KOKOMO, Ind. (KSNT) - For KU men's basketball signee Flory Bidunga, a move from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Kokomo, Indiana could be the least interesting part of his story.
It may sound crazy, but his journey runs that deep. On a 27 Sports' road trip to Flory's new home, an hour outside of Indianapolis, the move from Central Africa to the middle of the United States was the first question asked. However, it was the topic which Bidunga, his guardians and his coach discussed the least in exclusive interviews with KSNT. Bidunga came to Kokomo through a program for international students, one that brings in roughly 150 students per year, according to his principal Angela Blessing.
Dwelling on the move away from home, by his lonesome, of approximately 7,000 miles would not do Bidunga justice. There are a million and one other things to talk about. This isn't just the story of a good basketball player moving from Congo, Africa to Kokomo, Indiana, and soon to Lawrence, Kansas.
No, this is the story of an aspiring soccer player, a Mizzou grad, a community falling in love, McDonald's cheeseburgers and a stranger in a grocery store potentially changing basketball history. This is the story of a five-star smile.
"The first thing you should know about Flory is his smile," Bidunga's American guardian, Dillon Craft told me. "His smile... it's definitely going to touch you in some way."
Before digging into the details, there is one more critical fact one must know in order to call themselves familiar with Flory Bidunga.
"He loves McDonald's cheeseburgers," Principal Blessing said. "It's his favorite thing."
A friendly suggestion from a random man
Bidunga has only lived in America for roughly three years. He's only been playing basketball for approximately the same amount of time. That was more than enough time for the 6-foot-9 center to earn McDonald's All-American status, but that's besides the point.
The five-star center, who ESPN ranks as the best in the country for the 2024 class, was just like thousands of kids all over the country and world: He grew up with a dream of becoming a professional athlete. There is one catch... Flory's dream had nothing to do with basketball.
"To be honest, I had a dream I would play for a European [soccer] club," Bidunga told me in an exclusive interview. "Like Real Madrid."
He was a striker, and a good one. He even took the pitch with Kokomo High School and helped the Wildkats reach the sectional round.
However, before his move to the USA, a stranger in the store offered some unsolicited advice.
"I was back home shopping with my mom and then we saw a tall dude. He was like 'Hey you play basketball?'" Bidunga recalled. "I was like ' Nah... I play soccer.' He was like 'You should play basketball.' Since then I started going to basketball and getting [interested] in it."
Despite his size, he didn't go from soccer star to highly-sought-after D1 hoops prospect overnight.
"I really had to learn, it wasn't really easy," Bidunga said.
His move to the United States wasn't apart from basketball, but also wasn't solely with a focus on his new sport.
"I would say it was a little of both [academics and basketball] for sure," the KU commit said. "I had to be smart enough to join the program and then I found a pretty good basketball community over here."
Growing Up Fast
In the year 2024, the recruitment process for any sport features lots of moving parts. Those parts are more abundant and faster moving for D1 prospects. They're even quicker and can be more overwhelming for power sports like basketball and football. Plus, when you're a top big-man in the country... a lot of schools and coaches want to talk.
Now, combine all those factors with a few more: Bidunga had just moved across the globe, by himself, at 16-years-old. In doing so, he needed to learn a new language in addition to the three he had been speaking in Congo. He was adjusting to a new culture, too.
"I have to learn all that plus basketball... that was a little bit too much," Bidunga admitted. "Obviously I have people that care about me to go through all this stuff, so it became more easy."
That last sentence is one the high-flying Kokomo HS senior kept coming back to. When asked to expand on the challenge of growing up so quickly, figurately speaking, he doubled down with an appreciation for his loved ones.
"That was challenging for sure but, as I said, I have people around me who will help me through all of that process," he said. "I mean, I still have to improve right now but I think I'm doing pretty good so far."
That support system includes, but is not limited to...
A Mizzou Grad
Makenna Craft's skin nearly began to crawl as she uttered a sentence many of her former classmates wouldn't dare say out loud.
"Kansas felt like a right fit... it felt good," Craft said. "It's hard for me, as a Mizzou Tiger to say that... but it did. It felt good for him."
Long before KU assistant Jeremy Case reached out with a scholarship offer, the Congo native was just getting acquainted in Indiana. Flory's basketball needed work as he put down the cleats and picked up the J's. His English, quite possibly, needed more work.
This is where Makenna Craft comes into play. She's a teacher who specializes in working with students who's first language is not English. A family connection at KHS connected her with Bidunga.
"[Flory's coach] was like 'Hey, I got this kiddo that started playing basketball and he's really new to English, can you help?'" Craft recalled.
The tutoring of sorts led to a welcoming new home. The Craft's, Dillon and Makenna, served as Flory's host family for several months. Well, technically, the Craft's weren't a family yet.
"We weren't even married at the time when we first brought him into our home," Dillon said. "We were engaged, the summer before we got married is when we first brought him in."
As school, basketball and social life heated up, the teenager and his host family felt stability was necessary.
"He really needed support, something a little bit more consistent," Makenna said.
Bidunga is currently in the process of becoming an American citizen.
Makenna and Dillon are not parents. Meaning, in a way, their first taste of parenting came with a 17-year-old, instead of an infant like most. Did it bring the couple closer?
"Some days," Dillon said with a laugh, before getting serious. "It's definitely brought us closer together. We definitely communicate a little better now just because we always have to have a plan in place for him... We have definitely grown a lot."
Jokes aside, Makenna's face lights up describing the unlikely trio which has turned into a family.
"Through him learning English we've really got to know the person of Flory," she said. "He's funny, he's so funny. And silly. But also this like really sweet, sweet caring side... At his core of who he is, he is the most genuine person you will ever meet."
The Craft's are both big sports fans. Which means in taking care of ESPN's No. 1 center, they've been granted rare experiences.
The Recruitment
There are at least 17 good reasons and two great reasons for Bidunga to show interest in KU. That is, the number of regular season conference titles and national titles the Jayhawks have won under Bill Self. That's not to mention a more than solid big man in five-time All-NBA Jayhawk alum Joel Embiid, who Self mentored.
"Championships, that's a big time [goal of mine]," Bidunga said. "And as a basketball player, you would like to go to the NBA.
However, his college decision was based on much more than just a trophy case. As Makenna pointed out, they wanted a place where Bidunga felt at home. Her husband can confirm, Kansas provided just that.
The Craft couple, despite technically not being parents, quickly shifted into 'Mom and Dad mode' when it came time for their new 'kid' to pick a destination for his second life-changing move by the age of 18.
"Talking to Flory's mom, I felt like I had to step into that role and just kind of be her eyes and ears in that moment," Makenna said. "Flory and I talked about this a lot... 'Your mom put your safety and well-being into my hands and I want to make sure that wherever you decide to go that it is the right spot. I take that very seriously.'"
KU checked all the boxes, they say.
"He was comfortable [at KU]," Dillon said. "I'll never forget... We got off the airplane, it's seven in the morning we pulled up on campus. He hasn't even seen campus yet, he gets out of this van that they transport us in and says 'I'm feeling it.' That's the first time he's said that at any visit so we knew that he was already comfortable."
Not In Lawrence Yet
They're already making custom Flory Bidunga, University of Kansas jerseys in Kokomo, Indiana.
Yes, when Bidunga goes on to enjoy a long pro basketball career, now 12-year-old Cam Hicks can likely claim he was the first to wear the big fella's jersey. Hicks is a fan and a friend.
"It's pretty cool, what a lifetime experience getting to know this guy," Hicks told me after Bidunga's triple-double on Friday, Feb. 16. ""We went to King's Island... Riding roller-coasters with him was pretty fun."
However, the young Kokomo kid is one of hundreds who have fallen in love with the gentle giant that is Bill Self's future center.
"He loves this community and they love him," Blessing said. "He's a really kind person. He takes the time to talk to everybody, gets to know them... He has Kansas fans from Kokomo for life. His impact in Kokomo will be felt forever, and it's all the behind the scenes stuff that people don't see."
Blessing highlights participating in 'Spirit Week' at the high school, joining the student section for sporting events when not playing and taking time to go read to elementary school students as, just a few of, those behind the scenes acts of kindness which Bidunga participates in.
To some, a three-year stop an hour outside of Indianapolis would've been just that: the next step towards making basketball a career. But that's just not how Flory rolls.
"Our program will benefit 10-15 years from now because of what he's done for the youth and our community and just got kids excited about basketball again," Bidunga's head coach John Peckinpaugh said.
Makenna agrees with the descriptor of 'relational' for their 18-year-old baller.
"He's easy to like," she said. "He's just kind.. it kind of goes back to that he's very genuine. He's a genuine soul, kind-hearted."
His Game
Naturally, on-court presence also jumps out. After all, Bidunga didn't earn McDonald's All-American status and become a candidate for Indiana's 'Mr. Basketball' just by flipping through a few pages of Dr. Seuss for third-graders.
The list of things to know about Bidunga is lengthy, clearly. However, his ability to send opposing shots back where they came from must rank near the top in terms of impressiveness.
"Unbelievable feel for the game defensively," Peckinpaugh said. "One of the best shot blockers I've been around and seen. He has the ability to win you a basketball game without scoring you a point. Now, he scores us a lot of points, but at the next level he'll be able to change the game defensively."
Look no further than a 10-block performance on night one of which I went to watch him play, a total which could've been higher had it not been for a couple questionable goal tending calls. The problem, using that term loosely, is that Flory gets so high on the backboard it's hard to tell if he's over the cylinder or not. It is easy to tell he's a freak athlete. The best Peckinpaugh has ever coached?
"By far," he said with a laugh.
Don't get it twisted, the KU commit can score. He recently surpassed 1,500 career points at KHS and posted 26 on the second night I showed up to see him play. He requires the 'Dunk-O-Meter' in Kokomo's Memorial Gym to be updated hastily.
However, the big man is working on his jumper. He hit his first career three-pointer in a game on Friday, Feb. 23. Eight days before, 27 News captured him draining plenty of them in practice. It's an area Bidunga says he's growing in.
He models his game after Giannis Antetokounmpo and says his motor is the area of his game he takes the most pride in.
A Global Impact
A move to Lawrence, Kansas, which will happen this summer, is simply another step in the direction of impacting lives back in Africa.
Bidunga, who could become just the seventh DR-Congo-born player to make an NBA roster, according to RealGM, has a chance to give kids in his home country a reason to dream.
"He has a chance to do something special that affects the world, with his background, if he continues to be successful," Peckinpaugh said. "He's going to impact a lot of people in his life."
Perhaps, with the help of this smiling Wildkat, a few more Congolese kids will put the 'NBA player' down as a dream job, in addition to Flory's original dream of pro soccer.
Staying Present
For now, he'll put saving the world on hold and focus on chasing a state title with Kokomo High. He'll continue sharpening up the English skills with his favorite Missouri Tiger, he just might try on the chicken costume he recently wore for spirit week or perhaps he'll try to get in touch with the tall, opinion-inserting, man from the store and offer a 'thank you' for the friendly advice.
And by the way, Jayhawk fans can already be proud of their future center: He accepted the McDonald's All-American game jersey last Friday night, despite more than likely being bummed out the uniform didn't come with a quarter pounder. And yes, he accepted it... with a smile. A five-star smile.
