Kansas guard Jamari McDowell (11) roars after the Jayhawks forced a turnover on Houston during the first half, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas guard Jamari McDowell is entering the transfer portal, he announced in an Instagram post on Tuesday morning.

“Wearing Kansas across my chest has been an honor I’ll carry with me forever,” he wrote in part. “The support, energy and love I’ve felt in Allen Fieldhouse is something I’ll never forget. You all helped shape me both on and off the court. After careful thought and prayer, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal to continue my journey.”

McDowell is the fifth Jayhawk to announce intentions to enter the transfer portal, following Flory Bidunga, Elmarko Jackson, Paul Mbiya and Bryson Tiller.

He spent three years at KU after joining the Jayhawks as a freshman in the 2023 recruiting class.

During McDowell’s first season, he made periodic and fleeting appearances as a reserve guard, averaging 7.2 minutes in 31 games and averaging 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds. He most notably made game-sealing free throws against Kentucky in his second collegiate game and scored seven points in a season-high 27 minutes against Tennessee in the Maui Invitational.

McDowell redshirted during the 2024-25 season after KU brought in a number of off-ball guards in the transfer portal.

He returned to action this past season and demonstrated significant improvement, this time surpassing some of the Jayhawks’ new additions in the rotation. McDowell acquitted himself well enough at both ends of the floor to earn opportunities in the starting lineup on occasions when Darryn Peterson was injured. He recorded the first two double-digit scoring performances of his career against Davidson and in KU’s upset victory over No. 1 Arizona.

McDowell shot the 3-pointer extremely well at Allen Fieldhouse, but was inconsistent on the road and finished the year putting up 3.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game on 34.9% shooting beyond the arc.

His departure leaves KU with three remaining scholarship players on its roster (excluding Darryn Peterson), all of whom were freshmen last year — Corbin Allen, Samis Calderon and Kohl Rosario — along with walk-on Will Thengvall.