Christian Reeves wasted little time making a case for himself in Kansas’ preseason opener.
With questions hanging over the Jayhawks’ center rotation after Flory Bidunga’s move to the transfer portal, Reeves stepped into the starting lineup against Pittsburg State and looked like the most reliable big man on the floor. Kansas coach Bill Self said as much afterward, calling him the best player on the court. In just 12 minutes, the 7-foot-2, 260-pound senior from Charlotte put together a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double with four blocks.
That production came against lower-level competition, so it needs the proper context. Even so, Reeves gave Kansas something it had been looking for: a healthy, physical presence in the paint. He spent much of the offseason working back from shoulder surgery, and his first appearance suggested that the issue may no longer be slowing him down.
The rest of the group behind him didn’t create the same level of confidence. Paul Mbiya still looks raw, and his limited minutes did little to settle the center conversation. Freshman Davion Adkins showed some interesting physical traits, but also made it clear that he still has a long way to go.
There had been plenty of talk about Kansas using Keanu Dawes as a small-ball option at the five, and that still looks possible in short bursts. But Reeves may have done enough to make that more of a backup plan than a necessity. His size alone changes the look of the defense, and his rim protection gives the coaching staff something it can trust if he’s able to hold up physically.
Reeves’ path to this point has already included stops at Duke and Clemson, where injuries limited him, before he found new life at College of Charleston in 2025-26. That background matters, especially because his best stretch came in a mid-major setting. The next test will tell more.
For now, though, the early read is simple: Reeves looked healthy, looked strong, and looked very much like someone who could claim the center job. Kansas will get a tougher measuring stick on Wednesday when Louisville comes to Allen Fieldhouse for an exhibition, and that game should reveal a lot more about whether Reeves can keep this momentum going.
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For Kansas, the appeal is obvious: Kaufman-Renn arrives with the kind of scoring touch and rebounding presence that can help stabilize a frontcourt and ease some pressure on the rotation. His path to campus is still tied to an unresolved legal fight, but the Jayhawks have added a player who has already logged meaningful high-level minutes and should be able to contribute right away. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Self Is Pushing Kansas Deeper Into A Risky New Reality
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What stands out now is how much of that roster exists under court-ordered eligibility, with Trey Kaufman-Renn joining Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. in that category. Each case carries its own legal wrinkle, and together they underscore how Kansas is operating in a reality that would have seemed hard to imagine even a few seasons ago. The talent is there, but so is the uncertainty, and the Jayhawks are finding themselves deeper into that mix as the season begins. [Read more 🡒]