Future KU center Flory Bidunga named best player in Indiana for 2nd straight year
Future University of Kansas men’s basketball center Flory Bidunga has been named the state of Indiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year for the second year in a row.
Bidunga, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound center from Kokomo (Indiana) High School, averaged 19.0 points on 81.4% shooting this past season for the (25-4) Wildkats. He pulled down 12.9 rebounds a game while blocking 4.4 shots and dishing 3.2 assists per contest.
According to the Indy Star, Bidunga scored 1,609 points and grabbed 1,132 rebounds in his three seasons at Kokomo High.
Bidunga is the fifth player from Indiana to win back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The others: Lawrence North’s Greg Oden (2005 and ’06), North Central’s Jason Gardner (1998 and 99), Bedford North Lawrence’s Damon Bailey (1989 and ’90) and Marion’s Jay Edwards (1986 and ’87).
Bidunga also won the Gatorade honor as a junior after averaging 20.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots. He is ranked No. 6 in the recruiting Class of 2024 by Rivals.com, No. 9 by ESPN.com and No. 11 by 247sports.com.
He verbally committed to KU on Aug. 12 and signed a letter of intent on Nov. 9, choosing the Jayhawks over Duke, Michigan and Auburn.
“When I watched practice (on recruiting visit to KU), I could see how he believes in his players,” Bidunga said of KU coach Bill Self in an interview with ESPN.com. “I know they will develop my talent and help me with my goal of making the NBA. My dream is not to just make it, but stay there.”
Bidunga, who is originally from Congo, also played soccer at Kokomo High.
“He moves exceptionally well and plays with constant energy and effort. In the open court, he runs with long strides and great open-court speed,” wrote Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com. “A high-level athlete who possesses strength, bounce and agility, Bidunga is at his best when finishing plays at the rim, rebounding and blocking shots. His shot-blocking range is impressive, as his willingness to seek rebounds outside of his area. His touch is developing as is his go-to move, a left-handed jump-hook on the right block going toward the middle of the paint. He scores with post-up angles inside and he has the hands to catch and score in the high-low game. The next area of improvement will be his face-up game.”
Bidunga will play in the McDonald’s All-America game on April 2 at Toyota Center in Houston.
“Flory is an elite athlete. He can play above the rim. He changes ends as well as anybody. He’s getting stronger and developing more offensive skill,” Self said on Nov. 9. “He is probably as good a prospect that we’ve had inside in quite some time. Coach (Jeremy) Case did a great job with recruiting Flory and his family.”
So far KU has signed three players in the recruiting class of 2024. The others: Labaron Philon, a 6-3 point guard from Link Year Academy in Branson, Missouri; and Rakease Passmore, a 6-5 shooting guard/small forward from Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
Philon is ranked No. 41 in the Class of 2024 by Rivals.com, No. 30 by ESPN.com and No. 31 by 247sports.com. Passmore is ranked No. 36 nationally by ESPN.com, No. 49 by 247sports.com and No. 50 by Rivals.com.
