Kansas basketball: The Jayhawks should consider adding Hakim Hart to the 2023-24 roster

A transfer from the University of Maryland has caught the eye of Bill Self and the Kansas basketball program.

The transfer portal is becoming the free agency of collegiate sports, especially for college basketball. The portal has been active for the past few weeks, but Kansas basketball has yet to land a recruit while losing five of their own.

There is an abundance of players that head coach Bill Self should be looking at, and one that falls into the category is Hakim Hart. There have also been some small reports that the university has been in contact with Hart, which is excellent news. Although other schools are also on the hunt, as a college basketball player, it’s always a good feeling to get the attention of the best college basketball coach in the country.

Hart was a senior in 2022-23 for the Maryland Terrapins, meaning he would be a graduate student if he transferred to Kansas. He only has a year of eligibility left and would be a transfer one-and-done. The Philadelphia native is listed as 6’8″ and weighs 205 pounds. He is a lengthy player that could provide much-needed athleticism for the Jayhawks.

After looking at his most recent season’s highlights, Jayhawk fans will be quick to compare him to Kevin McCullar — and rightfully so. The two both have the same build and play a similar style of basketball.

In his four years at the University of Maryland, he averaged 8.3 points while shooting 31.6 percent from deep. He also shot 47.4 percent on field goal attempts and, most importantly, recorded one steal per game (1.5 steals per game his junior year, 1.2 steals per game his senior year.)

A game-changer on defense would bolster the Jayhawks’ roster next season. If he does come to KU, Self will expect him to develop into a more mature scorer and bring his energy to the defensive end. Bill Self loves players who prioritize defense, and Hart fits just the agenda for that.

If he is teammates with Dajuan Harris and Kevin McCullar, Kansas basketball could be looking at one of the best defensive teams in the country for the 2023-24 season. Having all three of them on the court simultaneously would pose a major threat to opposing offenses.

Bill Self stated he would get, at the minimum, three guys from the portal and potentially up to five. If Hakim Hart is one of them, Jayhawk fans should expect yet another successful season from the cathedral of college basketball.