A somewhat expected but still sour taste in the mouths of many Kansas basketball fans was the fact that last year's senior guard duo of Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White did not receive the elation felt when a player hears his name announced on NBA draft night. While top prospect Darryn Peterson's wait was just a couple of minutes as he got drafted by the Utah Jazz second overall, Council's and White's lasted over two days before knowing if and where their basketball careers would end up.
However, within hours of the draft concluding, both players' agents did not stop advocating on behalf of their clients. And it finally paid off, as Council and White have agreed and signed contract terms with the New Orleans Pelicans and Miami Heat, respectively. Jayhawks Head Coach Bill Self can exhale a sigh of relief as all three of his former Jayhawks eligible to play at the next level have now been awarded the opportunity.
Council joined KU after two years at JUCO and another two at Wagner and St. Bonaventure, where he was a do-it-all, high-effort playmaker on both ends of the floor. He averaged 13-5-5 on nearly 35 minutes a game and never missed one matchup in his single year at Kansas. White was also a senior after one year stops at USC, Louisville, and Illinois, where he put up 14-7-2 and shot 40% from three. He was a bit of a streaky shooter at times, but when White was playing well, the Jayhawks looked like a whole different team last year.
Despite not hearing their names called, both Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White have signed with NBA teams following the 2026 Draft
Council joins a Pelicans squad two years removed from making the playoffs, and who won just 26 games last season. New Orleans certainly has room to grow, but it landed a new head coach in Jamahl Mosley shortly after the season ended, who is highly respected and helped a young Orlando Magic team reach the playoffs each of the past three seasons. Council's speed, tenacity, and effort will no doubt put him in a good spot with Mosley from the jump.
Tre White is entering a unique scenario with the Miami Heat, as the front office had just traded the farm and then some to acquire superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. White's defensive first mentality should pair well with a frontcourt of Giannis and Bam Adebayo. The Heat have been one of the best coached teams for years, led by Eric Spoelstra and a constant playoff team, where White should excel in a winning environment.
While the NBA Draft is always a big occasion, what matters most is these players realizing their dreams, and for Self's three Jayhawks, that happened this year, and it should not be taken for granted. Kansas enters another pivotal season ready to get back to the mountaintop with another number one prospect in Tyran Stokes, who may just hear his name uttered first during next year's draft, especially if he can lead the Jayhawks to another successful season.
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