Kansas basketball experienced a disappointing conclusion to the 2023-24 season; however, Bill Self promptly began overhauling his roster for the upcoming campaign. He secured several new additions from the transfer portal, notably AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen, positioning the Jayhawks as strong contenders for a National Championship next season.
Despite a smooth offseason for KU, the program faced setbacks with the departure of high school recruit Labaron Philon and Florida transfer Riley Kugel. While Kugel had initially committed to Kansas, he opted to reopen his recruitment, leaving Jayhawk fans surprised. Kansas State, along with Mississippi State, emerged as potential destinations for the talented guard, a development unexpected by Kansas supporters.
Following a standout freshman season where he earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors, Kugel’s performance dipped in 2023-24. However, with two years of eligibility remaining, he presents an attractive prospect for any team seeking to develop his offensive abilities.
Although Kugel was Kansas’ first portal commitment in March, his commitment fell through without an official explanation. Bill Self bolstered the team with two wing players poised for immediate starter roles, potentially limiting Kugel’s playing time in his junior year.
Coach Jerome Tang faces a different roster composition for the upcoming season, having already secured transfers like Dug McDaniel from Michigan and Baye Fall from Arkansas. With several key contributors departing via the portal, Kugel’s addition to Kansas State would be warmly welcomed. Nonetheless, Kansas would likely harbor some resentment if a former commit chose to join a rival institution.
