Kansas Basketball Slipping Out of the Race for Elite 2026 Recruit

Kansas appears to be out of the running for a highly touted 2026 recruit after he released his official visit schedule.

Nov 16, 2024; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of the Kansas Jayhawks logo on a bench chair prior to a game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Kansas Jayhawks have been aggressive on the 2026 recruiting trail, handing out offers and lining up visits with several top prospects.

However, one notable name may no longer be in play for Bill Self and his coaching staff.

Consensus top-25 recruit Bryson Howard just locked in eight official visits across the next few months, and none of his trips are to Lawrence.

2026 4⭐️ Bryson Howard tells @LeagueRDY he’s scheduled the following official visits:

Texas A&M: August 29th-30th
North Carolina: September 5th-7th
Texas: September 12th-14th
Duke: September 19th-21st
Houston: September 26th-28th
Kentucky: October 4th-6th
UConn: October… pic.twitter.com/dIdI3v8ZoF

— Sam Kayser (@KayserHoops) July 26, 2025

Howard is scheduled to visit Texas A&M, North Carolina, Texas, Duke, Houston, Kentucky, UConn, and Tennessee.

The 6-foot-5 forward from Heritage High School (TX) is one of the fastest stock risers in the 2026 recruiting class following some strong performances on the EYBL circuit.

MORE: Kansas Basketball Visit Primer: Recruits Planning to Take Trips to KU

Howard is the son of former NBA All-Star Josh Howard, who posted career averages of 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds across 10 seasons in the league.

Last month, Self and Co. extended a scholarship to Howard. Since then, it seems the mutual interest between the two sides may not be as strong as initially believed.

The Jayhawks could still make a late push to get him on campus, but with so many other targets on their radar, it’s likely Howard is no longer a top priority for KU.