name worth watching closely. He is one of only two returners from last season’s team, along with Mbiya, and Bill Self liked enough of what he saw in the preseason to start Rosario for the first six games.
Things didn’t stay smooth for long. His shooting lagged early, defense became an issue at times, and he found himself in Self’s doghouse.
Still, Rosario had his own strong finish to the year and flashed the ability that got him into the lineup in the first place.
His age matters here too. Rosario reclassified into the class of 2025 and was only 18 last season, so the early responsibility was a lot to ask.
Now, with more comfort in the system and a clearer sense of his role, he should be better prepared. He’s extremely athletic, and after hitting just 28.6 percent from three as a freshman, it would be a surprise if that number didn’t climb.
He probably won’t open the season as a starter, but he should still be a key bench piece and a major contributor in 2026.
Then there’s Luke Barnett, who looked like he might be headed for a quiet developmental year once the roster started taking shape. Instead, he’s turned heads over the summer, enough for Self to call him a “pleasant surprise.” Barnett brings more than just shooting; he also has a feel for the game that stands out.
He may still be one of the players fighting for minutes, but there’s a real path here. If he can defend the way Self wants and keep his shot consistent, Kansas has a reason to keep him on the floor. There will be nights when the Jayhawks need perimeter shooting, and Barnett looks like the best bet to supply it.
He may not log 20 minutes a game, but he could end up getting more chances than anyone first expected.
In Other News...
Kansas Finally Has A Defensive Strength Fans Can Believe In
Early in fall camp, one part of Kansas defense has started to separate itself from the rest of the roster, and its the linebacker room. Lance Leipold has pointed to the group as the strongest position on that side of the ball, with Quincy Davis, Bam Crouch and Jibreel Al-Amin drawing notice for the kind of performance and versatility that can stabilize a defense while the rest of camp sorts itself out.
Trey Lathans return only adds to the sense that this unit can be more than just dependable. After leading the Jayhawks in tackles last season, he gives Kansas a proven presence in the middle of the defense and another layer of depth behind the players already making an impression. For a team trying to build real confidence on that side of the ball, the linebackers are giving it something tangible to point to. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Todd Is Giving Kansas Real Hope For Its Rebuilt Secondary
Jalen Todd has become one of the more encouraging signs in Kansas rebuilt secondary, the kind of young defender whose progress is hard to miss once camp starts. The cornerback, who is also a HAWK for the Jayhawks, showed clear development from his freshman year to his sophomore season, adding more tackles and making a bigger impact on defense as his role expanded.
The staffs optimism only grew during fall camp, where Kansas footballs director of sports performance singled out Todd for gains in both speed and strength. With the 2026 season shaping up to include a demanding schedule and several high-profile quarterbacks on the other side, Todds growth could end up mattering a lot if the Jayhawks are going to hold up against the pass. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Is Watching Another Guard As One Roster Decision Looms
Kansas is keeping an eye on the transfer market again, this time with an eye toward the future. Former Morgan State guard Alfred Worrell Jr. has emerged as a name of interest for a handful of programs after recent NCAA federal court injunctions gave him additional eligibility, and the Jayhawks are among the schools reportedly involved. Worrell was one of the top scorers in the MEAC, which helps explain why his market is broader than a typical late-summer name on the board.
For Kansas, the timing matters as much as the talent. Worrell is being viewed as a possible piece for the 2026-27 roster, but any real push for him may depend on other roster and eligibility decisions still hanging over the program. With several schools also recruiting him, this is the kind of situation that can move quickly once the Jayhawks get a clearer picture of their own guard room. [Read more 🡒]