Kansas guard Kohl Rosario (7) lines up a three from the corner during the second half on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas guard Kohl Rosario officially announced his return to KU for his sophomore season in a social media post on Monday evening, declaring that he will be “back for more.”

He made the announcement along with a short video featuring scenes in which he walks around Allen Fieldhouse and puts on a KU jersey, before transitioning to a montage of highlights from his freshman year.

“I’m honored to have Kansas across my chest, something that can never be taken from me, and it’s just a great feeling to know I’ll be part of this, this culture and history here,” Rosario says in the video in a voiceover. “Basketball is my life, man. It got me places I never thought I’d be able to make it to.

“Playing in Allen Fieldhouse, just words can’t describe it. It’s different. Basketball is everything here. When you got the fans behind your back, it definitely adds a little confidence. That’s why I’m back.”

Rosario’s confirmed return ensures that KU will retain one of its promising young players amid an offseason of turnover. The Miami native, who played at Overtime Elite and reclassified to join KU in its 2025 recruiting class, averaged 3.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in his freshman campaign.

However, those stats condense an unusual year in which he impressed over the summer after arriving in Lawrence to the point that he received a day-one starting role, only to head to the bench six games into the year.

Acclaimed coming out of OTE for his combination of shooting acumen and above-the-rim athleticism, Rosario invariably demonstrated the latter but did not consistently deliver on the former throughout his first year. He was always a confident and eager shooter and made a season-high three 3s against Davidson in the nonconference finale on Dec. 22, but then did not hit another until Feb. 18.

Rosario was at the edge of the Jayhawks’ rotation for much of Big 12 play and demonstrated flashes throughout, even though he generally played single-digit minutes per game. Then he provided a bona-fide spark in the NCAA Tournament loss to St. John’s, draining a 3-pointer and grabbing key rebounds before the Jayhawks ultimately lost on a buzzer-beater.

That final appearance generated even more optimism about his future among KU fans, and now they will get to see him develop as a sophomore.

So far, Rosario and Corbin Allen, who redshirted last season, are the Jayhawks’ returning scholarship players. In the wake of Rosario’s announcement, all eyes will now be on center Paul Mbiya, another postseason standout and rising sophomore, who as of April 6 planned to enter the portal, as 247Sports first reported. However, according to multiple reports since, he has not officially done so. The window to enter closes on April 21.