Kansas head coach Bill Self
Bill Self and the Kansas basketball program have been highly successful in the transfer portal this offseason, bolstering their roster and positioning themselves as contenders for the national championship next season. Despite a disappointing performance in the 2023-24 campaign, where they exited the NCAA Tournament in the second round for the second consecutive year, Kansas has made significant strides in strengthening their team.
While transfers AJ Storr, Zeke Mayo, and Rylan Griffen have all finalized their agreements to join KU and receive scholarships for the upcoming season, one player from the transfer class remains uncertain. Former Florida guard Riley Kugel, who committed to Kansas in March, is still deliberating on his decision. Bill Self provided an update on Kugel’s status during a podcast with college basketball analyst Andy Katz.
Self expressed uncertainty regarding whether Kugel will officially sign with Kansas, stating, “We also got a commitment from a young man from Florida — Riley Kugel — and that’s up in the air whether or not Riley will come, but certainly those other three [transfer portal additions] we feel good about.”
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Although Kugel announced his intention to transfer from the University of Florida to Kansas and has shown support for other transfers on his social media platforms, he has yet to formalize his commitment and remains in the transfer portal. Self’s recent comments suggest that Kugel’s decision may not be imminent.
There are speculations that Kugel may have concerns about his potential playing time at Kansas. Despite being the first player to commit during the 2024 portal cycle and anticipating significant minutes, the addition of three more transfers shortly after may have altered his prospects within the team.
Once considered a promising NBA prospect, Kugel had a subpar season at Florida, with declining shooting percentages and performance. Despite this, his athleticism and defensive capabilities could benefit the Kansas basketball team, and he still has another year of eligibility after the upcoming season. Nonetheless, the coaching staff must prepare for the possibility of Kugel choosing to commit elsewhere, necessitating the recruitment of a replacement for his position on the 13-man roster.
