Kansas basketball’s Melvin Council Jr. invited to NBA G League combine

LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball already has a couple of players who were with the team this past season, who are set to be at the NBA combine later this month in Chicago.

The league announced recently that Darryn Peterson and Flory Bidunga have each received invitations. Peterson was a freshman guard this past season, and someone who could be one of the top selections in the draft, while Bidunga was a sophomore forward who’d likely hear his name later on if he stays in the NBA draft. Bidunga has decided to transfer to Louisville, while keeping his name in the pre-draft process.

But those two could be joined by another, in KU senior guard Melvin Council Jr. According to a release, Council has been invited to the NBA G League’s combine. And if he performs well enough, he can earn an invitation to the NBA combine that follows.

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“The three-day event provides NBA Draft prospects with the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of NBA and NBA G League scouts, coaches, and front-office executives,” the release stated. “Participants will take part in five-on-five games as well as strength and agility drills.”

Council spent just one season with KU, after a lengthy college career that saw him most recently play at St. Bonaventure prior to his transfer to join the Jayhawks. He was named the Big 12 Conference’s newcomer of the year, as well as a member of the all-newcomer team and an honorable mention all-conference honoree. With Peterson and Bidunga, he helped guide the team to the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament and the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament.

Council started all 35 of the games he played in for Kansas, and averaged 34.8 minutes per game. He also averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. His mentality helped make him a fan favorite in Allen Fieldhouse during his time in Lawrence, and although he did enter the transfer portal after he did so with no eligibility remaining and would need to receive another year to return to college.