Kansas basketball transfer setting official visit with former school

Griffen could wind up back where he started.
Jan 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Rylan Griffen (6) celebrates after scoring against the Houston Cougars in overtime at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Jan 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Rylan Griffen (6) celebrates after scoring against the Houston Cougars in overtime at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Aside from Zeke Mayo, the Kansas basketball program's transfer additions last offseason did not pan out for the most part. AJ Storr was one of the most disappointing players in the country, while others did not live up to expectations.

One of those underperformers was Rylan Griffen, who transferred from Alabama and came into KU expecting to be a sharpshooter. After a down year in Lawrence, he transferred out once again last month with hopes of having a much more successful senior season. Griffen is now visiting the school he started at, Alabama, starting Friday.

Rylan Griffen could finish his career where he started

Griffen will make a multiple-day trip to Tuscaloosa, an area he is quite familiar with after spending two years there and helping guide the Crimson Tide to a Final Four appearance in 2024. Griffen was previously in contact with Miami and Kentucky, but his visit to Lexington was canceled. Now, it seems like a perfect reunion for Griffen and Alabama to finish his career where it started.

At Kansas, Griffen regressed greatly from the previous campaign. He averaged just 6.3 points and 2.1 rebounds on a subpar 37.2% field goal percentage, in addition to seeing his 3-point percentage drop over five percent from what he shot at Alabama.

Many outlets think that Griffen did not fit at Kansas, with some people even saying that KU coach Bill Self "misused" him. Whether that is true or not, the numbers show a clear decline from what he was doing in the SEC. But it would be perfect for Griffen to return to a school he has already succeeded at.

Alabama fans know what he can bring to the court, and Griffen clearly feels comfortable there. If he can rediscover that form from his first two years, he might be able to finish his college career on a much higher note than how it went in Lawrence.

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