Bidunga a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist

ATLANTA – Kansas sophomore forward Flory Bidunga has been named a 2026 Naismith Men's College Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist, the Atlanta Tipoff announced today. Bidunga is one of 10 players 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.

The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team selection, Bidunga scores 13.5 points per contest and leads KU with 9.2 rebounds per outing. A Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year finalist, Bidunga leads the Big 12 with 87 blocked shots, which is fourth nationally; 2.64 blocks per game, which are third nationally; and in field goal percentage at 64.5 percent, which is eighth nationally.

From Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bidunga has 13 double-doubles for the season, which is second in the Big 12 and 23rd nationally. Bidunga has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in 16 games this season including three of his last four contests and he is 12-for-15 (80%) from the field in his last three outings. At 13.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 2.6 bpg, Bidunga is the only player in NCAA Division I to average more than 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game.

Only a sophomore, Bidunga has 141 career blocked shots and in 52 games he reached 100 blocks faster than any player in Kansas history. His 141 blocks rank 13^th on the KU career list. (NOTE: The NCAA started recognizing blocks in 1974-75). Bidunga's 87 blocked shots this season are seventh on the Kansas single-season list and his 64.5 field goal percentage is fourth on the KU and Big 12 season lists.

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. 4 seed Kansas (23-10) will play No. 13 seed California Baptist (25-8) on Friday, March 20 in the round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament in San Diego. The contest at Viejas Arena is set for 8:45 p.m. Central and will be televised on CBS.

2026 Naismith Men's College Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists
FLORY BIDUNGA, KANSAS
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Maliq Brown, Duke
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Aday Mara, Michigan
Joseph Tugler, Houston

University of Kansas Athletics

Bidunga a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist

Related News

Players Mentioned

Flory Bidunga

Related Videos