Flory Bidunga

Center | Kansas

Height: 6’10” | Weight: 220 lbs 

2025 Draft Age: 20.09

Although he’s an undersized big from a height standpoint, Bidunga makes up for it with great length and elite athleticism. He’s naturally gifted from a physical standpoint and is well-developed for his age. He’s one of the most athletic frontcourt players in the country and has an NBA-ready frame that still has more room to add strength and bulk. 

What makes Bidunga special is how well he moves at his size. Not only can he bully players with his strength, but he’s also incredibly fluid and mobile. The Kansas freshman is an elite rim runner who gets out in transition and makes things happen. His top speed is unmatched for a player of his size. 

In both transition and halfcourt settings, Bidunga is an incredible lob threat. He spaces the floor vertically with his effortless bounce and dominant explosiveness. He moves with assertiveness and great mobility when diving to the rim. While Bidunga isn’t super effective yet at putting the ball on the deck and getting to the rim on his own, he’s fantastic at establishing position and getting the ball in the post. He boasts good footwork and can overpower defenders. The Kansas prospect is a good scorer once he’s gotten deep in the post and loves the lefty hook — leveraging his dominant hand. 

Bidunga is not a floor spacer as of today and his free throw shooting hasn’t been great to this point. But he still brings a ton to the table even with a more traditional big skillset. He can step out and knock down shorter midrange shots, but his game is generally predicated around the paint. He’s a phenomenal rebounder on both ends of the floor and plays with great energy when crashing the boards. 

On the defensive end, Bidunga is a very good shot blocker with his athleticism and natural feel from a timing standpoint. He sometimes gets lost defensively, so he needs to become more disciplined as a team defender. Even then, his physical tools allow him to be disruptive on that end, as long as he doesn’t get in foul trouble.

The former five-star recruit has only been playing basketball in the United States for a few years. He is originally from Congo, Africa and is still rapidly improving. Bidunga plays with energy, effort and hustle while also radiating positive energy. He is a great team player and is just now scratching the surface of his potential. 

Late First-Round Pick in 2025 NBA Draft.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — America’s pastime compressed into the backyard game of Wiffle ball built a field of dreams this week for several lucky Kansas City, Kansas, kids.

An unexpected visitor Thursday night noticed a backyard group of Wiffle ballers were short on players and asked to join the game.

“He just came over yesterday and asked to play with us, and we were all in amaze,” said Cameron Lard, who lives in the home nestled on the side of a sunken backyard Wiffle ball field. “This is not a normal guy. This is Salvador Perez. This is a Hall of Famer for the Royals!”

That was Lard’s reaction when he recognized the adult asking to play with a group of kids was Salvador Perez, the Royals superstar catcher.

“I guess if it was not Salvador Perez, I would’ve been more worried,” Cameron’s mom, Lesley Lard, explained to KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa. “But a lot of people come to play in the neighborhood. My son and I are huge Royals fans so he knew pretty quickly who it was.”

Cameron’s mom posted a video to her X account of Salvy and the boys playing that created a buzz on social media.

“I don’t even know if they understand how big of a deal it is for this to happen,” she said.

The boys understood and raced to tell their parents. They asked Mrs. Lard to send the picture to share with their class at school.

Before the first pitch at Friday night’s game at Kauffman Stadium, the Lard’s backyard was full again when another surprise happened.

“Timeout!” someone shouted from the driveway next door. “Somebody wants to say hi real quick.”

It was Salvador Perez, again.

“Salvy!” Cam cried out, running to the FaceTime call.

Ryan Gamboa

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Perez was checking in with the boys and asked why they didn’t wait for him to play.

In an interview with KSHB 41 and other media outlets Friday at Kaufman Stadium, Perez said he was spending time with a friend who lives in the neighborhood on what he thought would be his night off.

With the help of a friend, Perez presented Cameron with an autographed baseball bat.

“Getting a phone call from Salvy, this is crazy,” Cameron said.

A kid’s game building unexpected friendships and stories to last a lifetime.

KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa covers Miami County in Kansas and Cass County in Missouri. Share your story idea with Ryan.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chester Owens, Jr., a historic figure in Kansas City, Kansas, whose accomplishments included a prominent role in the civil rights movement, died Thursday at his home.

Owens was 91.

“It is with great sorrow and a heavy heart to learn of the passing of our beloved community icon, Mr. Chester C. Owens Jr.,” KCK Mayor Tyrone Garner said in a statement Friday night. “As the sorrowful news has become known throughout Wyandotte County, all those that valued the tireless work of Mr. Owens, mourn with his family. Many are also reflecting, championing, and cherishing the profound positive advocacy of equality, peace, and love for all people that he promoted near and far. Mr. Owens will truly be missed, but his legacy of love, leadership, volunteerism, advocacy, mentoring, and commitment to community will live on forever! Sincere condolences and prayers are with his family and all those mourning his transition of life!”

Garner presented a key to the city to Owens in June at a Board of County Commissioner’s meeting.

“He lived a long, fruitful life, serving and he served well,” Karen Owens, his daughter. “We’re very thankful for all the many people who loved my dad and my mom in such a profound way. We will honor his legacy and continue to glean from his wisdom as we go on and live our lives to make he and our mother proud of us.”

He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and a respected historian.

The Unified Government’s Board of Commissioners also voted unanimously to put up an honorary street sign to recognize Owens and his late wife, Lillie Anne.

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“I was assigned to be the principal of Hawthorne Elementary School,” James White, a KCK resident, said at the time Owens was honored by the city. “Mr. Owens was one of the first community people to show up at my door. He said, ‘Mr. White, I’m gonna show you how to run the school and he did.’”

The KCK Professional Firefighters Association released a statement Friday on the passing of Owens.

“It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Chester Owens, a pillar of our community for many decades. Chester was not only a true leader in Kansas City, Kansas, but he also possessed a clear vision for what needed to be accomplished to create better neighborhoods and a stronger community. He was unwavering in his commitment to these ideals until the very last days of his life.”

Owens was KCK’s first Black councilman elected in the 20th century and helped bring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the city.

“They would have Help Wanted Colored and Help Wanted White and that’s the way that it was and I challenged that,” Owens said.

KCK spent a full weekend celebrating Owens before he was expected to move out of town with his family this summer.

“Martin Luther King Jr. said it best: ‘We can live successfully as brothers and sisters or we can die together as fools,’” Owens said. “Me and my wife tried to do that all of our life, all of our life.”