Kansas is feeling the heat after betting big on a transfer player who reportedly demanded $1 million in NIL money last year. Now wearing a Jayhawks jersey, his performance has been anything but worth the price tag, putting Bill Self’s transfer strategy under fire. As the NIL era continues to reshape college basketball, critics are questioning whether Kansas fell victim to an overhyped investment—one that has yielded little in return.

As of February 17, 2025, the Jayhawks sit at 17-8 overall and 8-6 in Big 12 play, ranking fifth in the conference standings. Their most recent game, a 74-67 loss to Utah, only added to their struggles, raising further concerns about a roster that was expected to contend at a higher level.

In a recent episode of The Field of 68: After Dark, Jeff Goodman voiced his disappointment in AJ Storr’s impact, stating, “I think we just thought—I know I did—that AJ Storr would be a factor and would give them something they surely needed, which is a guy that could put the ball on the floor, make a play off the bounce, and be a scorer. But he’s given them very, very little.”

That assessment is backed up by the numbers. Storr is averaging just 6.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game while shooting 39.6% from the field and a dismal 28.1% from three. His underwhelming production has left Kansas searching for answers in a season where they needed him to step up.

Even Rob Dauster, who was on the panel, called Storr’s recruitment a miscalculation, saying, “I think the AJ storr recruitment was a was probably a bad evaluation right I don’t think that the people at Wisconsin were necessarily that upset to see him not playing for him”

Meanwhile, in an April 4, 2024, article for OutKick, David Hookstead didn’t hold back, calling Storr’s reported $1 million NIL demand “downright laughable.” He questioned whether Storr was ever worth that price and pointed to growing concerns about NIL deals turning college basketball into free agency.

Dauster went even further in his critique, stating, “The problem is the way he plays basketball is selfish. I’m not saying he’s a selfish person, but he’s a volume shooter and scorer who thrives when he has the ball, creates for himself, and gets to his spots. That’s the opposite of what Bill Self wants from a player in that role.”

Storr’s game is built on isolation scoring—he’s most effective when he has the freedom to operate on his own. But that approach has clashed with Self’s system, which demands quick ball movement and decision-making under the five-second rule. Instead of fitting into Kansas’ structured offense, Storr has struggled, holding onto the ball and hunting for his own shot. The result? Fewer minutes, less impact, and a growing realization that Kansas may have drastically overpaid.

Kansas aims to end road skid vs. BYU

The Kansas Jayhawks (17-8, 8-6 Big 12) will look to snap a three-game road losing streak when they take on the BYU Cougars (17-8, 8-6 Big 12) on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. With both teams sharing identical records, this matchup could be pivotal in the Big 12 standings.

BYU has fared better against the spread this season, posting a 13-11 record, while Kansas has struggled at 11-14. The Cougars have hit the over in 13 games, compared to just six for the Jayhawks. Over their last 10 games, BYU has been strong at 7-3 both straight up and against the spread, whereas Kansas has gone 5-5 overall but just 2-8 against the spread.

The matchup will feature key players on both sides. For BYU, Richie Saunders leads the team with 15.0 points per game, shooting 50.0% from the field and 42.4% from three, while also contributing 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Egor Demin serves as the primary playmaker, averaging 5.5 assists along with 11.0 points and 3.6 rebounds, while also making an impact defensively with 1.2 steals per game. In the paint, Keba Keita controls the boards with a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game, adding 6.4 points and 1.0 blocks per contest.

For Kansas, Hunter Dickinson remains the Jayhawks’ most consistent force, averaging 16.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, along with 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks. Zeke Mayo has been a key contributor, putting up 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Running the offense is Dajuan Harris, who leads the team with 5.8 assists per game while also adding 9.8 points and 3.0 rebounds.

AJ Storr’s struggles to fit into Bill Self’s system, combined with underwhelming production, have only fueled criticism of the Jayhawks’ transfer strategy. As the NIL era reshapes college basketball, Kansas’ misstep serves as a cautionary tale—big money doesn’t always guarantee big results.