The Kansas men’s basketball team has added former Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn for the upcoming season, announced head coach Bill Self on Monday. Kaufman-Renn, who previously completed a successful tenure at Purdue, will be eligible to play for the Jayhawks during the 2026-27 season thanks to an injunction granted by a Clark County, Indiana, court on October 9.
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Self stated that Kaufman-Renn has enrolled in classes and began practicing with the team as of Sunday. "Trey Kaufman-Renn, who had a tremendous career at Purdue, has enrolled in classes, and is practicing with us as of Sunday," Self mentioned in a press release. Kaufman-Renn has participated in the national championship game, Elite Eight, and Sweet 16 at Purdue and is expected to transition quickly to Kansas due to his high basketball IQ.
The addition comes after the team faced a roster spot due to the season-ending injury of freshman forward Grant Mordini's patellar tendon, which occurred last month during practice. With Mordini expected to miss the entire season, he is exempt from the roster count, allowing Kaufman-Renn to fill the vacancy.
According to College Sports Commission's roster limit rules, student-athletes who sustain medically documented season-ending injuries can still participate in practice without counting toward the roster limit, given they are medically cleared. The roster submission date for Kansas is November 1.
Kaufman-Renn's eligibility could face scrutiny as it has for other players this season, although the NCAA has yet to appeal his injunction. His case differs from others, as he redshirted in the 2021-22 season due to a knee injury, allowing him another year of eligibility.
During his time at Purdue, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward from Sellersburg, Indiana, was recognized for his skills, achieving averages of 20.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in his best season (2024-25), earning first-team All-Big Ten honors and an All-American honorable mention. Last season, he averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds.
Kaufman-Renn was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, where he averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds during Summer League play. However, a temporary restraining order he received indicated that he has not signed a professional contract and is considering a development-league position.
He now joins Kansas, where his cousin, freshman forward Brooklynn Renn, is part of the women’s basketball team, sharing a close relationship. Kaufman-Renn is expected to enhance the Jayhawks' inside scoring and bring veteran experience to the lineup. His potential positional role will be closely analyzed as he transitions into the team.