The Kansas Jayhawks are primed and ready to dive into the new NCAA season, led by none other than Bill Self, who’s been steering this iconic program for over 20 years. The Jayhawks last held the national championship title back in 2022, but since then, the team has gone through quite a transformation. Heading into this season, only four players remain from that championship-winning roster, meaning the current lineup will bring a fresh look and new dynamics to the court.

Last season was a tough one for the Jayhawks, marking one of the roughest runs since Bill Self took charge—Kansas fell out in the Round of 32. Determined to shake things up, Self and the program made some bold moves in the transfer portal, bringing in three key new players to rejuvenate the roster as they are deemed winners of the transfer portal. One of these newcomers is AJ Storr, who joins the Jayhawks as a junior, marking his third team in his college career.

Today, we’ll dive into what Storr could bring to Self’s squad, examining his past performances and exploring his value in the NIL market as he is a projected 2025 NBA draft pick.

AJ Storr: The versatile shooting guard ready to shine for the Jayhawks

Standing at 6-foot-7, AJ Storr brings his shooting guard skills to the Kansas Jayhawks in his third college year after gaining experience with two other college programs. Storr joined Coach Bill Self’s squad this April following a sophomore season with the Wisconsin Badgers. Before that, he began his college journey in the red and white jersey of St. John’s Red Storm during his freshman season.

Growing up in Rockford, a city 90 minutes west of Chicago, Storr though started playing with Rockford Lutheran High School first but made a name for himself as a standout player at Saint George’s in Rhode Island, where he topped the scoring charts for his high school team. His impressive performance didn’t go unnoticed, attracting the attention of scouts and solidifying his status as a premier recruit for St. John’s during the Anderson era.

By that time, he had already earned a spot among the top 50 players in his class, landing at 49th place according to ESPN rankings. Now 21-year-old, Storr started strong in his freshman season with St. John’s Red Storm, seeing a solid amount of court time early on.

He played in 33 games, starting 17, and put up respectable numbers, averaging 8.8 points and 1.9 rebounds over 21 minutes per game. But it was his shooting that really turned heads—Storr posted an impressive 40.4% from beyond the arc, the second-highest on the team, and 43.4% from the field, ranking third among those who averaged at least 20 minutes per game. This performance resulted in his selection to the Big East All-Freshman team.

Despite establishing a solid foundation at the New York-based university, Storr chose to bring his game closer to home. He made the move to Wisconsin, joining the Badgers—a decision that placed him just an hour’s drive from his hometown of Rockford. And that’s when he was ready to unleash his potential at maximum in what was his sophomore year.

Storr quickly emerged as the heartbeat of Wisconsin’s return to the tournament after their disappointing absence last March. His presence brought a fresh spark to the team, filling the need for a dynamic wing scorer that had been missing. During the Big Ten Tournament, Storr hit his stride, averaging 22.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, pushing Wisconsin (22-13) past their late-season slump all the way to the title game.

Across the season, he led the Badgers with 16.8 points per game, paired with 3.9 rebounds, proving himself as a true game-changer. His standout performance didn’t go unnoticed either—he earned a well-deserved spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team. “Being on the floor more, you get a better feel for it. More repetition, you get more comfortable. … I knew I was always capable of [doing this],” the now Jayhawks guard told the New York Post after his excellent sophomore year.

Now, when Storr gears up for what might be his final year of college basketball, he’s excited to elevate his game to new heights. His impressive performances have already boosted his NIL and market value, and he anticipates an even bigger leap now that he’s joining the Kansas Jayhawks.

AJ Storr’s NIL aspirations and social media presence

While the Jayhawks’ number 2 jersey might not be the most recognizable in college basketball, AJ Storr has certainly carved out a solid fanbase. He boasts nearly 25,000 followers across his social media platforms, with 18.7k on Instagram and over 6,000 on X. His impressive performances on the court have even landed him a spot in the top 40 for NIL valuations among college basketball players, signaling that his star is on the rise.

According to On3, AJ Storr’s NIL valuation is currently estimated at an impressive $792,000, placing him at 34th in the rankings. This is quite a feat, especially considering he’s outpacing Shaquille O’Neal’s son, Shaqir, who boasts a whopping 4.3 million followers.

Despite this growing recognition, Storr hasn’t landed any major endorsement deals just yet. His most notable partnership is with Mass St. Collective, an NIL collective that supports University of Kansas student-athletes. Through this collaboration, he promotes products on social media and takes part in various events, making the most of his budding popularity.

However, Storr has his sights set on reaching seven figures for his NIL value. Rumor has it that he asked Kansas for $1 million, while the Jayhawks offered a compromise of $750,000. Interestingly, one of the factors that influenced his decision to leave St. John’s was financial considerations.

Well, with projections already positioning him as a potential pick in next year’s NBA Draft, Storr has a golden opportunity to elevate his marketability even further. The real question is: how will he capitalize on his time with the Jayhawks this season? All eyes will be on him as he takes the court!