The former four-star wide receiver is trading the gridiron for the hardwood, eyeing Division I hoops opportunities after a redshirt season and limited field time in Lawrence.
Former Kansas Jayhawks football Recruit Jaden Nickens Leaving Football to Pursue Basketball Career
Former Kansas football recruit Jaden Nickens is reportedly stepping away from football and shifting his focus to basketball.
Nickens, a former four-star wide receiver prospect in Kansas Jayhawks football’s 2025 recruiting class, is no longer enrolled at Kansas and is exploring Division I basketball opportunities with four years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-3 athlete originally arrived in Lawrence as one of the more intriguing athletes in the class after starring at Sierra Canyon and later Douglass High School. While he was recruited to play football for head coach Lance Leipold, Nickens also carried legitimate basketball buzz during high school.
According to reports, programs such as Northwestern State Demons men's basketball, Texas Southern Tigers men's basketball, and Cal Poly Mustangs men's basketball have already shown interest.
Nickens had originally been expected to potentially join Kansas men's basketball as a preferred walk-on after being recruited on the basketball side by assistant coach Kurtis Townsend, though that move never officially happened.
Instead, injuries and limited opportunities kept him off the field during his lone year in Lawrence, where he ultimately redshirted.
With Kansas adding depth at wide receiver through both recruiting and the transfer portal, Nickens now appears set to pursue a fresh start on the hardwood instead.
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Seattle Seahawks Land Steal with Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
The Seattle Seahawks might have just found a gem. Emmanuel Henderson Jr. is officially off the board, and for where he was taken, this feels like a steal. He was one of the few bright spots for Kansas last season, finishing with 766 receiving yards and five touchdowns while also making an impact in the return game. The upside is easy to see.
Henderson’s speed jumps out immediately. He can stretch the field, create big plays, and flip momentum as a returner. That 214 yard, two touchdown game against Cincinnati showed exactly what he can be when everything clicks.
He is not a finished product, but late in the draft, that is what you are betting on. Traits and ceiling.
Seattle gets a player who can contribute on special teams right away and develop into more in the offense. If he puts it together, this could end up being one of the better value picks from this class. Low risk, high upside. That is a win.