C Hunter Dickinson - Stay
Many Jayhawk supporters thought that the addition of ballyhooed center Hunter Dickinson last year was a one-year rental. However, it seems more than likely at this point that he will return to Lawrence to use his final year of eligibility.
There's no other way to put it — Dickinson does not have the tools to be a good NBA player. That is not to undermine what he has done at the college level, but professional scouts are not looking for 7-foot-2 centers who struggle defensively and have very little athleticism. His game is meant for college basketball and perhaps an overseas deal once he graduates.
Kansas is paying Dickinson a pretty penny in NIL benefits to stay in college. He might be making more in the NCAA than he would with a G League or two-way contract at the next level. There are very few mock drafts, if any, that feature Dickinson in them. If he were to depart for the pros, he might not even hear his name called on draft night.
He was terrific in his first season, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors and winning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. The dominant post scorer is one of the best bigs to have ever played at KU under Bill Self, but his supporting cast was less than ideal. Kansas fell in the Round of 32 to Gonzaga after an injury-riddled campaign resulted in one of the worst Jayhawk teams in recent history.
Dickinson has hinted at a return for months and constantly expresses his love for the university. Running it back with KU makes tons of sense for the former Michigan Wolverine as he looks to win a National Championship to close out his collegiate career.