Kansas forward Zach Clemence enters NCAA Transfer Portal

Kansas junior forward Zach Clemence has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. That comes via On3’s Pete Nakos.

This is the second time the 6-foot-11 power forward has entered the transfer portal. He previously did so following the 2022-23 season before opting to return to the Jayhawks and redshirt during the 2023-24 season.

Clemence has played in 52 career games across three seasons at Kansas, averaging just 1.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 5.3 minutes per game during that span. Clemence appeared in just eight games during the 2024-25 season before a groin injury ended his year in mid-December, scoring a total of 11 points with 11 rebounds off the bench.

In Febrauary, Kansas head coach Bill Self suggested Clemence was close to returning to practice. However, he ultimately never appeared in another game in Lawrence.

“I think Zach’s closer to being able to practice some,” Self said. “I don’t think he’s close to being able to play in a game yet, and he’s been cleared to do some things in practice, but he’s not at the point where he can go every day.”

Clemence was a four-star prospect out of Sunrise Christian High in San Antonio (TX). He was the No. 67 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Self and Kansas (21-13, 11-9 Big 12) saw its 2024-25 season end in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks fell in a 79-72 loss to 10th-seeded Arkansas on March 20.

Kansas set to spend in transfer portal, surround five-star Darryn Peterson with talent

Following a disappointing season, the Jayhawks are expected to open up the checkbook in what could be a transformative offseason. Kansas is set to lose Hunter Dickinson, Shakeel Moore, Dajuan Harris Jr., Zeke Mayo and KJ Adams, not including NBA draft decisions.

According to Nakos, the Jayhawks are expected to have $8 million available to build next year’s roster. That would rank near the top of the Power Four ranks.

Kansas has also used dollars to land one of the top recruits in the nation. Self went out and landed the No. 3 recruit in the 2025 cycle in shooting guard Darryn Peterson. An Ohio native, the Jayhawks beat out Ohio State, Kansas State and USC for the Five-Star Plus+ recruit.

Sources have told On3 that Peterson is one of the highest-paid recruits in the 2025 cycle, set to make more than $3 million as a freshman next season in Lawrence. In comparison, On3 reported last fall that BYU commit and No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa‘s financial package was set to be between 4 to $4.5 million.

— On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this report