KU Basketball Starts Fundraising Campaign for Cancer Research

KU Basketball student-athletes, ShotTracker and the V Foundation are launching a fundraising initiative to support the KU Cancer Center. Photo credit: Will Crow.

Posted October 1, 2025

The University of Kansas is launching an initiative this week that will bring together basketball and cancer research.

KU announced the launch of its Jayhawks Victory Over Cancer campaign this week. The campaign aims to raise funds for cancer research by partnering with seven KU basketball student-athletes through a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal. Kansas City-area company ShotTracker and The V Foundation for Cancer Research are partnering with KU for this campaign.

The campaign will run through December 31.

The student-athletes will be featured on various channels and will encourage donations to the KU Cancer Center through the V Foundation. KU basketball players will use ShotTracker technology to showcase their dedication on the court while inspiring donations that fund lifesaving cancer research, according to a Tuesday release.

The seven KU Men’s and Women’s Basketball student-athletes participating are Flory Bidunga, Elle Evans, Elmarko Jackson, Jamari McDowell, Lilly Meister, S’Mya Nichols and Regan Williams will act as brand ambassadors.

“We’re incredibly thankful to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, ShotTracker and KU Athletics for coming together in support of this campaign,” Vice Chancellor and Director of the KU Cancer Center, Dr. Roy Jensen, said in the release. “Their generosity and shared belief in the power of cancer research make a real difference. Funding like this fuels the work our scientists do every day and brings us closer to better treatments, earlier detection and, ultimately, cures.”

Since 1993, the V Foundation has funded nearly $400 million in cancer research grants in North America through a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee.