KJ Adams Jr.

Last updated
KJ Adams Jr.
Kansas Jayhawks
Personal information
Born (2002-04-18) April 18, 2002 (age 23)
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school
College Kansas (2021–2025)
NBA draft 2025: undrafted
Career highlights

Kevin Wynn "KJ" Adams Jr. (born April 18, 2002) is an American college basketball player. He played for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Adams grew up in Austin, Texas, and attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School as a freshman. He later transferred to nearby Westlake High School, where he played basketball and lacrosse. [1] During his junior season, Adams averaged 22.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. [2] As a senior, he was named 6A All-State after averaging 25.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. [3]

Recruiting

A four-star recruit according to major recruiting services, [4] Adams committed to play college basketball for Kansas over offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Georgetown, Iona, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, and UCF after signing his national letter of intent on November 11, 2020. [5]

College recruiting information
NameHometownSchoolHeightWeightCommit date
KJ Adams Jr.
PF
Austin, TX Westlake (TX)6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)225 lb (102 kg)Jul 31, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  4 stars.svg     247Sports:  4 stars.svg     ESPN:  4 stars.svg    (86)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 95    247Sports: 85    ESPN: 47
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Kansas 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  • "2021 Kansas Jayhawks Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved December 12, 2023.

College career

Adams played in 37 of Kansas' 40 games during his freshman season and averaged 1.0 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. [6] During the 2022 national championship game against North Carolina, he played three total minutes in Kansas' 72–69 victory and was a defensive substitution for the final possession of the game. [7] Adams entered his sophomore season as Kansas' starting center, [8] and finished the season being named the Big 12 Most Improved Player after averaging 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. [9] In his junior season, he averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. [10] During the 2025 NCAA tournament in his senior season, Adams sustained a torn Achilles tendon in a 79–72 loss to Arkansas on March 20, 2025. [11] He finished the season averaging 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

Coaching career

Adams joined the Kansas coaching staff as an assistant video coordinator for the 2025–2026 season on June 2, 2025, after sustaining a torn Achilles tendon during the 2025 NCAA tournament. [12]

Personal life

Adams is the son of Kevin and Yvonne. He has two sisters. His father played football at New Mexico, and his mother was a two-year basketball starter at Texas A&M University and led the team in scoring in 1989–90 and 1990–1991. His sister, Brittany, was an all-conference volleyball player at Southern Methodist University. [13]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2021–22 Kansas 3714.8.520.000.600.8.3.1.21.0
2022–23 Kansas 363627.4.622.000.6074.31.9.8.810.6
2023–24 Kansas 343233.5.601.000.6004.63.11.1.612.6
2024–25 Kansas 312930.0.540.000.7255.02.5.9.89.4
Career1389823.4.588.000.6333.61.9.7.68.2

References

  1. "Kansas basketball freshman KJ Adams excelled in lacrosse as well". The Salina Journal . June 10, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  2. "Westlake's K.J. Adams overcomes obstacles, becomes basketball court leader". Austin American-Statesman . April 8, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  3. "Westlake's K.J. Adams heads 2021 All-Centex boys basketball team". Austin American-Statesman . April 10, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  4. García, Jake (March 1, 2020). "Westlake's four-star hooper KJ Adams working with former Ehlinger trainer during offseason". KVUE.com . Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  5. Bedore, Gary (November 12, 2020). "KJ Adams signs with KU Jayhawks basketball. Here's what Bill Self said about him". Kansas City Star . Archived from the original on December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  6. "KU Jayhawks' KJ Adams didn't consider transfer portal". The Kansas City Star . June 7, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  7. Moore, CJ (February 3, 2023). "'I didn't know, Mom': The force that drives the most improved player in college basketball". The Athletic . Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  8. Bedore, Gary (December 14, 2022). "KU coach Bill Self 'thankful' sophomore power forward KJ Adams chose basketball". Kansas City Star . Archived from the original on December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  9. "🏀 Jayhawk Starters Headline 2023 All-Big 12 Honors for Kansas". Kansas Jayhawks . March 5, 2023. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  10. Henry, Greenstein (April 2, 2024). "KJ Adams confirms he'll return for senior year". KUsports.com. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  11. Reiss, Mike (March 20, 2025). "Kansas forward KJ Adams injures Achilles in loss to Arkansas". ESPN . Archived from the original on December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  12. "Former Kansas Forward to Join Coaching Staff Amid Injury Recovery". Kansas Jayhawks On SI. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  13. "KJ Adams - 2024-25 - Men's Basketball". University of Kansas. Retrieved 4 March 2025.