Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Houston on February 14, 2026 , Win , 85, to, 68
Final
Women's Basketball
85
vs Houston
68
Photo by: Damon Young/Kansas Athletics
Zakiyah Franklin Joins Kansas Staff as Graduate Assistant
6/12/2026 10:22:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Head coach Brandon Schneider has announced that Zakiyah Franklin has returned to the Kansas women's basketball program, where she will serve as a graduate assistant during the upcoming 2026-27 season.
"Our program is thrilled to have Zakiyah back on campus and part of our coaching staff," Schneider said. "I'm confident our players will take advantage of the opportunity to learn from an all-time great while also leaning on her for advice and mentorship."
Franklin is the No. 6 all-time leading scorer in Kansas women's basketball history, scoring 1,927 career points for the Jayhawks from 2020-24. Franklin is one of the most decorated players in school history, earning All-Big 12 honors three times, including a first team selection in 2023, and she was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection. She was also named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team in 2020 and was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Dec. 19, 2022.
A four-star prospect ranked No. 77 in the country for the Class of 2019, Franklin guided the Jayhawks to two NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2023 WNIT Championship. She graduated as the program's all-time leader in games (154) and minutes (5,106) played, while ranking third in career assists (504), sixth in free throws made (410) and eighth in both field goals (690) and three-pointers (137) made. In the 2023 season, Franklin led the Jayhawks in scoring with 15.7 points per game and set the single season school record for both free throw percentage (.878) and three-point percentage (.495).
"You never truly leave a place that holds your heart," Franklin said. "Returning to Kansas has felt like a complete circle. I am thrilled to be back and ready to learn and evolve as a coach. It's a wonderful opportunity to share the knowledge and experiences I gained as a former player by giving back to the next generation."
After graduation, Franklin played one season professionally in Lisbon, Portugal, before returning home to do non-profit work with the Boys & Girls Club for the past year.
From Lakeland, Florida, Franklin graduated from the University of Kansas in May 2024 with a degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business.
"Our program is thrilled to have Zakiyah back on campus and part of our coaching staff," Schneider said. "I'm confident our players will take advantage of the opportunity to learn from an all-time great while also leaning on her for advice and mentorship."
Franklin is the No. 6 all-time leading scorer in Kansas women's basketball history, scoring 1,927 career points for the Jayhawks from 2020-24. Franklin is one of the most decorated players in school history, earning All-Big 12 honors three times, including a first team selection in 2023, and she was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection. She was also named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team in 2020 and was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Dec. 19, 2022.
A four-star prospect ranked No. 77 in the country for the Class of 2019, Franklin guided the Jayhawks to two NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2023 WNIT Championship. She graduated as the program's all-time leader in games (154) and minutes (5,106) played, while ranking third in career assists (504), sixth in free throws made (410) and eighth in both field goals (690) and three-pointers (137) made. In the 2023 season, Franklin led the Jayhawks in scoring with 15.7 points per game and set the single season school record for both free throw percentage (.878) and three-point percentage (.495).
"You never truly leave a place that holds your heart," Franklin said. "Returning to Kansas has felt like a complete circle. I am thrilled to be back and ready to learn and evolve as a coach. It's a wonderful opportunity to share the knowledge and experiences I gained as a former player by giving back to the next generation."
After graduation, Franklin played one season professionally in Lisbon, Portugal, before returning home to do non-profit work with the Boys & Girls Club for the past year.
From Lakeland, Florida, Franklin graduated from the University of Kansas in May 2024 with a degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business.
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