Flory Bidunga to Stay at Kansas amid Auburn Rumors After Entering CBB Transfer Portal

Flory Bidunga isn't going anywhere after all.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Sunday the big man "agreed to a deal to stay at Kansas" after there was no shortage of speculation he might end up transferring to Auburn. Bidunga was a highly regarded option in the transfer portal after he was listed as a 5-star prospect and the No. 4 center in the 2024 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

"I'm really excited to be back for another year to continue to grow and develop and bring a national championship to Kansas," Bidunga said, per Thamel.

This is a difficult break for Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, who was certainly looking to put Saturday's Final Four loss behind him with a key addition in the portal given the previous reporting that the big man could be joining the Tigers.

"There's still a chance Flory Bidunga will return to Kansas. I'm actually told they are currently in second on his suitor list," national basketball analyst Travis Branham said Friday on the College Basketball Show (three-minute mark). "The team in the lead and the team to beat is the Auburn Tigers. Bruce Pearl recruited him heavily out of high school and did a great job with them. Auburn finished second to Kansas."

Alas, he is staying with the Jayhawks and is in position to make a significant jump in 2025-26.

Bidunga averaged 5.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 16.3 minutes per game as a freshman. He shot 69.8 percent and took advantage of some of his limited opportunities despite starting just six games.

He flashed his potential with 19 points and seven rebounds in a January game against a Houston squad that will play in Monday's national championship game when given an opportunity to start.

And those starting chances will surely come far more often next season with Hunter Dickinson no longer on the roster. That will open up more time in the frontcourt for Bidunga, which was surely part of the decision-making process to stay with the Jayhawks.

The Big 12 team certainly hopes that decision pays off in 2025-26.