Get to Know AJ ...
What's the significance behind your jersey number?
- I wear #2 for GiGi Bryant.
Who or what inspired you to start playing basketball growing up?
- My mom inspired me. My biggest influence was my mom and sister.
Do you have any pregame superstitions or routines?
Tell us about your favorite basketball moment as a player or fan.
- Hitting a buzzer beater my freshman year at Madison Square Garden.
Who is your favorite basketball player?
OVERVIEW
Entered the transfer portal following the 2024-25 season … Entered the NBA Draft, then the transfer portal following the 2023-24 season after playing one season at Wisconsin … Played his freshman season at St. John’s in 2022-23 … At Kansas, scored his 1,000th career point at Iowa State (1/15/25) … For his college career, has played in 103 games with 57 starts, 1,104 points (10.7 ppg), 260 rebounds (2.5 rpg), 107 3FGs, 82 assists and 45 steals.
CAREER HONORS
Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List [2025]
Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List [2025]
Julius Erving Award Watch List (1 of 20) [2025]
Big Ten Tournament All-Tournament Team (2024)
All-Big Ten Second Team (2024)
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team (2023)
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week (3x, 2022-23)
2024-25 (JUNIOR)
Played in 33 games with four starts … Averaged 15.3 minutes and 5.8 points per contest … Posted eight games of 10 or more points … Had a season-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 3-for-5 3FG, in Kansas’ win against UCF in KU’s opening round of the Big 12 Tournament … Posted 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, 2-for-3 3FG, versus Oakland (11/16) … Scored 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting, 2-of-3 3FG in the NCAA Tournament contest against Arkansas (3/20) … Pulled down a season-high six rebounds in Kansas’ win at TCU (1/22).
2023-24 (SOPHOMORE AT WISCONSIN)
Wisconsin went 22-14 and advanced to the title game of the 2024 Big Ten Tournament and fell to James Madison, 71-62, in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament ... Named to the 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team … Led Wisconsin with 16.8 points per game, a 43.4 field goal percentage and 81.2 free throw percentage ... Named to the 2024 Big Ten All-Tournament Team … In the Big Ten tourney, averaged 22.5 points in four games, including a career-high 30 points in a win against Northwestern in the quarterfinals.
2022-23 (FRESHMAN AT ST. JOHN’S)
Played his freshman season at St. John’s … Was named to the 2023 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team … Was a three-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week … Averaged 8.8 points and started the last 17 games of the season.
PERSONAL
Son of Annette Brandy, a standout basketball player at Clemente (Chicago) Community Academy, who went on to play collegiate basketball at Illinois Central College and the University of Missouri-St. Louis before a semi-pro stint ... Has six siblings: Brady, Myles, Amber, Asher, Shai and Kai ...Has played on the Bahamas National Team, including two exhibition games against Kansas in Puerto Rico in August 2023 … Averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest in the two games versus Kansas ... Liberal Arts & Sciences major.