Kansas may not be done shaping its 2026 roster, and a new name has entered the picture that could change the frontcourt conversation fast.
Bill Self made it clear last week that the job isn’t finished yet. When asked whether the roster was complete, he said, “...
So our roster's not set. It may be over, but we're still investigating different opportunities.”
That line matters because Kansas has already been tied to a few possibilities. Overseas big man Mihailo Mušikić remains linked to the Jayhawks, though nothing is settled there yet. Melvin Council Jr. has also been mentioned as a possible return, but that situation is still unresolved as well.
Now there’s another option on the board.
College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein reported that Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler is drawing interest from Kansas, Kentucky and BYU as he considers a fifth year in college. Rothstein also noted that a return to East Lansing is still possible.
Kohler’s production last season makes him a real fit for what Kansas still needs. He averaged 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists for a Michigan State team that finished 27-8 overall. Those numbers would give the Jayhawks a much-needed lift in the middle of the roster, especially after a season in which the depth behind the top five was uneven.
Kansas is already set to add four transfers: power forward Kenau Dawes, small forward Dennis Parker Jr., center Christian Reeves and guard Leroy Blyden Jr. That group helps, but Kohler would bring another layer of stability, particularly at power forward.
That spot still looks thin. Right now, Kansas has Dawes, a senior, and freshman Davion Adkins there. Every other position appears to have at least two strong options, but power forward remains one of the clearest places where more help would matter.
If Kohler lands in Lawrence, he looks like a natural fit as the backup power forward. He would also give Kansas another player who can score, rebound and hold his own in a rotation that still has room to harden before the season arrives.
For now, though, the Jayhawks may have to choose carefully. As things stand, Kansas only has room for one more player, which means Mušikić, Council and Kohler are all part of the same crowded decision tree.
Council brings edge and versatility. Last season, he showed what it looks like when a player gives everything to a team.
He was an elite defender, attacked the glass and could be smooth getting to the rim. He wasn’t perfect, but he made a major impact in one year.
Mušikić offers a different kind of value. His presence would help at center, where Kansas could use depth while Reeves recovers from the shoulder injury he had earlier this offseason. Reeves, the former Duke, Clemson and College of Charleston transfer, is expected to miss the start of the season.
However Kansas sorts it out, the next move could matter a lot. Kohler, in particular, would give the Jayhawks another experienced piece in a frontcourt that still has room for one more proven addition.
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A federal ruling this week has added another layer to the eligibility picture for college basketball players who have already used four seasons, and it could matter down the road for Kansas. U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction that would allow Division I athletes from the high school class of 2022, if they exhausted their fourth season of eligibility this spring, to compete again during the 2026-27 academic year.
For the Jayhawks, the timing complicates two separate lawsuits involving former players Melvin Council Jr. and Jayden Dawson, both of whom are seeking extra eligibility. The NCAA is expected to appeal the ruling, so nothing is settled yet, but the decision adds another moving part to an already tangled set of legal fights that could shape who is available for Kansas and when. [Read more 🡒]
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Bill Self Faces A Bigger Kansas Roster Question Than Fans Realize
The NCAAs recent eligibility ruling has reopened the roster market for a lot of programs, and Kansas is already being linked to the frontcourt search. One name that has surfaced is former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler, a possible fit as Bill Self continues to evaluate how to add size and depth around the paint for next season.
CBS Sports also reported Kansas had interest in Auburn forward Keyshawn Hall, but a Kansas spokesperson confirmed no contact has been made with Hall. Hall has bounced around multiple schools and is drawing attention from several programs, so his name will keep circulating in transfer chatter, but for now the Jayhawks most meaningful roster questions appear to be just getting started. [Read more 🡒]