Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. are back with Kansas basketball, and that pushes Bill Self’s roster into territory that could be unlike anything he’s managed in Lawrence.
White rejoined the team last week, and Self announced on Sunday that Council is also back and practicing with KU. The roster page still hasn’t been updated, but the Jayhawks now have their full 15-man allotment, plus grandfathered walk-on Will Thengvall. On paper, that makes this a roster with serious depth - maybe the deepest Kansas has ever had - and it leaves Self with the kind of problem coaches usually dream about and then immediately regret: figuring out who actually gets on the floor.
There’s still a catch, though, and it’s a big one. White and Council are allowed to be with the team and practice, but their eligibility for games is not settled. The injunctions could still fall apart in court, and Self seems ready to roll the dice and deal with the fallout later.
Even with that uncertainty, the roster construction is hard to ignore. Kansas has a legitimate chance to be special, and the challenge now is squeezing minutes out of a group that could realistically go 13 deep.
Self is known for trimming his rotation once conference play starts, often down to seven or eight players. This team might not fit that old pattern.
The backcourt alone tells the story. Taylen Kinney, Leroy Blyden Jr. and Council all bring point guard ability, and all three can play off the ball too.
That creates a crowded lane for touches and minutes, especially with Kohl Rosario and Dennis Parker Jr. also in the mix at guard. White adds another layer because he can slide into shooting guard minutes as well.
That’s before you even get to the frontcourt. Tyran Stokes, Keanu Dawes, White, Luke Barnett, Trent Perry and Atticus Richmond all sit in the forward group, while Christian Reeves, Paul Mbiya, Davion Adkins and Grant Mordini give Kansas size in the middle. Outside of Richmond, Mordini and Thengvall, everyone on the list could push for playing time.
If the minutes shake out the way they appear to right now, Perry and Barnett may be the two most likely to get squeezed out. That would make this a developmental season for both, with a bigger role likely waiting next year.
Even then, the roster still has room to breathe. Kinney, Blyden and Council can all function at the point.
Rosario, Parker and White can all work at shooting guard, and Barnett gives Self a possible three-point option if he needs one. Stokes is the obvious centerpiece at small forward, while Dawes, White and Adkins can handle the four.
At center, Reeves, Mbiya and Adkins are the names in the mix.
The more interesting question is whether Self leans into the roster’s versatility and tries something aggressive. A full-court, up-tempo approach would fit a group with this many ball-handlers and this much depth. The old 40-minutes-of-hell style would let Kansas keep pressure on opponents, sub freely and keep everyone fresh.
It’s an appealing idea because this roster gives Self the ingredients to pull it off. White and Council widen the possibilities even more - if they end up eligible for the full season.
In Other News...
Kansas Just Landed A Late Roster Win That Changes Everything
Melvin Council Jr. is back in the Kansas picture for the 2026-27 season, giving the Jayhawks a timely boost after his eligibility situation moved in their favor. The guard was one of the more productive pieces on the roster last season and brought immediate value with his familiarity with the system, which made his status one of the more important offseason questions hanging over the program.
Councils return matters because Kansas was already counting on him to add experience and depth to the backcourt, and his presence changes the way the roster can be built around the pieces already in place. He gave the Jayhawks steady production a year ago and drew Big 12 recognition for it, so keeping him in the fold softens a major uncertainty and gives the staff a more settled starting point heading into the next season. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas May Have Found An Unexpected Running Back Answer
Kansas had to get creative when injuries thinned out its running back room, and Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman ended up being one of the more unusual solutions. The redshirt sophomore, originally a defensive back, moved over to offense during the bye week after a brief trial period, giving the staff a look at whether his speed and versatility could help fill an immediate need.
Cummings-Coleman answered quickly in the win over Middle Tennessee, showing he could handle more than just a spot rep at the position. Coaches and teammates praised the way he adapted, and his production hinted that Kansas may have uncovered a useful option at a spot that suddenly needed help. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Freshman Is Suddenly Pushing For A Role Fans Will Notice
Luke Barnett has gone from newcomer to a player Kansas can realistically expect to use this season, which is saying something for a freshman trying to carve out a spot in Bill Selfs rotation. The former Mater Dei High School guard has drawn steady praise from the coaching staff and from analysts around the program for his shooting touch and the way he has developed since arriving on campus.
What has helped Barnetts case is that the growth has not been limited to one area. Kansas has seen him sharpen his defense and ball-handling, and that gives him a path to minutes beyond simply standing in the corner and waiting for a look. As the season gets closer, he looks like one of the more intriguing breakout candidates on a roster that will need reliable outside shooting wherever it can find it. [Read more 🡒]