Kansas Coach Bill Self Suffers Major Transfer Portal Blow on Thursday

Bill Self has led the Kansas Jayhawks since 2003, and until this past season, he had only experienced one first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. Further, this year marked the first time Kansas, under Self, failed to be ranked in the final AP Poll.

Self wants to put this past season on the back burner and pay attention to the 2025 college basketball season. He's already brought in St. Bonaventure SG Melvin Council Jr., Illinois SG Tre White and Loyola Chicago G Jayden Dawson through the transfer portal.

Kansas also has three true freshmen coming in through the high school ranks: five-star SG Darryn Peterson, four-star SF Samis Calderon, four-star PF Bryson Tiller and three-star SG Corbin Allen.

Even after all those additions, the Jayhawks still needed a high-profile frontcourt player. On Tuesday, Bill Self hosted Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams, one of the top players in the portal, who had recently withdrawn from the NBA Draft, for an official visit. He left Lawrence without committing.

Then, just two days later on Thursday, Williams announced his commitment to Will Wade and NC State in a collaborative post with On3’s Joe Tipton

"Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams, one of the top players in the portal, has committed to NC State, he told On3," Tipton wrote.