Which Kansas basketball transfer will be the most impactful for the Jayhawks?

Head coach Bill Self revamped the Kansas basketball roster after the Jayhawks finished an injury-riddled 2023-24 season with a Round of 32 exit for the second consecutive year. A number of starters returned to finish out their collegiate careers in Lawrence, such as Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams, and Dajuan Harris. However, Self added some significant talent via the transfer portal as well.

Five transfers will join the roster for the upcoming campaign as the quest for KU's second title in four years begins. While Dickinson will be the focal point of opposing defenses, some portal newcomers should also make a substantial effect when they are on the floor. That begs the question: Which Kansas basketball transfer will be the most impactful for the Jayhawks?

Kansas basketball's transfer additions will be extremely impactful

We’ll start with Lawrence native Zeke Mayo, a combo guard who transferred from South Dakota State after winning Summit Player of the Year. Despite coming from a smaller conference, Mayo has shown he belongs at KU. He has earned high praise from Coach Self, who sees him as one of four players likely to crack the starting lineup.

While it is often said that finishing the game is more important than starting, Self’s comments reflect his strong confidence in Mayo. He posted averages of 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season, leading the Summit League in 3-point shooting at 39.1%. In my opinion, Mayo will be the most impactful transfer this season.

But AJ Storr could easily claim the most impactful transfer title as well. Known for his size and strength, the 6-foot-6 guard spent time at St. John’s and Wisconsin. He led the Badgers in scoring at 16.8 points per game last year. Storr will likely be a high-volume scorer for KU and should have an important role on the squad given his impressive ability to get to the rim.

Another transfer who will augment the Jayhawks' title hopes is former Alabama guard Rylan Griffen. He fits the bill of a prototypical 3-and-D wing in today's game. Griffen helped lead the Crimson Tide to a Final Four appearance a year ago, averaging 11.2 points per game. He and Mayo are the most efficient outside shooters of KU's transfer group, which could earn him meaningful minutes as a potential sixth man.

The wildcard of the group is David Coit, who was a surprise addition to the transfer group in August. He led a bad Northern Illinois team in scoring last year, averaging 20.8 points per game — the 24th-highest in Division I. Although his short stature (5-foot-11) leaves something to be desired, he should maintain a spot on the second unit to score points in a hurry. 

Finally, Mississippi State transfer Shakeel Moore rounds out Kansas basketball's transfer class. The 6-foot-1 combo guard is a solid playmaker who is one of the best guard defenders in the nation. He will likely miss the first few weeks of the season after sustaining a broken foot in a pickup game last month.

All of these players should contribute a ton to the Jayhawks in 2024-25. My vote for the most impactful transfer goes to Mayo or Storr, but Griffen has a shot as well.