Flory Bidunga Explains Decision to Return to Kansas Jayhawks
In today’s college basketball landscape, no program is immune to the chaos of the transfer portal. But even with that in mind, Flory Bidunga’s brief departure from Kansas came as a shock. After spending his freshman season learning behind All-American big man Hunter Dickinson, Bidunga was widely expected to take over as the Jayhawks’ starting center.
So when news broke that he had entered the portal, Kansas fans were left scratching their heads. Fortunately, the uncertainty didn’t last long. Just a week later, Bidunga announced his return to Lawrence, finalizing a new NIL deal that sealed his decision.
“I want to finish what I started,” Bidunga told The Kansas City Star. “I had a talk with the coaches. Next year will be different, for sure.”
His guardian, Dillon Craft, echoed the same sentiment: “Flory wants to continue growing, developing his game, and bringing another championship to Lawrence. He’s committed to what he started at Kansas.”
Given KU’s recent struggles—falling short of expectations in back-to-back seasons—it’s no surprise that Bidunga and his camp at least explored other options. Despite fans calling for more playing time, head coach Bill Self often opted to go with KJ Adams, which left some questioning whether Bidunga was being fully utilized.
Still, the 6-foot-9 center showed glimpses of what makes him so special. During the 2024–25 season, he averaged 5.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, offering elite rim protection in limited minutes. Now, he’ll return to form an exciting frontcourt pairing with highly-touted freshman Darryn Peterson—an inside-out combo that could electrify Allen Fieldhouse.
Bidunga may have briefly looked elsewhere, but it’s clear his heart never left Kansas. With his return, Jayhawk fans can exhale—and start looking forward to what’s next.
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