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Bill Self, Kansas suffer major loss on the recruiting trail
Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bill Self, Kansas suffer major loss on the recruiting trail as five-star SF decommits

By Andrew Kulha  |  Last updated Aug 12, 2026 7:58 PM ET
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It's not often you see the Kansas Jayhawks on the wrong end of a recruiting transaction in the world of college basketball.

The Jayhawks are in rarified air on the hardwood, boasting four national championships as a program. That includes one from just a few seasons ago in 2022 under head coach Bill Self (his second).

On-court success has typically led to recruiting success for the Jayhawks, but it apparently wasn't enough to keep five-star small forward Javon Bardwell committed to Kansas.

Bardwell had originally made his commitment to the Jayhawks in October 2025 after an official visit.

He announced on Wednesday that he was decommitting while also reclassifying from the class of 2027 to the recruiting class of 2026. 

He'll be looking to play somewhere this fall even though KU has two roster spots open for next season.

It would seem as if Bardwell is looking for a better opportunity, and this has more to do with that and less to do with his relationship with the Jayhawks. In fact, he was clear about how much he appreciated Kansas.

"I have nothing but respect and appreciation for Kansas and its staff. Coach Bill Self, Coach Tony Bland, and Coach Jeremy Case, thank you for believing in me and for the genuine relationships you developed with me and my family throughout this process," Bardwell said in a statement.

Five-star SF Javon Bardwell makes eligibility decision

Bardwell's decision has to do with eligibility and the NCAA's new "5 -in-5" rule more than anything. Had Bardwell stayed in the class of 2027, he would have actually lost a year of eligibility. He turned 19 this past May, and the new eligibility rules start the five-year window of eligibility when an athlete enrolls in college full-time, or in the academic year following that athlete's 19th birthday.

Had Bardwell stayed in 2027, his eligibility clock would have started ticking during his senior season of high school ball.

Perhaps that won't matter if he ultimately jumps to the NBA sooner rather than later, but for now, it's a wise decision.

247Sports ranked Bardwell as the No. 5 small forward in the 2027 class and the No. 16 player nationally.

We'll have to wait and see how those numbers change now that he's a class of 2026 recruit. He'll also be playing somewhere other than Lawrence, Kansas, in 2026.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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