photo by: AP Photo/Eric Gay

Kansas guard Jamari McDowell, left, and Syracuse guard Naithan George, right, chase a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

Las Vegas — Redshirt sophomore guard Jamari McDowell has made key contributions to Kansas in the past, but they’ve generally taken the form of extended cameos.

McDowell was only three games into his college career when he stepped in late to lock down Kentucky’s fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves and drain the clinching free throws at the Champions Classic in November 2023; three more games after that, he came in off the bench and again served as a key two-way piece, on that occasion for 27 minutes, as the Jayhawks beat Tennessee in Honolulu.

Until Tuesday, though, that was his longest stint on the floor in a KU uniform. McDowell played sparingly the rest of the 2023-24 campaign, even on a thin roster, then redshirted the following season.

At the Players Era tournament, though, the Houston native has looked like he hasn’t missed a beat. KU coach Bill Self granted McDowell his first career start against Syracuse on Tuesday, and McDowell rewarded Self with an efficient nine points, four rebounds and two assists in a whopping 34 minutes as part of the Jayhawks’ 71-60 victory over the Orange.

“I didn’t change my approach at all,” McDowell said. “I just stayed consistent in what I was doing. I just thank the Lord for what he’s given me. Gave me opportunity, knocked on it and I opened the door.”

The veteran, one of the few remaining players providing a bridge to KU teams of the past couple years, stepped in for high-potential but wide-eyed freshman Kohl Rosario. Self was inspired by McDowell’s competent showing against Notre Dame on Monday (five points, two boards), and found that it was ultimately a beneficial move for both players.

“Well, I thought that he played the best yesterday, and Kohl, he’s been laboring, and I just thought (it would) give Kohl a different look to maybe come off the bench and not feel the pressure of starting,” Self said. “And Kohl actually played better today … and Jamari was rock solid. He was steady out there for us.”

That steadiness was apparent early when McDowell was willing to attempt — and then made — a 3-pointer just nine seconds after he had missed his first one, an opportunity he was afforded by Flory Bidunga’s offensive rebound.

McDowell cashed in a crafty drive to the rim late in the first half, then drew a foul in transition and made a second 3 after the interval.

“I feel like he took a lot of pressure off of us,” senior forward Tre White said. “When he comes in, he stretches the floor. Any dribble handoffs that they don’t step up, he’s shooting it from halfcourt, volleyball line, whatever, so he definitely takes some pressure off of us. And driving the ball downhill, he’s good at making the right reads.”

His main value may have been much as it was when he appeared in smaller spurts as a freshman — he just helped the Jayhawks function more smoothly as a team on both ends of the floor. White said his addition was “seamless.”

“Jamari was great today,” redshirt freshman Bryson Tiller said. “He was a key piece that we needed, he brought a lot of energy. I’m proud of him and expect big things out of him.”

Exactly how big a role McDowell continues to play will depend on Rosario’s development, as well as when star freshman Darryn Peterson returns from his ongoing hamstring injury. But he’s appeared in each of KU’s seven games to this point and will likely start in the eighth on Wednesday when the Jayhawks play their final game at the Players Era.