Kansas associate head coach Jeremy Case watches warmups prior to tipoff against TCU on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug

Stepping in for head coach Bill Self, Kansas associate head coach Jeremy Case got the chance to lead off Wednesday night’s special offseason edition of the “Hawk Talk” radio show, which meant he had the opportunity to provide the first word on many of the newest Jayhawks.

Self made press-release statements when each player signed, of course, and he also spoke to reporters at an event in Topeka earlier this month. But after several weeks of summer workouts, the responsibility of relaying early thoughts on the 2026-27 roster fell to Case, who was promoted to associate head coach last fall.

The former Jayhawk guard had plenty to say on the new-look roster — though allowed that it might not necessarily be done. Asked about the post players in particular, he said KU is “finished, but there’s always a chance that something could pop up and maybe we add something because we do have two roster spots available.”

“Recruiting never stops, and we’re always calling, we’re always talking to agents and whoever we need to talk to,” Case said. “So sometimes something falls in your lap, and it may make us better. But if it doesn’t, we are happy with our team, absolutely.”

photo by: AP Photo/Chris Seward

Radford guard Dennis Parker Jr. (11) drives past North Carolina guard Isaiah Denis (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

TRANSFERS

Leroy Blyden Jr.: Case acknowledged that the Toledo transfer guard, the reigning MAC freshman of the year, is undersized, “but he’s tough, he’s scrappy and he’s really fast in transition.” His primary skill to contribute to the Jayhawks is his shooting, however — he hit 40.7% of his 3s with the Rockets.

Keanu Dawes: The Jayhawks saw Dawes up close last season when he had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Utah at Allen Fieldhouse. They knew well that, as Case mentioned, he was a high-level athlete with positional versatility.

“The one thing that he’s doing better now is shooting it,” Case said. “He put in a lot of work during the offseason and he’s really shooting the ball well.”

KU believes, he added, that Dawes could get up to about 38% from deep. He’s a career 31.1% shooter beyond the arc.

Dennis Parker Jr.: Case cited Parker’s 53-point game against Coppin State when he was at Radford last season as evidence of his offensive prowess: “We expect him to come in and be a big-time scorer for us.”

Christian Reeves: Reeves, of course, is not going to practice at full speed with contact until October, Self said earlier this month. The head coach has also referred to him “one of the biggest keys we have.” Case echoed that by calling the 7-foot-2, 255-pound center “very instrumental” and noting that he can protect the rim and run the floor.

“He’s on schedule and working hard and he’s actually doing a lot more now,” Case said. “He can do stuff with his left hand and shoot some left-hand hooks and whatnot. But he’s not running yet, but he’s walking on the treadmill with incline and all that stuff. But he’s progressing really well.”

photo by: AP Photo/Gregory Payan

Prolific Prep’s Davion Adkins (25) takes a free throw against Dynamic Prep during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, Monday, January 19, 2026, in Springfield, Mass.

FRESHMEN

Davion Adkins: The 6-foot-9 lefty with a 7-foot-2 wingspan has a chance to contribute at both power forward and center for the Jayhawks during his first year in the program. Adkins is athletic, but Case suggested he’s impressed in other ways, noting his “good ball skills for his size.”

“He can block shots, he can run the floor, he can catch lobs, and what we’ve been excited about is his shooting,” Case said. “He can actually shoot better than we thought he could.”

Assistant coach Jacque Vaughn also gave Adkins some props for his mentality in his own “Hawk Talk” segment, citing him as an example of a player who displays a high level of curiosity: “There’s a newness and a freshness with Davion Adkins. His ability to want to have an answer, try things, fail at them and still try it again, I think that’s great.”

Luke Barnett: Case didn’t tiptoe around the four-star guard’s primary skill: “He’s an unbelievable shooter. He’s shot it really well this summer — really well.”

Taylen Kinney: Case led the way in the recruitment of Kinney, a five-star point guard expected to set the pace for the Jayhawks’ offense this season. He said the Newport, Kentucky, native has uncommon feel for the game and maturity.

“That’s what really got me to start watching him, is how he led his team,” Case said.

Vaughn, no slouch himself at the point guard spot, said this of Kinney: “His ability to go full speed, change direction, make a pass, make a play at the rim, is so high-level. I’m excited to work with him.”

Trent Perry: When KU signed Perry, a wing from Frisco, Texas, Self called him a “winner,” and has also mentioned that Perry had the endorsement of former Jayhawk standout Christian Braun. Case, too, called Perry “one of those glue guys, one of those guys that just you have to have out there on the floor” and cited his skills on the defensive side of the ball.

Tyran Stokes: The prize of the 2026 class is Stokes, the top-ranked forward from Louisville, Kentucky, who picked KU over Kentucky and Oregon. Beyond his immense skill, Stokes is known for his competitive personality, which Case mentioned has already come out during the summer.

“He’s athletic, he’s about 6-8, he handles the ball, he shoots it well, but I think his biggest attribute is his passing,” Case added. “I mean, he can make his teammates better, he can see passes three plays ahead of time.”

Others: KU added a pair of Chicago-area prospects late for depth in center Grant Mordini and forward Atticus Richmond. Case said they have done well. Mordini has been “a little bit injured,” but Richmond has made himself “very helpful.”

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

RETURNERS

KU has just two scholarship players back from its 2025-26 roster in center Paul Mbiya and wing Kohl Rosario, both of whom are slated to take on larger roles in what will be their second season in the program.

“We expect them to make big jumps,” Case said.

Vaughn commented in greater depth on each. In the case of Mbiya, who is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and played in France, Vaughn mentioned that he came back for the summer in good shape and that he expects him to be more comfortable, perhaps less affected by the language barrier. As for Rosario, “Kohl becomes a culture (bearer) for us. And so he’s a guy that understands what we do. He can carry on our culture and he’s going to make a lot of shots for us this year.”