LAWRENCE — A player thought to be a pivotal piece of Kansas basketball’s team next season might not be on the roster for it, as multiple reports have outlined Flory Bidunga intends to enter the transfer portal.
Bidunga spent the 2024-25 season as a freshman forward with the Jayhawks, earned a role as a key player off of the bench behind a pair of veterans in center Hunter Dickinson and forward KJ Adams — both of whom wrapped up their college careers. Bidunga, a former 247Sports Composite five-star prospect, started six of his 34 appearances and averaged 16.3 minutes, 5.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game for a team that finished 21-13 and exited the NCAA tournament with a loss in the round of 64.
“Kansas big man Flory Bidunga has informed the staff that he intends to enter the transfer portal, per sources,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel posted in part on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Returning to Kansas remains a strong option.”
Bidunga’s potential departure isn’t the first transfer portal news to hit Kansas this offseason, as redshirt junior forward Zach Clemence recently entered himself. But Bidunga’s is the most substantial, and if he doesn’t return means the Jayhawks have to delve much deeper into which big-men are available they could bring in. Bidunga seemed in line to be a starter next season alongside an incoming freshman, guard Darryn Peterson, who’s a 247Sports Composite five-star talent himself in the class of 2025.
Bidunga arrived at KU ahead of this past season as a player with so much potential, and a player who realized that potential more and more as the season unfolded. He should be a highly sought-after player, should he enter the portal officially and elect not to return to play for coach Bill Self. He is a former McDonald’s All-American.
