KU Jayhawks basketball coach Bill Self shares surgery update on new center Reeves
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bill Self said the surgery was 'perfect' and revealed it on Friday; it was done Thursday.
- Reeves is expected to return to basketball activity this summer and be ready for season.
- The 22-year-old transfer averaged 11.1 points and 7.8 rebounds for Charleston.
Former College of Charleston men’s basketball center Christian Reeves, who announced plans to transfer to Kansas on April 24, had successful labrum surgery on Thursday, KU coach Bill Self revealed on Friday.
Self told The Star the surgery was “perfect,” and a full recovery was expected with the 7-foot-2, 255-pound Reeves expected to return to basketball related activities “this summer.”
“He’ll miss a good bit of summer. He’s expected to make a complete recovery and be ready to go before the season starts,” Self said of Reeves, who suffered the shoulder injury last fall at Charleston. “Hopefully he’ll return to basketball activity mid-summer.”
The 22-year-old Charlotte North Carolina native played with the injury all last season, Self told The Star.
Reeves played two seasons at Duke and at Clemson one season prior to playing for Charleston in 2025-26. He averaged 11.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a game for the Cougars. He had a pair of ankle surgeries during his time at Duke.
Reeves is one of two 7-foot scholarship players on the KU roster. Paul Mbiya is slated to return for his sophomore season.
Reeves earned third team all-conference mention in 2025-26. The former Oak Hill Academy prep school standout scored 29 points on 11-of-12 shooting (7-of-13 from line) and grabbed 18 rebounds in a win over Elon. Also he had 18 points and 15 rebounds versus Campbell, 13 points and 11 rebounds eagainst UNCW, 16 points and 13 rebounds against Hofstra and 16 points and 12 rebounds against Hampton.
He scored in double figures in 12 of Charleston’s final 14 games. He was recruited by KU, Michigan State and Louisville (where he made campus visits) as well as Cincinnati, Georgia, Virginia and others.
“I think I’ve gotten a lot more confidence. Just getting more comfortable being on the court,” Reeves said.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 11:32 AM with the headline "KU Jayhawks basketball coach Bill Self shares surgery update on new center Reeves."
