Kansas is back in ESPN’s preseason conversation, but just barely. In the July edition of its Way-Too-Early Top 25, Jeff Borzello slotted Bill Self’s Jayhawks at No. 23, giving Kansas a spot in the national rankings even after a summer of heavy roster churn.
The reason ESPN still sees enough here to keep Kansas in the mix starts with the new headliner: Tyran Stokes. Borzello called the nation’s No. 1 recruit the player most likely to make the biggest immediate impact in college basketball, citing his versatility, physicality and scoring ability. That kind of profile gives Kansas a real chance to build its offense around a freshman who arrives with major expectations.
The Jayhawks are trying to bounce back from a 24-11 season that ended with a familiar frustration - a fourth straight NCAA Tournament exit in the opening weekend. And this time, the reset is extreme. Kansas lost all five starters from that team, including Darryn Peterson, the freshman standout who went No. 2 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
ESPN’s projected starting five reflects how much newness Kansas is carrying into 2026-27. Borzello penciled in guards Leroy Blyden Jr. and Taylen Kinney with Stokes, Utah transfer Keanu Dawes and former Charleston center Christian Reeves. On the bench, Kohl Rosario and Dennis Parker Jr. were listed as the primary options.
There is also another possible piece still waiting in the wings. Kansas added Serbian center Mihailo Mušikić after ESPN’s rankings were released, though his eligibility for the upcoming season is still pending. If the NCAA clears him, he would give the Jayhawks more experience and depth inside.
Kansas is one of four Big 12 teams in Borzello’s preseason rankings, and the Jayhawks are placed behind the conference’s top projected teams but ahead of Iowa State. That positioning says plenty about where the program stands right now: respected, but still very much in the middle of a major rebuild with several newcomers expected to step in and matter right away.
In Other News...
Paul Mbiya Suddenly Looms Large In Kansas Biggest Early Question
Kansas has almost no margin for error in the frontcourt this fall, which is why Paul Mbiyas role suddenly matters so much. The Jayhawks are bringing back only two players from last season, Kohl Rosario and Mbiya, while adding 11 newcomers, and the center spot is one of the clearest early questions as the roster comes together.
Mbiyas decision to stay gives Kansas a familiar option in a room full of fresh faces, and it could put him in position to open the year with a real opportunity at the five. With a matchup against Kentucky and the Players Era tournament arriving early, the Jayhawks do not get much time to sort out the rotation, which makes every practice rep in the middle feel a little more important. [Read more 🡒]
Former Kansas Coach Makes A Massive Tyran Stokes Claim With One Catch
Tyran Stokes is already being talked about like the kind of freshman who can alter Kansas ceiling before he ever steps on campus, and thats saying something for a program that usually measures newcomers by how quickly they can fit into Bill Selfs machine. The incoming Jayhawks forward is viewed as a potential NBA draft prospect down the road, and former assistant Norm Roberts added to the buzz by drawing a striking comparison to Kawhi Leonard based on Stokes defensive impact, length, strength and ability to score from mid-range.
Roberts also pointed to the flexibility that could make Stokes such a difficult matchup in Lawrence, noting that Self could deploy him in a variety of ways, including handling the ball like a point guard and working off screens. For Kansas, that kind of versatility is exactly what makes the conversation around Stokes so loud already, especially with other scouting outlets floating names like Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes. The only real question is how quickly all of that talent turns into the kind of complete package the Jayhawks are expecting. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Has No Doubt About Dylan Edwards This Fall
Big 12 Football Media Days offered another reminder that Kansas sees Dylan Edwards as much more than a fast back in the open field. Linebacker Trey Lathan pointed to Edwards speed, versatility and playmaking ability as traits that make him a problem for defenses and a useful weapon for the Jayhawks on offense, while also stressing how valuable it is for Kansas to face him in practice every day.
Edwards has also earned notice for the way he has grown into a more complete running back, one whose confidence and work ethic have stood out inside the program. For Kansas, that matters because the expectation is for him to stay central to what the Jayhawks want to do next fall, even as opposing defenses keep looking for ways to limit the damage he can create in both the running and passing game. [Read more 🡒]