Kansas Jayhawks hoops team’s 7-foot sophomore due back from overseas trip Monday
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Paul Mbiya will return to Kansas campus Monday for summer school workouts.
- Mbiya played in 21 games for KU and averaged 1.2 points and 1.4 rebounds.
- He averaged 15.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in ASVEL's team system in 2024-25.
Kansas Jayhawks center Paul Mbiya is scheduled to arrive on campus in Lawrence for summer school workouts Monday after spending the past few weeks in France, KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self confirmed Thursday in a text message to The Star.
Mbiya, a 7-foot, 245-pound sophomore from Democratic Republic of Congo, played for the ASVEL team system in the top-tier French Pro A League during the 2024-25 season. Then he played at KU in 2025-26.
Self said Mbiya needed to “handle his visa status” for the upcoming school year. Mbiya has friends and representation living in France.
KU’s 2025-26 school year officially ended on May 17. The summer session at KU began June 1. The NCAA allows teams to practice eight hours per week while summer school is in session; summer school at Kansas concludes July 24.
Mbiya averaged 1.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in limited duty (21 games) during his freshman season at KU. In the NCAA Tournament, he scored a career-high eight points against California Baptist and secured a career-best six rebounds against St. John’s.
He scored four points in a win over Davidson in December and four points versus Kansas State in March.
Mbiya considered entering the transfer portal at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. He ultimately decided to return for a second season in Lawrence, announcing his plans in a social media post that came a few hours before the closure of the transfer portal.
At the time, Mbiya, who has a 7-foot-8 wingspan, said: “I’m staying at the University of Kansas. This decision comes from the heart. Through every challenge, every doubt, and every moment of adversity, I’ve grown stronger. I’m not running from anything — I’m embracing it. I want my coaches, my future teammates, and the fans to know that I believe in this journey.
“I believe in who I am becoming. I’m a special player, not just because of what I do on the court, but because of what I stand for. No pressure can break me. No obstacle can stop me. And no amount of money will ever define me or buy my values. You can’t buy heart. You can’t buy loyalty. You can’t buy what’s inside me. I know who I am. And I know what I came here to do. So I’m staying. To fight. To grow. To prove … that I’m different. I’m here to fight, to grow, and to leave my mark.”
Mbiya averaged 15.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks while playing in the ASVEL team system in 2024-25 in France. In 2023-24, he averaged 15.5 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game for the ASVEL U21 team.
Prior to playing for ASVEL, he was part of the NBA Academy Africa and was a 2022 Basketball Without Borders All-Star selection.
This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 8:19 PM with the headline "Kansas Jayhawks hoops team’s 7-foot sophomore due back from overseas trip Monday."
