The Kansas basketball roster is chock full of experience, defense, and inside scoring. But where will the three-point shooting come from?
Three-point shooting has become a staple of basketball throughout the world. Some players even serve as “specialists” if their outside shot is good enough. No coach will ever turn down a guy who can shoot it from long-range.
The Kansas Jayhawks are likely going to be the No. 1 team in preseason rankings. They have one of the most complete rosters in all of college basketball. However, there aren’t too many players who shoot it well from deep.
It is an issue that was partially addressed in the offseason, but it’ll still be a problem from time to time. Granted, we’re likely nitpicking at little things with how talented the team is, so perhaps this “issue” will merely be an afterthought.
Regardless, it is always nice to have someone who can be relied upon to hit a shot from downtown. They are needed to end scoring droughts or to build on leads quicker than two-pointers. Gradey Dick and Jalen Wilson, the 2022-23 team’s best outside shooters, are off to the NBA. The question is: Who will step up for Kansas as a three-point shooter?
These were the three-point percentages of each (non-freshman) Jayhawk last year.
- Hunter Dickinson (42.1%, 1.7 3PA)
- Dajuan Harris (40.5%, 2.1 3PA)
- Kevin McCullar (29.6%, 2.9 3PA)
- KJ Adams (0%, 0.1 3PA)
- Arterio Morris (33.3%, 2.3 3PA)
- Nick Timberlake (41.6%, 6.7 3PA)
- Parker Braun (24.6%, 1.7 3PA)
Aside from Timberlake, a transfer guard from Towson, none of those numbers jump off the stat sheet. And although Dickinson and Harris shot it at a high clip, it was also on extremely low volume. Hitting trey balls will be tough for Bill Self’s squad.
Incoming freshmen Jamari McDowell and Marcus Adams Jr. shot the three-ball extremely well in high school, so it is paramount that their jumper can translate to the collegiate game. Elmarko Jackson isn’t as highly touted as a shooter, as his offensive game is more rim-running.
An X-factor for KU’s shooting will be Arterio Morris. He made the most out of his opportunity in a limited role off the bench last season for Texas, nearly sinking one three-pointer per game while averaging 11.7 minutes.
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Morris is also one of the few guys on the Kansas roster who can create his own shot. As good as Dajuan Harris and Kevin McCullar are, they aren’t the kind of players who can go to work and play iso ball.
How well Hunter Dickinson shoots it from outside will also be vital to KU’s success. Coach Self said he wanted the Michigan transfer to attempt more threes than he had in the past, and that would make the team much more complete. Maintaining the same shooting efficiency he possessed with the Wolverines while taking them more often is ideal for the Jayhawks.
There are some players who will just never be too reliable from long-range (see Harris, McCullar, and KJ). They might improve a bit, but they’ll never be perimeter threats. That should not be an issue as long as other players hit their shots.
Until somebody steps up in the regular season, there are only a few players on the Kansas basketball roster who we can feel confident about shooting a three-pointer.
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