KU basketball introduces new-look roster with ‘Welcome to Hoops Island’ parody
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sixteen KU players auditioned in a filmed 'Hoops Island' comedy skit during Late Night.
- Players paired video pitches with a 15-minute scrimmage to display skills and roles.
- Coach Bill Self ‘kept’ every player, announced the 16-man roster and stressed 'Family'.
Kansas’ 16 men’s basketball players each made their own case for a spot on the Jayhawks’ 2025-26 roster during a comedy skit — entitled “Welcome to Hoops Island” — which played on the videoboard at Friday night’s Late Night in the Phog at Allen FIeldhouse.
One by one, the Jayhawks, after opening with a lighthearted greeting to 23rd-year coach Bill Self, became serious in relating what they can bring to the table for a team hoping to improve on last year’s 21-13 record.
“I’m Canadian. I’m super sweet, just like maple syrup. Coach Self, my experience is exactly what you need for this team,” 26-year-old KU senior Gee Ngala, a grad transfer from Laurentian University in Canada, said, waving a set of pom-poms, a big smile on his face.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Montreal native scored two points with two steals and an assist in his Blue Team’s 27-23 loss to the Darryn Peterson-led Crimson squad in a 15-minute intrasquad scrimmage to conclude the Late Night proceedings.
Ngala was the first player to speak on the Hoops Island video.
“Did you miss me? I’m back,” redshirt sophomore Elmarko Jackson said, staring straight into the camera lens. Jackson, who grabbed three rebounds with three assists to two turnovers while failing to score in the scrimmage, missed the entire 2024-25 season because of a torn patellar tendon.
“Coach, I can’t wait for you to see what I have in store this season,” added Jackson, a native of Marlton, New Jersey, who was a McDonald’s All-American in 2023. He concluded his portion of the skit dancing carefree while wearing a KU letter jacket.
Corbin Allen, a freshman guard out of Oak Park High, said in the skit: “I’m a fairly local kid. I’ve been around these parts for a while.”
“Coach, I know you love this guy,” Allen added, pointing to a picture of former KU guard Sherron Collins, who coached Allen the past two seasons, “so I know you are going to love me.”
The 6-5 Allen, the DiRenna Award winner the past two years, hit his only shot, a 3, while recording a steal while playing six minutes of the 15-minute scrimmage.
Freshman Paul Mbiya, a 7-0, 245-pound native of Democratic Republic of Congo, said simply, “Coach, I’m going to dunk or block anything that comes my way.”
Mbiya scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting with two rebounds in the Late Night scrimmage.
First joking about his hairstyle, sophomore guard Jamari McDowell said in a serious tone in the video: “Coach, if there’s a loose ball, it’s going to be mine. End of story.” McDowell had five points and two rebounds in the scrimmage, going 1-of-3 from 3.
Former St. Bonaventure guard Melvin Council Jr., a senior who at KU media day on Wednesday said he and star freshman Peterson have referred to themselves as “Batman (Peterson) and Robin (Council),” said in the video: “I might be a dog, but I love kittens.”
Former Illinois guard Tre White, a senior, said on the video: “Coach if you need somebody to guard their best player, you know who to call, call me.”
White, a 6-7 starter at Illinois, had two points on 1-of-5 shooting with two boards, a block and assist in the Late Night scrimmage. He indeed is known as a defensive stopper.
Freshman Samis Calderon, a 6-8 native of Brazil said: “Coach, when I’m driving to the rim everyone better get out of the way.” He scored four points, including two off a baseline drive and slam, with three rebounds, a steal and assist on Friday.
“My passion is extreme couponing, but I want to give this basketball thing a try,” joked freshman Peterson. He had 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting with two rebounds in 14 minutes Friday. “Coach I’m really hoping I can catch your eye.”
Bryson Tiller, who has the same name as a famous singer and rapper, said: “(I’m) not that Bryson Tiller, although I do play the piano. It’s always been a passion of mine. Coach I know all the keys to the game.”
Tiller, a 6-11 freshman from Atlanta, scored two points with three rebounds and two assists in the scrimmage.
To conclude the skit, Self gathered the team together to name the players who survived “Welcome to Hoops Island” scrutiny and officially made the team roster.
“Guys, I love this team,” Self said, “so I made my decision. I’m picking everyone.” The players, all assured spots on the squad, cheered and huddled up, Self breaking the huddle by having the players chant the word, “Family.”
The narrator concluded saying: “For the first time in ‘Hoops Island’ history not one but 16 hoopers have been chosen. Another sizzling season here on ‘Hoops Island.’ Thanks for watching.”
The full video can be seen on the KU Jayhawks’ X account.
This story was originally published October 18, 2025 at 10:24 AM with the headline "KU basketball introduces new-look roster with ‘Welcome to Hoops Island’ parody."
