LAWRENCE, Kansas, May 7, 2026, 10:09 CDT
Kansas landed a commitment Thursday from Radford transfer guard Dennis Parker Jr., a 6-foot-6 scorer who emerged last season and brings more punch to Bill Self’s still-evolving backcourt. Parker made his decision public on The Field of 68’s YouTube channel, according to KUsports.com.
Kansas is still navigating the transfer portal, a process that continues to shape the Jayhawks’ roster. Parker marks the fourth transfer pickup for KU, following Keanu Dawes out of Utah, Leroy Blyden Jr. from Toledo, and Christian Reeves, formerly with Charleston. Three roster spots remain available.
Kansas is hustling to stay competitive in a packed Big 12 race. Last year, Arizona put up a 16-2 record in conference games, Houston closed at 14-4, while Kansas and Iowa State each ended 12-6. That doesn’t leave much margin for a roster that’s light on scoring.
Parker put up 18.3 points per game for Radford last season, highlighted by a 53-point explosion against Coppin State on Dec. 14—he shot 19-of-24 from the field and drained 10-of-14 threes that night. According to Reuters, which cited Field Level Media, Parker owns career marks of 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds over 88 games spanning N.C. State and Radford.
Statistically, Parker’s case speaks for itself. He started every one of Radford’s 32 games, putting up a 48.4% mark from the floor and knocking down 37.7% of his threes. He chipped in 5.9 boards and 1.4 steals a night, too.
Parker described his conversations with Self and the rest of the Kansas staff as making the choice a “perfect fit.” Self kept it straightforward: if Parker landed at Kansas, “we need you to score the ball.” KUsports
Michael Swain at 247Sports described Parker as “one of the best scorers in the Big South” last season, pointing out he’s got just one year of eligibility remaining. The transfer isn’t about a long-term rebuild—Kansas is betting on an instant offensive boost. 247Sports
Parker didn’t take the usual route to Lawrence. The Richmond, Virginia product—once a top-100 recruit—started out at N.C. State. According to Radford’s player bio, he logged 52 games there, picked up 12 starts, and was with the Wolfpack during their 2024 Final Four run.
The catch: he’s stepping up in class. Parker put up numbers in the Big South, but the Big 12 is a different grind—he’ll face more pressure on defense, making reads, and bailing out possessions as the clock winds down. At Radford, he posted 72 turnovers to only 41 assists, with a 65.7% clip at the line. If Kansas plans to lean on him, those figures will need to tighten up.
Parker pitched himself as a “two-way dog,” insisting he’s not just a scorer and touting his Final Four experience at N.C. State as something he could pass on to younger teammates. For Kansas, though, it’s pretty clear-cut: Self wanted points, and Parker had the track record to back it up.
