What effect will Nicolas Timberlake have on other Kansas basketball players?

How will the addition of Nicolas Timberlake impact the rest of the Kansas basketball roster? We take a deeper dive into which dominoes might subsequently fall.

The first of what will be several transfer portal acquisitions transpired yesterday for Kansas. Timberlake is a knockdown shooter who should make an immediate difference for the Jayhawks. However, some other players could have difficulties sneaking into the rotation with his arrival.

Among others, Elmarko Jackson will have to compete for minutes. He would have been in the starting lineup conversation before Timberlake committed, but head coach Bill Self will not start three guys shorter than 6’5″. The five-star recruit will instead fight for playing time off the bench.

Timberlake is not assured a spot in the starting five by any means. After playing five seasons at a low-level mid-major conference, transitioning to Big 12 basketball will be challenging. However, he offers the Jayhawks the jump shooter they direly needed.

Some recruits, such as Primo Spears, are now out of the running for Kansas. With two or three scholarships remaining, Self will presumably want to fill out the roster with a big man and a wing. If he wants to open up a scholarship, Kyle Cuffe Jr. or Zuby Ejiofor might need to transfer. Ejiofor is likely staying, but Cuffe Jr. has been a nonfactor for two consecutive seasons and cannot stay on the court.

Kansas did not have a shortage of guard depth, and Timberlake now joins a crowded room. Dajuan Harris, Elmarko Jackson, Chris Johnson, Jamari McDowell, and Cuffe Jr. must battle it out during practice. The two freshmen — Johnson and McDowell — will be candidates for a redshirt.

Although the Jayhawks would be a top 5 preseason team with Harrison Ingram and Hunter Dickinson, Bill Self is not going to stop there. Everybody thought Nicolas Timberlake would be heading to UConn, and KU surprised the world. The likelihood is that one more player will transfer so Kansas can have its most potent team on the floor. With Arterio Morris’ visit occurring on campus right now, he could replace Cuffe Jr.