Kansas basketball: Five takeaways from Jayhawks win over Fort Hays State

Kansas senior center Hunter Dickinson (1), graduate senior guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) and graduate senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) head down court during the first half of Wednesday's exhibition game against Fort Hays State inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas senior center Hunter Dickinson (1), graduate senior guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) and graduate senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) head down court during the first half of Wednesday's exhibition game against Fort Hays State inside Allen Fieldhouse.
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Kansas graduate senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) reacts after sinking a three during the first half of Wednesday’s exhibition game against Fort Hays State inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas graduate senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (15) reacts after sinking a three during the first half of Wednesday’s exhibition game against Fort Hays State inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas Basketball Takeaway No. 2: A Wilson-like Leap for Kevin McCullar Could Propel This Team to New Heights

Jalen Wilson was the third or fourth option as a junior before launching himself to stardom (Big 12 POTY and All-American) in his senior season. McCullar has a chance to have a nearly identical trajectory this year after being the third or fourth option on last year’s team.

While I don’t project quite the same leap for McCullar due to him having an All-American teammate beside him, if he can get closer to the 15-point-per-game range while also improving his perimeter shooting, he could form an incredibly potent duo alongside Dickinson.

Kansas has had some big-time hits in the transfer portal over the past handful of years (Remy Martin, Malik Newman, Dedric Lawson), and McCullar has a real chance to be one of the best on the list if he puts together another solid season in 2023.