Jaxon Kohler appeared to have played his final college basketball game when Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament run ended in the Sweet 16. A changing eligibility landscape has unexpectedly given him another option.
Kohler is entering the transfer portal and intends to pursue a fifth college season, according to On3. CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein reported that BYU, Kentucky, Kansas and Louisville are the four programs under consideration.
Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler tells me that he’s considering the following schools and will have other conversations later today.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 18, 2026
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisville
BYU
Kohler is pursuing a fifth year and is currently eligible following the preliminary injunction in California.
Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press originally detailed Kohler’s decision, including the legal developments that opened a path for his return. Kohler’s availability now gives four national programs an opportunity to add one of the most accomplished players remaining in the portal.
BYU is reportedly the early frontrunner, but Kentucky is another team to watch closely as coaches begin directly communicating with Kohler.
Jaxon Kohler’s return comes after a complicated eligibility fight
Kohler completed four seasons at Michigan State and initially pursued a professional career. He went undrafted in 2026 before joining the Utah Jazz for the NBA Summer League on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract.
The 6-foot-10 forward averaged six points and 5.3 rebounds across four Summer League appearances. His best performance came against Memphis on July 6, when he finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Michigan State did not expect Kohler to return and already constructed its 2026-27 roster without him. The situation changed after federal court injunctions challenged the NCAA’s decision to exclude athletes from the 2022 enrollment class from its new five-in-five eligibility rule.
Those rulings created an opening for Kohler and other players who previously believed their eligibility had expired. With Michigan State’s roster already filled, transferring became his most practical route back to college basketball.
Four contenders have plenty to offer Kohler
Kohler would be an immediate contributor for any of his four reported finalists.
He earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition after averaging career highs of 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds last season. He led Michigan State in rebounding and ranked second on the team in scoring.
Kohler also transformed himself into a legitimate perimeter threat. He made 58 of his 149 attempts from beyond the arc, good for 38.9 percent, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 86.9 percent at the free-throw line.
That efficiency separates him from many traditional big men available in the portal. Kohler can rebound in traffic, score around the basket and pull opposing centers away from the rim.
BYU may have a natural geographic connection because Kohler is an American Fork, Utah, native. The Cougars also can offer a meaningful role on a nationally relevant roster.
Kentucky, Kansas and Louisville possess their own compelling pitches. All three can provide enormous exposure and the opportunity to compete for a deep NCAA Tournament run. Kansas has an obvious question at center, while Louisville and Kentucky continue searching for ways to strengthen their frontcourts before the season.
Kohler does not need another year to prove he can succeed in a major conference. His 127 career games already provide that evidence.
The only question is which contender will convince him that its frontcourt offers the best place to complete an unexpected final chapter.
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