There are two players from the Kansas basketball program representing the Jayhawks on the Jersey Mike's Naismith Men’s Player of Year Midseason Team, which was released to the public yesterday. Kevin McCullar and Hunter Dickinson were listed among 30 total players on the list.
This should come as no surprise considering how well the duo has performed through the first 25 games of the season. They were both named midseason All-Americans in December and received yet another honor before the campaign's conclusion.
A transfer from Michigan, Dickinson is averaging 18.2 points and 10.8 rebounds this year. He is shooting 55.8% from the field while adding 2.2 assists and 1.2 blocks on the defensive end. He is one of the most talented big men in the country and was the prized possession out of the transfer portal.
McCullar is having a breakout year offensively in his final year of collegiate eligibility. The fifth-year senior has seen his scoring average nearly double from last season, and he now leads the Big 12 in points per game. His season averages are 19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals as he works his way back from a bone bruise in his knee.
Max Abmas, Armando Bacot, Johni Broom, Boo Buie, Devin Carter of Providence, L.J. Cryer, Johnell Davis, RJ Davis, Zach Edey, Kyle Filipowski, PJ Hall, David Jones, Dalton Knecht, Tyler Kolek, Jaedon LeDee, Tamin Lipsey, Caleb Love, Tristen Newton, Antonio Reeves, Baylor Scheierman, Mark Sears, Jamal Shead, KJ Simpson, Braden Smith, Isaiah Stevens, Wade Taylor IV, and Tyson Walker were the 28 other players mentioned.
In a season that has been filled with ups and downs, Dickinson and McCullar's performances have been the most consistent for the Jayhawks. They will continue to rack up awards after the regular season and will likely be All-Americans and All-Big 12 selections.