Kansas basketball’s late-summer roster puzzle got a little more complicated this week, and a little more interesting too.
The Jayhawks are still working to fill their final two roster spots, and the shifting NCAA landscape has created an opening for veteran players who suddenly have another year of eligibility in play. That should help Kansas in the long run. But it has also brought some movement - and some uncertainty - to the current roster picture.
One of the first hits for KU was Javon Bardwell. There had been rumblings all summer that he might reclassify into the 2026 class, and that is exactly what happened. Bardwell also chose to reopen his recruitment, thanking the Kansas coaching staff while deciding he wanted a path that offered more playing time than staying in Lawrence would have provided this season.
With Tyran Stokes already on board, Bardwell apparently did not want to spend the year in a secondary role. He moved on, and Kansas moved forward without him.
That opens the door a bit more for Tre White, who could potentially be back for another season if the court injunction stands and players who completed their fourth year last season are granted an extra year. White would be an awkward fit in some ways, but Kansas could use what he brings. His experience, toughness and skill would matter on a roster that’s still coming together.
And with Bardwell gone, there’s more room to make that happen. A return from White would also give Bill Self another familiar piece alongside Kohl Rosario and Paul Mbiya, both of whom know Self and his system.
Even if White does come back, Kansas still has another spot to fill, and the Jayhawks have been tied to a few names. Jaxson Kohler, Karmin Oroil, Alfred Worrell and Emmanuel Ogbole have all been mentioned.
Kohler and Ogbole would help up front, while Worrell and Oriol would bring scoring from the backcourt. If White returns, though, the bigger need looks like interior depth.
The biggest name in all of this remains Stokes. He’s Kansas’ headline recruit this cycle, and Bleacher Report has him projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.
Early mock drafts are more conversation starters than gospel, and Kansas has seen that before. At this point last year, Darryn Peterson was being projected as the top pick before eventually sliding to No.
- Even with an uneven KU season that was repeatedly interrupted by injuries, Peterson still went high.
If Stokes can show the kind of complete game he has flashed as a prep player, Kansas could have a star on its hands - and a team that’s in the mix for both a conference title and a national championship.
In Other News...
Kansas May Have Found A Needed Answer On The Offensive Line
Kansas has spent training camp searching for the right mix up front, and the offensive line has been one of the more interesting spots to watch. One of the key developments has been the move of Amir Herring inside, where the Jayhawks have been testing him at center while sorting through a few different looks along the line.
Herring has been getting a lot of work with the first group there lately, a sign the staff may have found a workable answer while Kasen Carpenter has dealt with health issues. Lance Leipold has already indicated Herring is expected to see time at center this season, which gives Kansas a clearer path at a spot that can settle the whole operation if it holds up. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Defensive Ends Are Turning Heads As One Jayhawk Faces Pressure
Kansas football is deep into training camp, with eight practices in the books and roughly seven still to go before the preseason work wraps up, and one of the clearest bright spots so far has been the defensive end group. Defensive coordinator Joe Dineen has been encouraged by the variety of skill sets in that room, especially after seeing more size there than Kansas has had in recent years, a combination that should give the Jayhawks more ways to attack off the edge.
David Santiago has pointed out that the position asks for different kinds of jobs depending on the look and the situation, which makes the groups versatility part of the appeal. For Leroy Harris III, though, the next step is a familiar one for a young pass rusher: refining the details. Dineen has made it clear Harris has the talent to matter, but his technique still needs to sharpen if Kansas is going to get the most out of what he can become. [Read more 🡒]