What to know about Paul Mbiya after KU basketball big man announces return
Kansas big man Paul Mbiya is staying with the Jayhawks after negotiations between his representatives and KU came down to the wire before the transfer portal closed Tuesday night. The 7-footer from Kinshasa, Congo, is one of just two returning regulars for a KU roster with several spots to fill.
Here are key takeaways:
• The deal was in jeopardy late. Mbiya’s manager Yacine Fylla told The Star that KU’s offer was 30% below their asking price as of Tuesday evening. Fylla said the market rate for a big man is $1.6 million and that Mbiya’s side was already asking well below that.
• Mbiya and guard Kohl Rosario are the only regulars from last season who have announced a return to KU. Starting center Flory Bidunga transferred to Louisville and power forward Bryson Tiller transferred to Missouri. Others are out of eligibility.
• His NCAA Tournament performance made an impression. Mbiya scored a career-high eight points with three rebounds in 16 minutes during KU’s first-round win over Cal Baptist. Coach Bill Self called him KU’s second-best player in that game behind Darryn Peterson.
• He averaged 1.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 21 games during the 2025-26 season. Before arriving in Lawrence, Mbiya averaged 15.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots per game in the French Pro A League.
• Loyalty drove the decision. Mbiya’s social media announcement emphasized commitment over money: “You can’t buy heart. You can’t buy loyalty. You can’t buy what’s inside me.”
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
