Two former Kansas Jayhawks basketball players enter the transfer portal again

Former Kansas Jayhawks players who did not pan out at KU often re-surface after they leave Lawrence. Tyon Grant-Foster, a JUCO product and former Kansas player, shined at Grand Canyon this year and led his school to a Round of 32 appearance while winning WAC Player of the Year.

Some players go on to have terrific careers at other universities, but some struggle to find a permanent home. Over the past few days, East Carolina point guard Bobby Pettiford and BYU Cougars forward Marcus Adams Jr. re-entered the transfer portal.

Pettiford won a national championship as a freshman after joining the team as a 4-star recruit out of high school. He played 46 games off the bench during his time in Lawrence, averaging 2.0 points, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 rebounds on 53.4% shooting.

Coach Self had high praise for Pettiford when he played at KU, once comparing his potential to Jayhawk legends like Frank Mason III and Devonte' Graham. Ultimately, he did not fit at Kansas and struggled to receive playing time over facilitating playmaker Dajuan Harris.

He went portaling shortly after the 2022-23 season concluded and later committed closer to home, joining the East Carolina Pirates. The Durham native averaged 7.8 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 assists, starting in 18 of the 33 games he appeared in. Pettiford has one more year of eligibility to spend this upcoming campaign.

The other player to transfer, Marcus Adams Jr., has endured a bumpy start to his collegiate career. A former 4-star recruit based out of California, Adams spent several months practicing with the program before leaving due to personal reasons.

Adams committed to Gonzaga after entering the portal but never played a game with the Bulldogs. He joined his third school before ever playing a collegiate game, hoping to find better fortunes at BYU under Mark Hope. His freshman season featured multiple injuries and the tragic death of his father, and he only played one game as a Cougar.

Both of these players should find success at solid programs as they search for a new team.