The near future looks bright for the Kansas basketball team as head coach Bill Self was able to retain some key pieces of last year's squad, and the Jayhawks have some talented freshmen coming in as well. One thing is certain, there is no shortage of big men for Kansas. Hunter Dickinson will be back next season for the Jayhawks, and they also some good youngsters coming into the program. One of them is Flory Bidunga.
Flory Bidunga is a five-star recruit and he will be a freshman for Kansas basketball next season. Bidunga is the #14 player in the 2024 recruiting class according to 247 Sports, the #4 center and the top player in the state of Indiana. He played his high school basketball at Kokomo High School in Kokomo, Indiana.
So far, Bidunga is getting good reviews from his players and coaches. He has been participating in scrimmages with the team, and Bill Self is trying to figure out the best way to utilize the ‘freakish' youngster.
“We got to figure out who he is and how he impacts us and what he can do to help,” Self said, according to an article from KUsports.com. “Because he’s really not tall — 6-7, 6-7 and a half — but he’s a terrific, freakish type (of) athlete that can change directions, that can jump, that can put pressure on the rim. He can do a lot of things. But can he play with Hunter [Dickinson], or how does it work?”
Dickinson is one of the best big men in college basketball, so he will certainly be able to give Bidunga some tips as he prepares for his first college basketball season.
“Going to try to teach him everything I know, try to help him out in any way I can, and try to make sure he maximizes his potential,” Dickinson said.
Bidunga is happy with how things are going at Kansas right now. He really likes Self, and he thinks that he is the best coach out there for him.
“I’m enjoying doing it,” Bidunga said. “Best coach for me, one of the best coaches in the league. I’m really glad to play for him and just have him develop me to the next level.”
Other young guys are looking good for Kansas basketball
Flory Bidunga isn't the only Kansas basketball freshman that has been turning heads during scrimmages. Rakease Passmore reportedly played very well, too, and Hunter Dickinson was liking what he was seeing.
“He was playing,” Dickinson said. “He was balling out there. The coaches were talking about it. He was definitely hooping, taking advantage of the opportunity.”
Unfortunately, not all was good at the recent scrimmage as Elmarko Jackson did go down with an injury. Self said that he was going to be okay, but it did end the scrimmage early.
“I saw the fall, but I didn’t really see what happened because I was on the bench,” Dickinson said. “But it was good to see him being able to walk it off on his own … Hoping for the best, not sure, but we got a really good training staff that’ll get him back as soon as he can.”
The injury to Elmarko Jackson ended up being more serious than Self originally thought, and it turns out he tore his patellar tendon. He will have to miss about a year.
“Yesterday, while working out in front of the campers, Elmarko Jackson tore his patellar tendon, an MRI conducted by Kansas team health confirmed last night,” Bill Self said in a statement. “It will requite surgery within the next several days and a full recovery is anticipated. Elmarko will be able to assume non-contact basketball duties in the next several months, but the full rehab process will take approximately 12 months. We are all crushed by this. Elmarko has had a terrific spring. He has worked so hard and improved so much. This will be a challenge that he will meet head on and he will return as good as ever.”
That is extremely unfortunate news for Kansas and it is a tough way for that scrimmage end.
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