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Flory Bidunga/Rakease Passmore Sign to Play Hoops at Kansas

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (KUAthletics.com) – Forward Flory Bidunga has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Kansas, KU coach Bill Self announced today. Bidunga joins fellow signees Rakease Passmore and Labaron Philon and all three will be freshmen in 2024-25.

“Flory is the headliner of our recruiting class thus far. He rated by many to be one of the top players in this year’s recruiting class,” Self said. “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. 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.”

Bidunga (6-foot-9, 220 pounds) is a five-star big man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who attends Kokomo High School in Kokomo, Indiana. He has been described as a freak athlete who can rebound, block shots and plays above the rim. He’s also plays with a high motor, finishes with authority, is a scoring threat in the post and can also get down the court at high speeds in transition.

Bidunga was the 2022-23 Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana where he averaged 20.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots last season. Additionally, he shot 81 percent from the field and led Kokomo to a 24-5 record and his team advanced to the Indiana 4A state title game.

As a sophomore, Bidunga averaged 17.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 5.3 blocked shots per game, shooting 79 percent from the field. In 56 high school games, Bidunga has 1,059 career points, 759 career rebounds and 274 career blocked shots.

Bidunga is nationally ranked No. 6 by ESPN.com and Rivals.com and No. 8 by 247Sports.com. He grew up playing soccer player in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and only started playing basketball four years ago.

Guard Rakease Passmore has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Kansas, KU coach Bill Self announced Wednesday. Passmore will be freshmen for the 2024-25 season at Kansas. He joins fellow signee Labaron Philon who also signed on Wednesday.

Passmore (6-foot-5, 185 pounds) is a four-star guard from Palatka, Florida who is entering his second season at Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina.

“When I see Rakease on film and in person and I see a prototypical Kansas wing,” Self said. “He’s got size. He’s got strength. He’s explosive, can play above the rim. His shooting is getting better and better and he should be able to guard anyone. I think he is more of the underrated players in this class and I think he will have an immediate impact. Norm Roberts did great job in recruiting Rakease and his family to Kansas.”

Described as an explosive athlete who can get downhill, Passmore has the ability to catch-and-shoot threes and is a threat to create offense in transition at all times. He has also been described to have the tools to be impactful on the defensive side of the ball.

In 2022-23 as a junior, Passmore averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while at Combine Academy as his team posted a 36-5 record under head coach Michael Wright.

Passmore played at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, North Carolina before transferring to Combine. As a sophomore at A.C. Reynolds, Passmore averaged 19.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in 2021-22. He averaged 15.1 points and 5.9 rebounds his while playing varsity his freshman year at A.C. Reynolds.

“Coach Wright, Rakease’s guardian Jon Mobley and his mentor, A.J. Jones, have really helped with his development at Combine the past two years,” Self said.

Passmore is ranked No. 48 in the recruiting class of 2024 by 247sports.com, No. 49 by Rivals.com and No. 52 by ESPN.com. Additionally, he was an AAU teammate with fellow Kansas signee Labaron Philon on Team Thad.

2023-24 Kansas Men’s Basketball Signees
Rakease Passmore – Fr., G, 6-5, 185, Palatka, Fla., A.C. Reynolds (N.C.) HS, Combine (N.C.) Academy
Labaron Philon – Fr., G, 6-4, 177, Mobile, Ala., Baker HS, Link (Mo.) Academy

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