Recent transfer portal entry could be next Kansas Jayhawks starting shooting guard

As transfer portal speculation continues to grow now that the Kansas basketball season is over, more players are being linked to the Jayhawks every day. However, a recent portal entry almost makes too much season for Bill Self and KU.

Zeke Mayo, an incoming senior from South Dakota State, announced his intentions to transfer and enter the NBA Draft while retaining collegiate eligibility. The 6-foot-4 Lawrence native averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the 2023-24 season, winning Summit League Player of the Year and leading the Jackrabbits to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Pursuing Zeke Mayo makes perfect sense for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks

To put it frankly, the Jayhawks had subpar guard play in the 2023-24 season, which was part of why the program suffered its worst campaign in Bill Self's tenure. Kansas found inconsistent results with all three of its newcomer guards, and the bench struggled immensely as a result.

The shifty combo guard has direct ties to Kansas and its program. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 2021, the same year KU football running back Devin Neal did. In fact, the two are close friends, and Neal even tried recruiting him to the Jayhawks with a photo of him and Mayo with former player Andrew Wiggins when they were younger.

Mayo would be the perfect fit for Kansas because he can create his own shot and shoot the ball well from beyond the arc. He could fill Timberlake's part as the starting 2-guard alongside Dajuan Harris or serve as a spark plug off the bench with a role similar to that of Remy Martin when KU won a title in 2022.

While there have been no reports signaling that the Jayhawks are seeking to add him, he only entered the portal a few hours ago and should hear from Bill Self and his staff soon. If the coaches think the fit is right, there is a good chance we see Mayo in a crimson and blue uniform next year.