Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. (14) brings the ball up the court against Utah guard Terrence Brown (2) during the first half, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug

With the recent return of Tre White after he earned newfound eligibility in an Indiana court case, the Kansas men’s basketball team is set to fill its 14th of 15 roster spots.

When White’s former teammate, last year’s fan-favorite point guard Melvin Council Jr., won his own injunction in New York on Tuesday, that provided a ready-made candidate for the 15th.

It’s not clear yet whether everything will work out quite so neatly.

At the time KU coach Bill Self discussed the situation with a group of local reporters in his office on Wednesday, he hadn’t yet spoken to Council. And he noted there was a very real possibility that Council, currently in the transfer portal, could end up elsewhere, even with his attachment to KU and vice versa.

“When (Council and White) started talking to us about the possibility, it was on them to decide what they wanted to do, and then it was on us to decide if we want these kids back,” Self said. “And there’s no doubt that we’ll be loyal to those guys.

“Now Melvin, everybody knows how much he loves it here. But the bottom line is, there’s been no talks on a deal being done with Mel. You got to talk a lot of different factors before it’d be done, money and all that stuff. So Tre, we could handle that, and Melvin, who knows how it’ll play out.”

Council’s lawyers did move his case to New York in the first place with the stated rationale that they wanted to expand his options beyond Kansas. But Council himself posted a series of Instagram stories shortly after receiving an injunction that featured photos from his time at KU.

Will he ultimately be the choice for the Jayhawks’ final roster spot?

Several outlets have connected KU to former Purdue standout Trey Kaufman-Renn, a 6-foot-9 forward who once averaged more than 20 points per game for the Boilermakers (who is also the cousin of KU women’s basketball forward Brooklynn Renn). The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, for example, has recently reported “mutual interest” between the two sides.

Kaufman-Renn, who actually redshirted before playing four seasons so has already spent five years in college, has nevertheless obtained his own eligibility for 2026-27 via a temporary restraining order in Clark County, Indiana. That was supposed to last until his hearing on a potential injunction, but the hearing was canceled due to a change of judge.

Self can’t discuss unsigned prospects due to NCAA rules. He did at one point on Wednesday reference the possibility of adding another post player, though.

In the context of discussing center Paul Mbiya’s offseason, he said, “You know, what happens if we mess around and take another big instead of doing something else, depending who you get, or whatever?”

That will most likely be at the expense of Council if it happens. Self stated quite firmly that KU does have only one roster spot remaining in the wake of White’s arrival. The Jayhawks don’t have some sort of arcane loophole at their disposal and, for what it’s worth, can’t get rid of a current player: “Once their school is paid for, then they’re a counter for the whole season,” Self said.

It is worth noting that the NCAA is trying to obtain an emergency stay of White’s injunction (which also includes new KU football players Chase Belcher and Clifton Thompson) in the Court of Appeals of Indiana.

“If he’s not eligible, we could keep on a roster spot and pay for his school and just not compete, but I think we’ll try to fill the spot,” Self said. “There’s nothing illegal for ex-players practicing with your team. He’s not put on scholarship yet, so he could be an ex-player practicing with your team in those situations.”

Self explained that while KU has welcomed White back, he does not technically count as the Jayhawks’ 14th rostered player until his classes start and he either receives financial aid or a name, image and likeness check from KU. So if something were to jeopardize his eligibility — if the injunction gets stayed, after all, it could make for a very lengthy court timeline leading to an eventual trial — Self said, “is it best for us to try to get somebody else, or is it best for him to stay on and just be a practice player all year?”

It’s quite convoluted, but it may all get sorted out soon. Self explained that White, and anyone else who joins, will be enrolled in an eight-week class session that could start as soon as Monday.

The 24th-year head coach also said that there is a new rule that prevents additions over the holiday break from playing during the same season — so this isn’t a topic that will stretch deep into the fall.

In any case, KU didn’t strike initially in the fifth-year market after the early Colorado and Ohio lawsuits that set off a flood of litigation. But the Jayhawks are now benefiting from their patience with recent acquisitions — even though Self said they didn’t have money set aside for this circumstance.

“The thing about it is, with those guys that became eligible, if you’re not part of the equation to try to sign somebody or try to get a Tre or whatever, you’re going to play against them,” Self said. “My administration did a good job in allowing us to have the resources to take another guy.”