What Bill Self said about KU signee Bryson Tiller, who has arrived (early) on campus

Bryson Tiller, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound high school senior power forward out of the Overtime Elite basketball program in Atlanta, is on Kansas’ campus and ready to begin his college career as a second-semester redshirt player, KU coach Bill Self said Tuesday.

Tiller will practice but not play in games until the start of the 2025-26 season, Self indicated.

“Bryson got here yesterday about an hour before we landed,” Self reported Tuesday. The Jayhawks had a late Monday afternoon return from UCF, site of Sunday’s 51-point victory over the Knights.

“He landed and he’s here. I haven’t seen him yet but he’s here. He’s done all his physicals, getting fitted (for practice gear) and all the things you need to do to be an actual student here,” Self added.

Self noted that Tiller, who has not played in any Overtime Elite games this season because of an ankle injury, would not practice on Tuesday, “but hopefully starting tomorrow, he can do some things. I don’t know if he’ll participate in full practice starting tomorrow. We’ll wait and see how he’s feeling.with his foot. All indications are that’s just a little time away if any.”

Asked to elaborate how much Tiller will be able to practice because of the ankle injury, Self said: “He’ll be able to do some things. I don’t know if they’re going to turn him fully loose before they get a chance to evaluate how he does some things, but we’re anticipating him being able to do individuals, some competitive things, but probably not up and down (scrimmaging) at least until we are able to evaluate him.”

Tiller is ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports, No. 21 by Rivals, No. 23 by On3 and No. 26 by ESPN.

He chose KU over Auburn, Indiana and Georgia Tech and signed with KU in the week-long November signing period.

“Bryson is ultra talented,” Self said upon receipt of Tiller’s financial aid agreement on Nov. 16. “If he hadn’t gotten hurt (foot injury) he would be a top-5, top-7 kid in the class. He hasn’t been able to do much in the last six or eight months, but he’s talented. He’s 6-10 and can play anywhere on the floor.”

Tiller, who is from Atlanta, home of Overtime Elite, has a 7-foot-3 wingspan.

“His upside is undeniable, and he’s been well trained. Bryson provides a versatility for us that he can play some 5, but he can also play the 4, very similar to the way KJ (Adams) has in his KU career,” Self said. “This was another good get for us. KT (Townsend) was the point man on Bryson and has been recruiting him going back to Bryson’s sophomore year.”

Tiller plays for the City Reapers and was named to the all-Overtime Elite second team in 2023-24 after averaging nearly a double-double at 12.2 points and 9.4 rebounds a game.

He blocked 1.6 shots per contest.

In the 2024 playoffs, Tiller averaged 15.6 points to go along with 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots while shooting 50% from the field. He recorded seven double-doubles during the 2023-24 season. In 2022-23, the City Reapers won the OTE championship and Tiller averaged 11.5 points and 6.9 rebounds with five double-doubles during the regular season.

KU in the recruiting Class of 2025 has also signed guard Darryn Peterson and forward Samis Calderon.

Peterson, a 6-5, 195-pound senior guard from Prolific Prep in Napa, California, is ranked No. 3 nationally by all the recruiting services. Tiller’s Overtime Elite teammate Calderon is a 6-8, 200-pound forward from Espirito Santo, Brazil ranked No. 67 by 247Sports and No. 129 by On3. He’s not ranked yet by ESPN or Rivals.

A fourth member of the class would be a walk-on and football player. Jaden Nickens, who plays basketball and football at Sierra Canyon High School in California, recently committed to KU to play both sports. His scholarship will be in football, but he has said he will join the hoops team at KU once the football season is over.

Nickens, a wide receiver in football and guard in basketball, committed to Oklahoma in August of 2023, but backed off his commitment in March. Both KU football coach Lance Leipold and Self have said they indeed expect him to play two sports at KU.