Kansas adds interesting big man from Charleston to 2026-27 roster

The Kansas men’s basketball program added a much-needed big man from the transfer portal to its 2026-27 roster over the weekend, with 7-2 center Christian Reeves, of the College of Charleston, pledging a commitment to KU.

While the height might have caught your attention — 7-2 is big and Reeves looks every bit of it — the school probably didn’t. 

Unless, of course, you looked closer and saw that Reeves started his career at Duke. 

Now we’re getting somewhere. Right? Or are we not? 

That’s the million-dollar question in these types of signings. Is the guy KU just landed today the guy who was good enough to go to Duke — freakin’ Duke! — out of high school or is he more of a Charleston-type talent? 

It’s a question that perhaps no one has the answer to, not even Reeves himself. 

A 3-star commitment out of famed Oak Hill Academy, the Charlotte native committed to Duke in December of 2022 as one of the last members of current Duke coach Jon Scheyer’s first recruiting class. 

He appeared in just 16 games during his 2 seasons at Duke, including 13 as a true freshman, and was the first Duke player to leave the program under Scheyer. 

According to reports from his commitment to Duke, nearly four years ago, the 7-footer who grew up a fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels said Duke became his dream school when he first saw a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. 

Now, he’ll get to play his home games at Allen Fieldhouse, the only other venue in sports that people regularly claim is an even better college basketball experience and environment than what Duke offers.

After leaving Duke, he played one season at Clemson, where he appeared in 29 games. From there, he went to the College of Charleston, and, after a slow start, finished strong, averaging 11 points and 8 rebounds per game during his one season there. 

Now, after three different schools in three seasons — from 2023-24 through 2025-26 — he’s on to his fourth. At first glance, he reminds me of a taller Tarik Black and it seems to be a safe bet that he'll bring the same kind of passion and hard-nosed play that Black had.

The question about what type of player he will be at Kansas really comes down to two things. 

First, opportunity. And second, role. 

If he’s asked to be the man down low for the Jayhawks, he very well might. He has that Duke pedigree, the 7-foot-2 frame, a few years of college experience and physical maturity and a skill set that is built to succeed at KU. 

He’s a potentially elite shot blocker, runs the floor hard and loves to rebound. 

Even if he only scores off of lobs and trash buckets around the rim, he’s looking at double digits without much effort, provided the minutes are there to get there. 

That last part, of course, all depends on how he meshes with Self.

If he is, in fact, elite on the defensive end — as a shot blocker and rebounder — that should lead to a very good pairing. Self will use Reeves as his anchor defensively and that will allow him to coach the guards and wings who play in front of him in a manner that Self has always preferred — aggressively.

If Reeves, however, is only part of the Jayhawks’ answer up front — a very real possibility — then you probably should temper your expectations and hope that the help they sign to join him is as good or better than what Reeves brings. 

It’s hard to argue with KU, or anyone, landing a guy who started his career at Duke, but when you realize that he was a 3-star prospect at that time and also became the No. 420-ranked player in the transfer portal when he decided to leave, you’re left at least to wonder if he’s the guy that signed with the Blue Devils or the guy that had offers from Vanderbilt and Oklahoma when he left. 

Either way, the Jayhawks needed a big and they got one with good size, the skills Self values and one who should be ecstatic about the chance to cap his career in style at a blueblood program with a Hall of Fame head coach.

— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com