Kansas is weighing the addition of Jaxson Kohler, a former Michigan State forward, as the fifth-year player who could plug a hole in the frontcourt after Serbian center Mihailo Musicic is expected to be ruled ineligible under the new NCAA five-in-five rule.
Kohler arrives with a proven track record, having appeared in 127 games for the Spartans and starting 69 of them, during which he posted averages of 12.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while developing under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.
The Jayhawks’ interior depth has been shaken by Christian Reeves’ lingering injury, leaving the team with only limited options at center, and Kohler’s size and experience are seen as a direct remedy to that vulnerability.
Other names floated in the conversation, such as Melvin Council Jr., have been hampered by their own eligibility questions, while returning center Paul Mbiya and freshman Davion Adkins lack the collegiate pedigree needed to fill the void.
The eligibility landscape
The NCAA’s recent rulings have opened a narrow window for players like Kohler to extend their collegiate careers, a development that is reshaping scholarship allocations and roster planning across the power conferences.
Coaches and analysts alike view the move as a pragmatic step to stabilize a roster that is otherwise navigating a transitional period, with the hope that Kohler’s familiarity with high-pressure environments will translate into immediate on-court contributions.