Kansas sophomore Flory Bidunga intends to declare for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Bidunga also intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal, sources said, as he’s keeping open the option to return to college.
Bidunga would immediately become the top player in the portal among the more than 800 players so far who intend to enter, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. The transfer portal formally opens Tuesday, the day after the NCAA men’s title game.
On the NBA side, ESPN’s Jeremy Woo has Bidunga projected as a second-round draft pick at No. 44.
Bidunga averaged 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds for the Jayhawks this season. Bidunga, who is 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds, finished third in the Big 12 in rebounding.
He was a candidate for national defensive player of the year. He led the Big 12 in blocks with 2.6 per game. He also led the Big 12 in field goal percentage by nearly 7%, as he hit 64% of his shots.
In a time when college big men command a premium on the market, Bidunga will be one of the most coveted players in the country if he returns for his junior year.
