ATLANTA – Kansas sophomore forward Flory Bidunga has been named to the 2026 Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team, the Atlanta Tipoff announced today. He is one of 15 players nationally to be named to the list.
The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year started in 2018 and Bidunga is vying to become the second player from Kansas to win the honor, joining Marcus Garrett who won the award in 2020.
A rim protecter from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bidunga leads the Big 12 in blocked shots per game at 2.75, which ranks third nationally. He also leads in overall blocks with 77, which is third nationally. Bidunga leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 65.6%, which is fifth nationally. He has 11 double-doubles this season, including four in his last six outings.
At 14.3 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, and 2.75 blocked shots per game, Bidunga is the only player in NCAA Division I to average more than 14.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game.
Only a sophomore, Bidunga has 131 career blocked shots and in 52 games he reached 100 blocks faster than any player in Kansas history. His 131 blocks rank 16th on the KU career list. (The NCAA started recognizing blocks in 1974-75).
Bidunga moved to the United States his sophomore year in high school and played prep basketball at Kokomo High School in Indiana, where he was a 2024 McDonald’s All-American.
No. 14 Kansas (21-7, 11-4) will play at No. 2 Arizona (26-2, 13-2) on Saturday, Feb. 28. The contest will tip from McKale Center at 3 p.m. Central and will be televised on ESPN.
2026 Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team
FLORY BIDUNGA, KANSAS
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Maliq Brown, Duke
Javontae Campbell, Bowling Green
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Somto Cyril, Georgia
Silas Demary Jr., UConn
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Aday Mara, Michigan
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Ernest Udeh Jr., Miami
Kansas National Defensive Player(s) of the Year
2013 – Jeff Withey (NABC [co- with Victor Oladipo of Indiana])
2020 – Marcus Garrett (Naismith; ESPN.com)
2020 – Udoka Azubuike (NABC)
Courtesy of KU Athletics