The road to professional basketball continues to open up for Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr., who has received an invitation to this year's NBA G League combine.

Council joins a growing list of Jayhawks making moves toward the next level. Freshman guard Darryn Peterson and sophomore forward Flory Bidunga have already been invited to the main NBA combine in Chicago later this month. Peterson is projected as a potential top draft pick, while Bidunga—who recently announced his transfer to Louisville while keeping his name in the pre-draft process—could hear his name called later in the draft.

But Council's path is a bit different—and no less impressive. The senior guard has been invited to the NBA G League combine, a three-day showcase event where prospects compete in five-on-five games and undergo strength and agility drills in front of scouts, coaches, and front-office executives from both the NBA and G League. A strong performance there could earn him a ticket to the main NBA combine.

Council's journey to this point has been anything but conventional. After spending most of his college career at St. Bonaventure, he transferred to Kansas for his final season—and made an immediate impact. He was named the Big 12 Conference's Newcomer of the Year, earned a spot on the all-newcomer team, and received honorable mention all-conference honors. Alongside Peterson and Bidunga, he helped lead the Jayhawks to the Big 12 tournament semifinals and the NCAA tournament's Round of 32.

Council started all 35 games he played this season, averaging a team-high 34.8 minutes per game while putting up 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per contest. His gritty play and high basketball IQ quickly made him a fan favorite at Allen Fieldhouse.

Interestingly, Council did enter the transfer portal after the season—but with no remaining eligibility, a return to Kansas would require an NCAA waiver for an additional year. For now, the focus is squarely on the G League combine and the opportunity to prove he belongs at the professional level.