2 transfers Kansas basketball should pursue and 1 they should avoid
Kansas basketball’s No. 1 priority in the transfer portal should be Grant Nelson.
2022-23 season stats (North Dakota State): 17.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 52.1% FG, 26.9% 3PT
A 6-foot-10, 215-pound stretch big, Nelson can truly do it all. You’d think he is a combo guard with the way he dribbles, yet he can size defenders up in the post like a center. Pairing him with Hunter Dickinson would be an absolutely lethal frontcourt duo.
Kansas had been in contact with Nelson the second he entered the portal, but he is currently participating in the NBA Draft Combine. The chances of him returning to college are more likely than Kevin McCullar, so Bill Self’s coaching staff must monitor his situation closely. If he does return to play at college for another season, KU cannot let him slip away.
On top of his versatile offensive game, he made the Summit League All-Defense Team in 2022-23. Nelson averaged 1.7 blocked shots and 0.8 steals in 30.7 minutes per game. A 7-foot-1 center and a 6-foot-10 forward would make opposing players terrified to drive into the paint.
The ideal lineup for Kansas right now would consist of Dajuan Harris, Nick Timberlake, Kevin McCullar, Grant Nelson, and Hunter Dickinson. But even if McCullar does not return, adding Nelson would make KU the undisputed No. 1 team going into next season. By no means is Nelson a need, but he would make such a tremendous impact.
Zyon Pullin is another name Jayhawk fans should look out for.
2022-23 season stats (UC-Riverside): 18.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.2 APG, 48.6% FG, 39.4% 3PT
Many Kansas fans prefer to target a forward to fill out the team’s roster, but there is no reason to think KJ Adams will not hold down his own at the four. After all, he was the Big 12 Most Improved Player this past season. If Grant Nelson stays in the draft pool or commits elsewhere, Bill Self should prioritize Pullin.
Jayhawks insider Mike Vernon reported that KU had been in contact with Pullin, which indicates bigger things might be in store. As good as Dajuan Harris is, he is not a guy who can score at will or hit three-point prayers as the shot clock dwindles. He’s great at what he does, which is playmaking and defense. Pullin, on the other hand, is one of the best shot creators on the market.
He does most of his damage from mid-range but can still step out behind the arc if needed. Pullin is entering his fifth year of college basketball and would offer plenty of experience to young guards Arterio Morris and Elmarko Jackson. Acquiring Pullin would make him the go-to guy when the Jayhawks can’t buy a bucket and need a one-on-one scorer to break down the defense.