Flory Bidunga formally knowledgeable the faculty basketball teaching employees at Kansas that he intends to enter the switch portal. An costly bidding battle is about to unfold.
The present (lack of) guidelines for collegiate athletics and NIL creates an unlucky actuality the place free company takes place on the finish of each single season. That is simply the most recent instance.
Bidunga, a five-star prospect within the school basketball recruiting Class of 2024, ranked as one of many 5 greatest gamers at his place. He was ranked as a top-15 recruit general. The Indiana-native in the end selected to play for the Jayhawks. Duke and Auburn have been additionally within the combine, amongst others.
Though Bidunga arrived to Lawrence with a variety of hype, he noticed solely 16 minutes per recreation as a freshman and made solely six begins in 34 video games. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound middle averaged 5.9 factors, 54. rebounds and 1.6 blocks throughout his restricted time on the court docket. It was a profitable first yr and he’s solely going to get even higher as he continues to grow to be what I anticipate to be a star.
Nevertheless, Flory Bidunga may not play for Kansas subsequent season. “May” being the important thing phrase.
Is Flory Bidunga going to remain?
It was introduced on Saturday that Bidunga goes to enter the switch portal. He’s doing so with a really particular caveat. In accordance with Pete Thamel, “returning to Kansas stays a robust choice.”
I have no idea all the dynamics between the Jayhawks and their five-star rising sophomore. Maybe the problem right here stems from taking part in time. Maybe there may be extra to the story. I doubt it!
To say {that a} return to Lawrence could be very a lot on the desk makes me assume Bidunga is strong-arming Kansas into an costly bidding battle. He needs to receives a commission more cash.
Different faculties are going to make him large monetary provides to try to lure him out of the portal. Flory Bidunga can then leverage these provides. The Jayhawks could or could not select to match. They could check out the opposite numbers and current him with barely much less cash. He can then select whether or not taking part in at Kansas or making essentially the most cash means extra to him.
That is the system the NCAA has created. It’s damaged. Bidunga goes to be a star and he is aware of it. By getting into the switch portal, he can leverage his stardom to receives a commission as such.
I don’t blame the gamers. I blame the governing physique. To permit for what is basically unregulated free company after each season isn’t sustainable. One thing has to vary.
