The Kansas basketball roster went in a completely different direction this offseason, with head coach Bill Self constructing a roster practically from scratch. While some ran out of eligibility and others left to the transfer portal, every departure has found a new home except Rakease Passmore. The most recent name to make a decision is Rylan Griffen.
Griffen had previously been linked to schools like Miami and Kentucky, but it turns out another SEC squad stepped in to scoop him up. Texas A&M landed the former Alabama sharpshooter, marking yet another former Jayhawk to land in College Station. Griffen will join Zach Clemence, another KU transfer who will now finish his college career as an Aggie.
Return to SEC gives Rylan Griffen a fresh start
Griffen will return to the SEC, which is where he played his best basketball. In 2023-2024, Griffen put up 11.2 points per game and knocked down 39.2% of his 3-point attempts, helping lead Alabama to a Final Four appearance. However, that version of Griffen never really showed up in Lawrence.
In the crimson and blue, Griffen struggled from beyond the arc and played below-average defense. His poor shot selection made his leash with Coach Self short. Although his transfer was expected, it is surprising that he ended up on the same team as Clemence, whose four-year KU rollercoaster also came to a close after the season.
Griffen and Clemence will now be coached by Bucky McMillan, the same coach from Samford whose high-octane offense nearly upset the Jayhawks in the first round of 2024 March Madness. "Bucky Ball" lives in the heads of the Jayhawk faithful, as KU fans still remember the controversial foul call on Nick Timberlake’s dunk attempt that prevented an upset.
McMillan's offense leans more into the 3-point shot than Self's does, so Griffen will have the green light early and often. If he can rediscover his Alabama form, he could end up making a serious impact for Texas A&M alongside his former KU teammate.