Overview
- ESPN reported Thursday that the Kansas sophomore will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft while preserving college eligibility and will also enter the transfer portal to keep a return option.
- The transfer portal opens Tuesday after the NCAA title game, and ESPN’s Jeff Borzello says Bidunga would be the top available player if he comes back to school.
- Early projections place him outside the first round, with ESPN’s Jeremy Woo listing him at No. 44 in his latest mock draft.
- Bidunga earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors this season and averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
- Bill Self confirmed this week he will return to coach Kansas, and the staff must plan for scenarios in which Bidunga turns pro or transfers after he similarly tested the portal last offseason before staying on a new NIL deal.