Bill Self and Kansas Host Elite International Recruit on Visit

Kansas was the first stop for one of the top players in the 2027 class, who is making six college visits in as many days.

Mar 19, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self speaks to the media during a press conference at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks hosted one of the top recruits in the 2027 class on a surprise visit this Monday.

Mali native Sayon Keita, who currently plays for FC Barcelona's basketball club, was on campus and will trek out to five other schools this week.

NEWS: Sayon Keita, the top international big man in the class of 2027, is conducting official visits to six blue bloods starting today: Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Duke, UNC and UConn, his NIL representatives at Gersh Sports told DraftExpress.

Keita may reclass to 2026. pic.twitter.com/MHYm3h3CFr
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) July 28, 2025

Keita completed a one-day visit to Lawrence on Monday. He will make ensuing trips to Indiana (July 29), Kentucky (July 30), Duke (July 31), North Carolina (Aug. 1), and UConn (Aug. 2).

A 7-foot, 210-pound center, Keita is one of the most intriguing prospects in the country.

He is a high-upside defender and developing offensive talent, which he flashed at the NBA Academy Games and the NBPA Top 100 Camp. During the Academy Games, he averaged 13.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per contest.

MORE: Kansas Basketball Visit Primer: Recruits Planning to Take Trips to KU

While Keita is not technically ranked on recruiting sites yet, he is gaining traction with some of the country's top programs.

If Keita reclassifies to the 2026 graduating year — which sounds like a very real possibility — he is on track to be one of the highest-rated big men among the nation's rising seniors.

At 17 years old, Keita possesses the physical traits to become a college superstar and future NBA Draft lottery pick.

Self and Co. are certainly competing with powerful schools in the race to land Keita, but it is encouraging to see the Jayhawks involved this early in his recruitment.

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