Kansas basketball: Fun with transfer players

Kansas Basketball is becoming a top destination for transfer athletes. Bill Self’s recruiting continues to evolve with the times.

The Kansas Jayhawk basketball program has occasionally added transfer players over the years. Now, the team is among the most popular destinations for players who want a new start.

The number of players moving seems to grow every year. There are many reasons. First, there is little patience among young college athletes.

I’m sure some of it has to do with academics. For most, I’ll bet it is instant gratification.

Many young people can’t wait. They want to play now or else. You find very few like Landon Lucas. Despite not playing early in his time at Kansas, he decided to stay. I’m very glad he did.

On the other hand, former Jayhawk Andrew White III, a teammate of Lucas five years ago, wound up playing for three different NCAA programs in three different conferences.

After leaving Kansas, he spent two years at Nebraska and finished last season at Syracuse.

The NCAA does not have anyone responsible for tracking the number of college basketball players who leave programs. Maybe they don’t want to know.

We do know a lot of them go to or leave Iowa State. It seems they always have a few top players waiting to play or going to transfer.

Bill Self may not like the trend looks for the sport but he is bringing in more transfers than ever.

My all time favorite transfer to Kansas basketball is Greg Dreiling.  He left Wichita State to play for the Jayhawks.

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The Jayhawks have five transfers ready to join the team including Sam Cunliffe from Arizona State, the Lawson brothers from Memphis and Charlie Moore from Cal.

On Tuesday, 6 foot 9-inch senior forward Jack Whitman from William & Mary announced he would transfer to Kansas.

Whitman is a graduate transfer and eligible to play right away.