Tre White’s arrival has changed the tone of Kansas’ offseason almost overnight.
Before White was announced last Friday, the Jayhawks’ summer looked solid enough on paper, but not quite finished. Kansas had landed talented pieces, sure, yet the group still carried obvious questions about experience for a team that expects to play meaningful basketball deep into the season. Then White entered the picture, and the roster started to look like something much closer to a contender.
That shift was enough to put Kansas back into the conversation in Gary Parrish’s latest college basketball rankings.
“Is it the best KU roster ever? Obviously not,” opened Parrish
“But after the Jayhawks were hit hard by early departures to both the NBA Draft and transfer portal, Bill Self and his staff had real work to do to position the program for the type of success they've enjoyed for most of the previous 23 years -- and I think they've done it.”
The overhaul after last season’s second-round NCAA Tournament exit was dramatic. Nearly everyone was gone, whether by eligibility, transfer or the professional ranks.
Ngiunyu Ngala: Eligibility
Jayden Dawson: Eligbility/Pending return to college basketball
Corbin Allen: Transfer portal
Samis Calderon: Transfer Portal
Jamari McDowell: Transfer Portal
Elmarko Jackson: Transfer Portal
Melvin Council Jr.: Recently cleared for another year of eligibility but hasn’t been officially added back to the KU roster
Bryson Tiller: Transfer Portal
Darryn Peterson: NBA
Flory Bidunga: Transfer Portal
For a stretch this offseason, Kansas was left with only shooting guard Kohl Rosario and center Paul Mbiya among the incoming pieces. Even Mbiya was viewed as a possible departure before deciding to stay for another year.
That’s why White matters so much. Parrish moved the Jayhawks up to No. 18 in Version 28 of the 2026-27 CBS Sports preseason Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings, noting the added help on the perimeter and White’s return to the program.
“To be clear, Kansas probably won't be the preseason favorite in the Big 12. But with Stokes in the fold, Taylen Kinney providing another heralded piece on the perimeter, and White now eligible again and back in the program, I'm compelled to move KU up to No. 18 in Version 28 of the 2026-27 CBS Sports preseason Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings.”
White’s value goes well beyond one category. He gives Kansas a reliable scoring option after averaging 13.5 points per game last season, while shooting 43.8% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range.
He also brings defense, and plenty of it. At 6-foot-7, White was difficult to attack on the perimeter last season. He was less effective when forced to defend inside, but overall he was a positive on that end.
Maybe most important of all, though, is the experience. Kansas is built around underclassmen, and White along with Utah transfer Keanu Dawes are the only two players on the roster who consistently played in the Big 12 last season.
If Kansas is going to get back to where it wants to be, White could be the piece that helps push it there.
In Other News...
Bill Self Just Opened The Door To More Kansas Roster Changes
Bill Self sounded optimistic when he talked about Kansas roster for the 2026-27 season, and for good reason. The Jayhawks appear to have a blend of returning pieces, transfer help and elite freshman talent, with Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney headlining the incoming class. Self also singled out the prospects of Paul Mbiya and Kohl Rosario as part of the mix, while transfers Keanu Dawes and Christian Reeves give Kansas some added size and depth up front.
Tre White is also expected back with the program, which adds another layer to a roster already taking shape in the background. For a Kansas team that is always balancing the present with what comes next, the intrigue now is how many more adjustments Self wants to make before the picture is truly set, and whether the final version ends up looking as settled as it first seemed. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Is Counting On New Help As Injury Problems Keep Growing
Kansas football has turned to two late additions to help steady a roster that has been stretched thin by injuries. Defensive tackle Clifton Thompson and running back Chase Belcher were cleared for eligibility after an injunction in Indiana, giving the Jayhawks some much-needed reinforcement on both sides of the ball as they try to patch together depth heading into the next stretch of the season.
Thompson arrives with experience as a former second-team all-conference defensive tackle at the FCS level, while Belcher comes in as a transfer from Kennesaw State. Coaches and players around the program are optimistic the pair can settle in quickly, and Kansas will be counting on that transition to move smoothly as the injuries keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Jalon Daniels Faces His First Real NFL Test With Buccaneers
Jalon Daniels is about to get a crash course in NFL life, and the Buccaneers are asking the former Kansas Jayhawks quarterback to handle it sooner than expected. Daniels won the backup job in the preseason, enough to earn trust inside the building, and now he is set to make his first start against the Green Bay Packers while Tampa Bay still hunts its first regular-season win.
For Kansas fans, it is another reminder of how quickly Daniels path has shifted from college standout to pro quarterback under the spotlight. He has barely any NFL experience, and the Bucs are turning to him because of a roster need that changes the stakes immediately, giving him a chance to guide an offense in a game that matters for more than just his development. [Read more 🡒]