The NBA draft has been a hot topic for the Jayhawks this season. Freshman Darryn Peterson has a chance to become the third KU player selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft. With all the discussion about KU’s star underclassmen, little has been said about the rest of the team.

I wanted to examine the cases for Flory Bidunga, Tre White, and Melvin Council Jr. and project what they could do this summer. 

Flory Bidunga 

The candidacy for Bidunga is intriguing but has not taken off this year. The former five-star sophomore broke out this season, winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 13.3 points per game with 9 rebounds per game. He is the only other Jayhawk that would definitely get drafted if he declared. 

What NBA teams will find appealing about Bidunga is his defensive versatility and athleticism. Bidunga is one of if not the only center who can guard any position and excel. Bidunga’s fluidity on defense is rare. He led the Big 12 in blocks per game with 2.6 per game. He also got better about limiting fouling, an area of struggle last season. 

What Bidunga will do this offseason is still uncertain. Bidunga recently declared for the draft while retaining eligibility for the upcoming season. He also entered the transfer portal for the second consecutive year to maximize options for himself. 

This move makes sense for Bidunga, he was one of the best players in college basketball this past season. He deserves to see how the NBA feels about his game. If he returns, he will be one of if not the most sought after player in the portal. 

Bidunga is projected as an early second-round pick according to most boards. Some have him sneaking into the first. What will likely be the deciding force if Bidunga stays will be if he is able to receive a first round promise. It just takes one team to fall in love with him for him to go. If Bidunga is unable to secure this, it would make sense to withdraw from the draft and come back to college. 

What makes this particular draft difficult for Bidunga is the depth of the center class in his projected range. Center is overall a pretty weak position in this class, but most of them will most likely go at the back half of the first round. Six centers, Patrick Ngongba II, Henri Veesaar, Aday Mara, Chris Cenac Jr., Motiejus Krivas and Bidunga are all big men for premier programs all ranked closely to each other.

Bidunga usually is ranked near the bottom of this group, largely due do to his unique skillset that can be hard to find comparison in. The others are more projectable due to their large frames, or smaller players like Bidunga are usually able to space the floor. 

If Bidunga returna to college, he would likely be one of the highest paid college players. He would be an early candidate for preseason All-American. Also the 2027 NBA draft class is viewed as a much weaker class than 2026. Bidunga coming back would give him a much higher draft ceiling. 

Another reason for potential return would be the positive development he made in last offseason. Bidunga improved in almost every aspect of his game. His hands improved, creating one of the best lob-threats in the country.

Bidunga also improved his free throw percentage from 53% to 65% and showed significantly better touch around the rim. His touch improving that much in a single season could imply a developing game further away from the basket (I know you saw that middy against St. John’s). Given the leap Bidunga took this year and still being a relative newcomer to basketball, stunted progression should not be a major concern. 

Ultimately, I would be surprised if Bidunga keeps his name in the draft. He would likely make more money in college next year than in the NBA (30th pick is projected to make $2.74 million next season). The bigger question about Bidunga’s offseason will be where he lands in the portal. 

Tre White 

Tre White had a good year. White is unlikely to be selected in this years draft, but he has some traits that will get teams attention. White had a career year in three point and free throw percentages. This will be a major selling point. 

At the end of the second round, teams often look for experienced players who are able to contribute in a role immediately. White could sell himself as a 3&D option who could play a role off the bench. Teams will like that he had consistent production at all four schools he played at, showing that he’s able to adapt and create impact. 

Before postseason play I was very intrigued by White’s prospects. I could see a team liking him near the end of the second round. Because of the strength of this year’s class, many underclassmen will most likely stay in college, leading to a senior heavy second round. But White more than likely played himself out of that after poor tournament play. His path to the NBA will most likely be through the G League. 

Melvin Council

Council is the least likely on this list to get drafted. Despite him being a really good college guard, his skill set does not fit in with the current NBA. His jumpshot is not to the level it would have to be. Council will most likely play in the G League or overseas that have styles more accommodating to him. 

What could help Council stand out and let him make a team for summer league will be his leadership and speed. He is one of the quickest guards in college and is a bigger guard, the fun combination makes him a nightmare in transition. Council also had a clear impact on his teammates and KU as a whole, instantly becoming a fan-favorite Jayhawk. 

Council might have a legal case to try and have one more year at KU. This is unlikely, but with Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss being granted an extra year of eligibility, it remains a possibility. If Council were to return, he would instantly improve KU’s roster next year and be one of the better players in the Big 12. 

All Stats from Sports ReferenceÂ