Kansas Basketball: 5 reasons why the Jayhawks will be title contenders

2. Lawson Brothers are for real

Sit-out transfers are often forgotten because they miss an entire year on the national stage. Yet, with Dedric and K.J. Lawson coming in for Kansas this year, it would be a mistake to ignore just how talented these brothers are. Originally members of the Memphis Tigers, both of these players should play huge roles for the Jayhawks during this upcoming season. Both extremely dangerous wings, K.J. and Dedric have the potential to be stars for Kansas.

For starters, Dedric Lawson could be a legitimate National Player of the Year contender. As a sophomore for Memphis in 2016-17, Dedric posted a ridiculous season as the top scoring option for the team. A superb scorer, rebounder, and two-way forward, he averaged 19.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game as one of the best players in the AAC during that season. If he is able to post a season with Kansas even close to that one, he will be a frontrunner to win Big 12 Player of the Year.

Even though Dedric may receive the majority of the hype, let’s not forget about his brother. During his sophomore season with the Tigers, K.J. averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds while starting 31 of 32 games for the team. Although he is not the most efficient player overall (.399/.328/.695), K.J. is a strong all-around player who can definitely make an impact for the Jayhawks.