JP Bemberger, a beloved, honorary member of Kansas men’s basketball team, dies
Jonathan Phog “JP” Bemberger, who has been an honorary member of Kansas men’s basketball since Nov. 11, 2020, has died following his bout with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of pediatric cancer, KU basketball reported on social media Tuesday night.
A KU athletic department official confirmed Bemberger’s passing to The Star on Tuesday.
“Our beloved teammate, JP, has passed away. JP has been a member of Kansas Basketball since 2020 through Team IMPACT and has touched so many lives. Our thoughts and love are with the entire Bemberger family. He will be in our hearts forever,” KU’s men’s hoops Twitter account read.
Bemberger, who according to the Twitter account was born in 2004 and passed away in 2025, was introduced to the KU program in 2020 by Team IMPACT, a program that matches individuals facing serious illness and disabilities with college teams across the country.
Bemberger has been battling cancer since joining the KU team. Upon joining the squad as a 16-year-old, he underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in fighting the illness. For a time, he had been cancer free.
“Daily JP shows grit, determination and character,” KU coach Bill Self said in a past interview.
One special moment in KU hoops history was when Bemberger rode in a convertible with Fred Quartlebaum of the KU basketball support staff and JP’s mom, Michelle, at KU’s national title victory parade on April 10, 2022, in downtown Lawrence.
“JP truly embodied the essence of what it means to be a Kansas Jayhawk,” Quartlebaum, KU’s director of basketball operations, told The Star on Tuesday night. “His positive impact touched the lives of countless teammates, coaches, managers and everyone connected to Kansas athletics. While we will deeply miss him, his unwavering spirit and passion will forever live on in our hearts and in the legacy he leaves behind.
“JP played a pivotal role in driving our unforgettable journey to the 2022 national championship,” Quartlebaum added.
JP attended the KU-TCU Team IMPACT game on Jan. 6, 2024, at Allen Fieldhouse. At that game, fans in the KU student section behind the north goal spelled out “Team IMPACT JP.”
He attended several other games the past many seasons.
“I go to a team meeting every night, get the scouting reports. I can text them (players) after games. When they have a good game I tell ‘em good game,” Bemberger told Harold Kuntz of Fox4 Kansas City. “I get to see some practices, see behind the scenes.”
Former KU forward Mitch Lightfoot interviewed Bemberger on Feb. 11, 2022, for KU’s Twitter account.
“Probably being able to see you guys play,” Bemberger told Lightfoot when asked his favorite part of being an honorary member of the team.
“Going to some of the practices, watching Bill (Self) yell at you. That’s always fun,” JP joked.
“It’s not what I like sometimes, but it’s good for me,” Lightfoot stated of Self correcting him at practice.
Asked his favorite player, Bemberger said: “I’m going to go with Och (Ochai Agbaji). You (Lightfoot) are a close second. You’ve been here a lot of years.”
On September 12, 2020, KU radio play by play announcer Brian Hanni made Bemberger “KU’s cancer fighter hero” for a day.
“Jayhawk nation is behind you. Stay strong,” Hanni wrote to Bemberger, noting the Lenexa native was a big fan of KU football player Pooka Williams and basketball player Devonte’ Graham as well as basketball players Marcus Garrett and Jalen Wilson.
On Tuesday night, Hanni told The Star: “JP was such an inspiration to everyone in the Kansas basketball family. His Jayhawk teammates saw his strength and courage every time he came around and you could tell what a profound impact he had on them — particularly our championship team of 2022. It’s also really special how he remained close with all his title teammates ever since.”
In March of 2022 several KU players in a Zoom call surprised JP with the news that that Team IMPACT would be flying Bemberger, his dad (Tom), mom (Michelle) and sister Mya to Chicago for the Jayhawks’ Sweet 16 tourney game against Providence. They also stayed for KU’s Elite Eight win over Miami.
“It’s amazing. Loud. It’s cool to be in a big arena and stadium like this,” Bemberger told KCTV5.
“We enjoy the passion side of it and we really enjoy the game, too,” Tom Bemberger, JP’s father noted.
“It’s awesome. I’ve never been to something like this before,” said Michelle.
Of JP, dad Tom said: “Toughest kid I know; toughest person I know.”
On the day he added Bemberger to the KU roster in November of 2020, KU coach Self said to Bemberger in a Zoom call: “From my standpoint JP, I think you fit the criteria we always try to recruit to. We recruit to character, grit, determination and, most importantly, toughness. You fill all those qualities and that would give you a chance to be a good player in our program. Even though this has been an awful ordeal that you had to go through, I can’t imagine, it is also an opportunity for you to spread your story and be an unbelievable example to others.”
According to KU, “Team IMPACT is the only U.S. nonprofit that tackles the emotional trauma and social isolation experienced by children facing serious and chronic illnesses. Through Team IMPACT, children like JP are drafted onto college athletic teams for a two-year therapeutic program that complements their medical treatments, allowing the children to develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing. Visit http://www.teamimpact.org for more information on the organization.”
