Just weeks ago, Paul Mbiya was committed to NC State. But since his decommitment, he quickly became a top target for both Kansas head coach Bill Self and Oregon’s Dana Altman.
On Wednesday, June 25, Mbiya announced his commitment to the Kansas Jayhawks, adding to Self’s impressive run on the recruiting trail.
The 6-foot-10 prospect from Congo initially signed with NC State just days after receiving their offer. However, within two weeks, he reopened his recruitment and began considering offers from Kansas and Oregon.
Before Paul Mbiya’s commitment, Kansas head coach Bill Self held the No. 31 recruiting class in the nation for 2025, bolstered just a day earlier by the addition of four-star shooting guard Kohl Rosario.
Now, with the 6-foot-10 center joining the fold, Self may have found the frontcourt depth Kansas lacked. The Jayhawks had yet to land a true center from the 2025 class, and Self hadn’t added any big men via the transfer portal either. Mbiya could be exactly what Kansas needs to reinforce its presence in the paint next season.
Kansas Jayhawks 2025 Recruiting & Transfer Portal Additions:
- Five-star SG Darryn Peterson
- Four-star SG Kohl Rosario
- Three-star PF Samis Calderon
- Three-star SG Corbin Allen
- Unrated C Paul Mbiya
- Four-star SF Tre White (transfer from Illinois)
- Four-star PG Jayden Dawson (transfer from Loyola Chicago)
- Four-star SG Melvin Council
Though unrated, Mbiya brings size and strength the Jayhawks were missing. At 6-foot-10 and 200 pounds, the 20-year-old from Congo offers physicality and maturity, bolstered by international experience. He most recently played for ASVEL Basket in France’s ProA U21 League, which should serve him well in the transition to college basketball.
With veteran big man Hunter Dickinson having exhausted his eligibility, Mbiya could fill a critical gap in Kansas’ frontcourt rotation—and potentially help turn things around after a disappointing 2024–25 campaign.
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