Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga has been living with his host parents, Dillon and Makenna Craft, while his biological parents continue to live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bidunga began playing basketball at Kokomo High School and was named the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year.
He was selected to play in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game and earned both Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and Indiana Mr. Basketball honors.
Bidunga quickly became one of the top players in the country and was a consensus five-star recruit in the class of 2024.
He was initially unranked but rose into the top ten within two months following his standout performances on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.
He later committed to play college basketball at Kansas, where he appeared in all 34 games during his freshman year.
Flory Bidunga Lives With His Host Parents!
Flory Bidunga was born on May 20, 2005, in Kinshasa, DR Congo, and his family and culture have always been important to him.
His parents are Black and still live in DR Congo, where he was raised.
Bidunga’s father works as an engineer, and his mother runs a business.
His parents’ support has been crucial to his success, even though they have chosen to stay out of the public eye.
Moving to the U.S. at 15 for school and basketball was a tough and emotional choice for the whole family.
As a child, he wanted to be a pro athlete, but not in basketball; he played soccer as a striker and dreamed of joining a European club like Real Madrid.
Even though it was hard to be far from him, his parents encouraged his goals. He often says his mother motivates him the most.
Moving ahead, Flory Bidunga has found a supportive family in the United States with his host parents, Dillon and Makenna Craft.
It started when his coach contacted Makenna, a teacher who helps students learning English. What began as tutoring soon became a comfortable new home for him.
Dillon and Makenna weren’t married yet when he moved in. As they planned their wedding, they also built a stable home for Flory.
Their first experience as “parents” was actually with a teenager.
Makenna says caring for Flory has brought her and Dillon closer and improved their communication. She lights up when she talks about him.
Since they love sports, Dillon and Makenna enjoy supporting him as a top basketball player. Together, they’ve built a loving family.
