Kansas basketball: Transfer prospect list narrows following May 1 deadline

With the May 1 deadline now passed for college student-athletes to notify their schools of their intent to transfer and be eligible for the 2022-23 season, the list of prospects for the Kansas men’s basketball staff to potentially add to next year’s roster is coming into focus.

No players have opted to transfer from KU thus far, which means KU’s available roster spots will be limited to one or two, depending on what Jalen Wilson and Christian Braun decide to do with their NBA Draft eligibility.

Braun is currently projected as a first-round draft pick in several mock drafts, while Wilson isn’t currently projected to be drafted. Both players have until June 1 to remove their names and return to school.

Prior to the current NIL rules, it was almost a sure bet that a player projected to go in the first round was gone. Now, with the profitable options that are out there for student-athletes, the decision isn’t as cut and dry.

It’s possible that both Braun and Wilson come back, but assuming Braun is the one who keeps his name in the NBA Draft, here’s a look at the transfer players who might take his place.

Tyrese Hunter

Coming out of high school, Tyrese Hunter was consistently ranked as a top-50 recruit in the 2021 class before he signed with Iowa State.

As a freshman this past season for the Cyclones, the 6-foot guard averaged 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Hunter made his presence felt on the defensive end as well as he finished top three in the league in steals, averaging two per game.

His performance throughout the season earned him Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors.

The backcourt is a little crowded right now with Harris, Bobby Pettiford, Joseph Yesefu, and Kyle Cuffe Jr. all returning. But with Hunter’s excellence defensive skills – something Bill Self covets – and his tremendous upside, he’d be a hard player for the staff to turn down.

Hunter is currently considering Kansas, Texas, Louisville, Gonzaga, Tennessee, and Purdue.

CBS Sports lists Hunter as the No. 3 ranked transfer available in college basketball.

Isiaih Mosley

Isiaih Mosley is a 6-foot-5, high-scoring guard from Missouri State coming off productive back-to-back seasons.

This past season, he averaged 20.4 points, 2.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game while averaging 50.4% from the field, 42.7% from 3-point range, and 90.2% from the free throw line. His stats were nearly identical in 2020-21.

His numbers scream efficiency, and he would be a welcome scoring threat that the Jayhawks could use with Remy Martin, Ochai Agbaji, and likely Braun all departing.

Mosley has some connections to Kansas already through point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. They both grew up in Columbia, Missouri, and played at Rock Bridge High. Remember, Harris was also once committed to Missouri State before Kansas came calling.

I think it’s safe to assume the two players are close and that could bode well for KU’s chances should Braun stay in the draft and a spot opens up.

Mosley is reportedly considering Kansas, Duke, Louisville, Texas, Oklahoma, and others.

CBS Sports currently lists Mosley as the No. 4 ranked transfer available in college basketball.

Kevin McCullar

Another Big 12 transfer with an interest in Kansas is former Texas Tech Red Raider Kevin McCullar.

The 6-foot-6 wing averaged nearly 10 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds per game this past season, while shooting 40% from the field and 31% from three. He posted similar numbers for Tech in 2020-21.

Coming from Texas Tech, you know McCullar comes with good defensive prowess. His size and strength also make him a dangerous threat, though he’s not a high-volume scorer.

McCullar announced on Twitter recently that he is considering either Kansas or Gonzaga if he decides not to stay in the NBA Draft.

CBS Sports does not currently have McCullar as one of their top 25 transfer prospects.

Ricky Council IV

Ricky Council IV is a 6-foot-6 guard transferring from nearby Wichita State.

This past season for the Shockers, he averaged 12 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He also shot 30.6% from three, which is down significantly from the 2020-21 season when he averaged 44.4%.

According to his Twitter, Council is considering a final six schools of Kansas, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Iowa State.

CBS Sports does not currently have Council as one of their top 25 transfer prospects.

Decisions

As previously mentioned, the number of spots available is going to depend on what Wilson and Braun do in the NBA Draft.

But if it is to be assumed that Braun will leave and Wilson will stay, I’d put Mosley at the top of the wish list. He’s got a swagger and scoring ability that this team will need with Martin, Agbaji, and Braun likely gone.

Some of that may get filled from the uber-talented freshman class coming in, but having a veteran with Mosley’s skillset will help take the load off them and others to produce early on. Plus, his familiarity with Harris should make for a smoother transition should he join the team.

We should have an answer as to what next season’s Kansas roster will look like within the next few weeks.