Kansas basketball has been in contact with Syracuse transfer Jesse Edwards

Could a transfer from Syracuse be KU’s alternative to Hunter Dickinson?

Jesse Edwards is approaching his graduate student season after graduating from the University of Syracuse. The Amsterdam, Netherlands, native has gotten an abundance of interest from schools with his name in the transfer portal, one of them being the University of Kansas.

There are reportedly around 15 schools interested in Edwards, and the top suitors thus far include Arkansas, LSU, Kansas State, Gonzaga, and more. Wherever he ends up going, it’s safe to say he will be staying in a power five conference unless he transfers to Gonzaga.

If Kansas lands Edwards, they will be getting an all-around athletic center that is a true big, which was an issue for the Jayhawks in 2022-23. Edwards would presumably play as the big man alongside four-man KJ Adams. He is listed as 6’11” and weighs 230 pounds. He is a terrific rim protector who can also score and rebound.

His 2022-23 season was by far his best. He averaged 14.5 points, 10.3 rebounds (12th in Division I), and shot 59.2 percent on field goal attempts which was 25th in Division One college basketball.

His offensive presence will be cherished at Kansas, but so will his defensive abilities. Edwards averaged 2.7 blocks per game and 1.4 steals per game last season in a serviceable ACC conference. He was the leader of a mediocre Syracuse roster that now wants to take his talents to a potential national championship contender. The Jayhawks fit his exact needs, and if Hunter Dickinson decides to transfer elsewhere, Edwards would be a trustworthy alternative.

He would be among KJ Adams and Ernest Udeh as the primary big guys on the roster for 2023-24. Head coach Bill Self yearns for a true center after playing small ball for one year.

Next year’s team would have a certified rim protector in the paint if they acquired Edwards. Between him and Adams, Dajuan Harris would likely be throwing lobs multiple times a game.