If getting bounced in the first weekend of March Madness for the third straight year wasn't bad enough, the Kansas basketball roster is running on fumes. In addition to losing a handful of key contributors to graduation, five players have entered the transfer portal since the end of the season.
With only one remaining scholarship player from this year's squad, it is evident that Bill Self and his coaching staff need to make significant changes in Lawrence. Adding one of these three transfers would give the currently depleted Jayhawks a massive boost.
1. Keyshawn Hall
Keyshawn Hall should be at the forefront of KU's portal targets right now. A 6-foot-7 swingman, Hall spent the 2024-25 campaign in Orlando at UCF. Jayhawk fans learned his name when he torched Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse and during the Big 12 Tournament when the two schools met.
With KJ Adams gone, the Jayhawks are limited in the frontcourt. While he is not very tall for a four-man, Hall is capable of playing power forward. He averaged 7.1 rebounds last season (8.1 the year prior) and possesses above-average size at 235 pounds.
Hall averaged a conference-high 18.8 points at UCF and would be the perfect 1B option for Darryn Peterson. Kansas already completed a Zoom meeting with him, so there is hope that he will commit to the program he impressed.
2. Josh Dix
Kansas needs wing players, and Josh Dix would be the perfect addition. The Iowa transfer who recently stayed on campus for an official visit is considering several Big Ten schools, but the Jayhawks can offer him immediate playing time and top NIL dollar.
A 42.2% 3-point shooter this season, Dix could provide some much-needed outside shooting to a Jayhawk squad that struggled from beyond the arc in 2024-25. He has excelled against higher competition and would be a solid third or fourth option in the offense.
3. Ernest Udeh Jr.
Remember Ernest Udeh, a highly touted recruit out of high school who spent one year at KU? He is entering the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility, and he previously spent two seasons at a fellow Big 12 school, TCU. Could a reunion be in order?
Udeh's athleticism and prowess around the rim could pay dividends for a player like Peterson in the pick-and-roll game. It is likely that Kansas will add a more traditional big man rather than a score-first center like Hunter Dickinson since guard play will be prioritized.
Flory Bidunga's unexpected departure to the portal leaves Kansas' starting center spot wide open, a role the Jayhawks once hoped Udeh would work his way toward. It may not be the path either party expected, but bringing Udeh on board makes complete sense for both sides.