KU Jayhawks hoops lands top-20 recruit in class of ‘27. But will he reclassify?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas secures four-star forward Javon Bardwell after in-person visit and commitment.
- Bill Self presented a detailed development plan that sold Bardwell on KU.
- Bardwell joins OTE-Kansas pipeline, brings energy and leaves reclassification uncertain.
Four-star class of 2027 forward Javon Bardwell couldn’t shake the feeling.
Ever since Kansas had started recruiting him, it felt different.
Jayhawks men’s basketball coach Bill Self had an eye for little details that other coaches didn’t. That stood out to Bardwell when Self would text him.
When Bardwell visited Lawrence in September, he was sold. Self and his KU staff laid out a developmental plan for him.
It caught Bardwell’s eye.
“They made a developmental plan for me, and I loved it,” Bardwell told The Star. “It was just like the pros and cons about me. They had put up some film on me. To (show) me everything I need to do to get better and how I can most definitely get better at Kansas.”
It was perhaps unsurprising, then, that Bardwell officially committed to the Jayhawks on Friday evening. The New York native picked KU over Louisville, Texas and USC.
Bardwell is ranked No. 13 in the recruiting class of 2027 by 247sports.com, No. 36 by Rivals.com and No. 40 by ESPN.com.
He’s the third commitment this week for the Jayhawks, who landed class of 2026 and fellow Overtime Elite star Taylen Kinney on Sunday and four-star recruit Trent Perry on Wednesday.
Bardwell, a 6-foot-6, 175-pound junior small forward from the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta, is also a potential candidate to reclassify to the class of 2026.
A source close to the situation told The Star that it’s a possibility, but there’s no guarantee. Bardwell still has some class credits to complete before he can join KU a year early.
Bardwell plays for PHHoenix Prep, which in the OTE League goes by the name Diamond Doves. He averaged 17.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season.
According to Bardwell, Self told him that he could be a one-and-done player.
“Vonyy’s (Javon’s nickname) ultimate goal is he doesn’t want praise for what he does right, as much as he wants us to coach him and tell him what he does wrong, which is definitely something different for this day and age of player,” Diamond Doves coach John Ortega said.
Ortega has coached other future Jayhawks through the years, including Mitch Lightfoot and James Sosinski.
“We had a couple of Jayhawks out of our program, starting with Mitch Lightfoot and James Sosinski — I think those were two guys that were definitely unfinished products when they got to Kansas,” Ortega said. “Something I’ve always said about Bill whenever he’s recruited our players — and honestly was probably one of the most important things in recruiting Vonyy — was that he comes in and tells you what’s wrong.”
As for what Self thinks Bardwell can improve upon?
“Just improving on playing both sides of the floor just 100% and not taking possessions off,” Bardwell said. “He just kept it real. That’s really what I want to have coaching-wise when I go to college, just coaches keeping it real with me. Telling me not just what I want to hear, but telling me what I need to get better.”
Ortega added: “He (Self) sent him an actual plan. Like, not fading away so much on some of his jump shots, squaring his body and getting stronger. Tracking the paint and playing on balance off of two feet. Bill has a lot of detailed stuff.”
Bardwell is the fifth player from OTE to pick the Jayhawks over the last two years. He told The Star he spoke to all four previous players (Kinney, Samis Calderon, Bryson Tiller and Kohl Rosario) about KU.
He talked to the last three during his visit to Lawrence. Now Bardwell, too, will be joining the “OTE Jayhawks.”
Ortega gave a preview of what KU fans can expect out of Bardwell in a Jayhawks uniform.
“Kansas fans should be excited about Vonyy — he mentioned the energy that he brings, he’s legitimately one play away from blowing the roof off of any arena that he plays in,” Ortega said. “He’s a very coachable young man. The fans are going to love him because he’s very personable.
“He will be a guy that will sign autographs and he will get a dunk and next thing you know, he’ll be jumping in the crowd and pounding his chest. You see it in almost every play he has with us. He kind of gets the bench, the crowd, the coaches — you’re on the edge of your seats whenever he’s on the floor, waiting to see what play he makes.”
And Bardwell sounds excited about his future at KU.
“I’m ready to get going, man,” he said. “I’m excited to come in and just enjoy it. That’s all. I’m excited.”
This story was originally published October 3, 2025 at 8:47 PM with the headline "KU Jayhawks hoops lands top-20 recruit in class of ‘27. But will he reclassify?."
