Kansas basketball: Transfer portal is closed, what’s next for the Jayhawks?

Kansas basketball was heavily involved in the early stages of the transfer portal. Now that it has closed, what is next for the Jayhawks?

Most would say that the Kansas Jayhawks have had a successful offseason thus far, though harsher critics might not be satisfied with eight players entering the transfer portal. Nonetheless, KU picked up the best big man on the market and two impactful combo guards.

May 11th marked the final day that a D-I player could enter the transfer portal without having to sit out a year. Considering Kansas is returning just two players from last season’s roster, it is safe to say that the nine guys currently playing for the Jayhawks are here to stay.

Although players can no longer enter the portal, they have several months before they need to decide which school they want to attend.

After Kansas lost its three leading scorers to the NBA Draft, Bill Self has brought a plethora of talent into the program. However, with three scholarships open for use, how will the Jayhawks utilize these open roster spots?

One thing that Kansas direly needs is a player on the wing. The first name to look at is North Dakota State transfer, Grant Nelson. He is the best remaining player in the portal, per On3.com, and would fit in perfectly in a Bill Self-system.

Nelson averaged 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks as a junior for the Bison. It is hard to label him as a specific position considering his game is so versatile — he is more of a “unicorn.”

Despite standing at 6-foot-10, 215 pounds, Nelson can create his own shot and has a variety of dribble moves that he uses to score in the paint. On top of being ridiculously athletic and dunking on everybody, he can sink the three-ball. Nelson’s signature move is a deadly spin he uses to glide into a post hook.

Coming to Kansas would strengthen his case as an NBA prospect but, more importantly, bolster the Jayhawks’ roster. He fills their needs of size and rebounding and can serve as the team’s stretch big. Bill Self could take his game to unprecedented levels.

Not many other players have been connected to Kansas in the transfer portal. The program was thrown off because they expected Mackenzie Mgbako to commit. However, more names should pop up in the future.

With the three remaining scholarship spots, fans can expect Kansas to bring in a wing, a backup big man, and perhaps a fill-in player who could be a serviceable contributor in a year or two.

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