Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Center Paul Mbiya has signed a financial aid agreement to play basketball at Kansas, KU head coach Bill Self announced Wednesday. Mbiya is from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo will be a freshman for the 2025-26 season.
Mbiya is 6-foot-11, 260 pounds, and has a 7-foot-8 wingspan. He played this past season in the ASVEL team system in the top-tier level French Pro A League. Mbiya averaged 15.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots per game in 2024-25. In 2023-24, Mbiya averaged 15.5 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game for the ASVEL U21 team. He also appeared in 10 games in 2023-24 for the top ASVEL team. Prior to playing for ASVEL, Mbiya was part of the NBA Academy Africa and was a 2022 Basketball Without Borders All-Star selection.
"We've had a good last couple of days recruiting with Kohl (Rosario) signing yesterday and Paul today," Self said. "Paul is big. He's a legit 6-11 with a wingspan of 7-foot, 8 inches. He fits very well with the way we play. He is an immediate impact guy, and he gives us much needed size to go along with Flory (Bidunga) and Bryson (Tiller)."
Mbiya becomes the sixth incoming freshman signee for Kansas, joining Darryn Peterson, Samis Calderon, Bryson Tiller, Kohl Rosario, and Corbin Allen. Tiller joined the KU team as a redshirt in January. Kansas' spring transfer portal signees include Melvin Council Jr. (St. Bonaventure), Jayden Dawson (Loyola Chicago), and Tre White (Illinois).