Kansas got a jolt it didn’t want on Tuesday: five-star small forward Javon Bardwell has decommitted from the Jayhawks and reclassified from the class of 2027 to 2026.
Bardwell, a 6-foot-6 wing, had been pledged to Kansas since last October. His decision leaves the Jayhawks with no players in the 2027 class.
According to the 247Sports composite, Bardwell is the nation’s No. 21 player, the No. 7 small forward and the No. 2 player in Georgia for 2027. 247Sports also listed him as Kansas’ 19th-highest all-time recruit, one spot behind current freshman Taylen Kinney and one ahead of Bryce Thompson.
The timing made Bardwell’s situation especially unusual. He committed to Kansas with two seasons of OTE basketball still ahead of him, and at one point there had even been talk that he might move up and join KU this summer. That kind of long-range commitment is rare enough, but among the top 25 players in the 2027 class, only four had officially picked a school.
Bardwell explained the move in an Instagram post, saying:
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for the ability to play the game I love,”
“After the feedback I have received from my performance at Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, I have made the decision to reclassify to the class of 2026. I am on track academically, and I feel ready physically and mentally.”
“With that being said, after a lot of prayer and deep conversations with my family, I have also decided to reopen my recruitment.”
He also made clear that Kansas’ staff wasn’t the reason for the change:
“This decision is not a reflection of the coaches at the University of Kansas. To Coach Bill Self, Coach Tony Bland, and Coach Jeremy Case, I want to thank you for the relationship you built with my family and me from day one. My recruitment is now open as a member of the 2026 class."
For Kansas, the loss stings, especially with Bardwell’s size and talent fitting into a young roster already packed with names like Leroy Blyden Jr, Tyran Stokes, Kinney and others. Still, there’s time for the Jayhawks to sort out the 2027 class, and KU is also looking to add another player before Fordham comes to Allen Fieldhouse on November 2.
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