The return of the king
Real talk: the Jayhawks just got a massive W. After a court in Indiana dropped a preliminary injunction for nearly 90 athletes to play a fifth year, Tre White is officially back in the building. He wasted zero time re-committing to Kansas, and the vibes are immaculate.
Roster check
Bill Self and his squad were in a tough spot after the NBA Draft and transfer portal drama, but they really stepped up. By pairing White—who was the team’s second-leading scorer last season—with the absolute unit that is incoming freshman Tyran Stokes, they’ve managed to secure some serious main character energy for the upcoming season.
The rankings climb
Because of this, Kansas is officially moving up to No. 18 in the latest CBS Sports preseason Top 25 And 1. Florida is still holding down the No. 1 spot, but the Big 12 is looking stacked. We’ve got five teams from the conference in the rankings, including Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, and BYU.
The NBA prospect
Keep your eyes on Tyran Stokes. The 6-foot-8 talent is currently projected as the No. 1 pick for the 2027 NBA Draft. If he pulls it off, he’d be the third Jayhawk to go first overall, following in the footsteps of legends like Danny Manning and Andrew Wiggins. It’s giving generational talent.
Why it matters
This roster shift proves that even when the chips are down, a program like Kansas knows how to pivot. With a mix of veteran grit from White and high-level potential from Stokes, the Jayhawks are officially a team you need to watch. Say less.
