3 intriguing newcomers to keep an eye on as Kansas basketball’s season opener nears

Kansas basketball has a trio of returning starters to make this years lineup formidable by itself.

There is graduate center Hunter Dickinson, the preseason Big 12 Conference player of the year and member of the All-Big 12 first team. There is graduate guard Dajuan Harris Jr., who was named to the preseason All-Big 12 second team and started for the Kansas team that won the NCAA championship in March. This we have seen is own by senior forward KJ Adams Jr., who was also part of the national championship team of the year.

Kansas head coach Bill Self also brought a plethora of new additions to his roster from both high school as well as transfer markets. Each will play a part to the objectives the Jayhawks seek to accomplish this year, in one form or capacity. There are three, though, that will be especially intriguing to follow as the season opener nears.

AJ Storr, junior guard

The fact is AJ Storr did not earn a placement on either of the two preseason, All-Big 12 teams. The junior guard may not even have gotten the nod as a favorite to be named the newcomer of the year. Still, he played all-conference basketball at St, John’s two years ago and at Wisconsin last year and he may do it again this year.

However, there is little argument that he found the range last season Storr was the leading shooter for Wisconsin with 16.8 points per game. What is there for him in the future is where he can build a game up from there. If he can do the job on the defensive glass that he scores, then he is going to add another all-league type talent to Kansas.

Zeke Mayo, senior guard

Offensive lineman Zeke Mayo are one of the most talked about in the NFL over course of the offseason. While the senior guard from Lawrence was to make his year playing for his home town college a great year. And it would have stemmed all the success that he has had already at this level.

Mayo came from South Dakota State university and was awarded for the most played player in Summit League last season. He has clinched league championships, and got to the NCAA tournaments. He can help Kansas do both this season also.

Flory Bidunga, freshman forward

Flory Bidunga enrolled at the college as the 247Sports Composite five-star quarterback recruit and top 20 player of the 2024 recruiting year. He enjoyed basketball when he played for high school in Indiana state. Freshman forward has an opportunity to establish some sort of role with the Jayhawks in this year.

Much about Bidunga’s way to the court might depend on whether he can trace it with Dickinson. Kansas will have a couple of exhibition games against Arkansas and Washburn later this month to see how it could all work before the season gets under way in November. Still, if he meets expectations, it’s hard to keep him off the court as the season progresses.